Steps to Posting your First Blog

Follow these steps and suggestions to successfully post your first blog using Blogger. 

1. To use Blogger, you will need to have a Gmail account.  If you already have one great.  If you do not, go to Google.com to set up one.  Sorry, you cannot use your JD account.
2. Once you have your Gmail account, log into the account.
3. At the very top of your email, you will notice a black menu bar.  On the very left is your name and other options are to the right.  Click on "More" and then choose "Blogger."
4. This is your Blogger page.  To write a Blog, choose "New Blog."
5. A new screen will appear that will ask you to name your Blog.  This is an overall name for all of your Blogs.  Note that my Blog name is "Educational Opportunities" because I wanted to write and post individual blogs about a variety of educational opportunities. 
6. Next you will be asked for a Blog address.  Try to make the address identify with your Blog name.  My address is "edoppportunities." You will have to keep trying to get an address, because you will get a pop up that says "This is already in use."  Take your time; you can come up with an address. 
7. In the next screen, choose from the left menu "New Posts."
8. Now you are ready to write your Blog.  You will get a new page.  Up at the very top center is a white box for you to name your post.
9. Note that you have a large white text box that you will use to write your Blog.
10. Above your writing box, you will see a menu bar.  You have many options that should look familiar if you use Microsoft Word.  Options include:  fonts, font size, bold, text color, etc. 
11. You also have the option to add a link, picture, and video. 
12. Once you have completed your Blog, you can Save, Preview, and then Publish.  You will want to save then preview.  You will probably need to make changes, etc.  Once your Blog is just how you would like it, then you will want to Publish.  You can make changes after you publish, but once you do publish the "world can see" your Blog.
13. At any time after you have either saved or published your Blog, you can make changes.  On your My Blog page you will see the name of your Blog.  If you move the cursor over the name of your Blog you will see Edit/Delete.   Click Edit to return to your Blog to make changes.  Remember to Save again and then Publish so the most current post is viewed.

You will want to link to this YouTube video for step-by-step directions on "How to Use Blogger. com by Rebecca Warnberg:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0s5NL_Rey8
                                     

HAVE FUN!