From the 11/10/2012 Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society Lunch 'n' Learn and Writing Group meeting. We discussed why and how to read blogs and why and how to write them.

1. November 10, 2012
Lunch ‘n’ Learn
Blogs: Reading
and Writing
(No Arithmetic)
Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society

2. What is a blog?
 Origin: Blog = Web + Log
 Usage: Can be a noun or a verb
 Definition: A discussion or informational
site published on the World Wide Web
and consisting of “posts" displayed in
reverse chronological order (the most
recent post appears first).

3. Blogs…
 Combine text, images, and links (to other
blogs, Web pages, and media related to
its topic)
 Are Interactive- allowing readers to leave
comments. This allows them to be a form
of social networking

4. 4 November 14, 2012

5. 5 November 14, 2012

6. What is a Microblog?
 Definition: Short quick notes with limited
number of characters
 Help to integrate blogs into societal news
streams
 Twitter, for example

9. How do you find blogs?
 Many different kinds of blogs
 Provide commentary on a particular subject (art, photos,
parenting, music, education, and… genealogy!)
 personal online diary
 online brand advertising of a particular individual or company
 Google “Subject AND blog”
 To find genealogy blogs:
 Google your favorite subject with the word, “blog” (i.e. “German
Genealogy” AND Blog)
 Look through the following websites:
 Geneabloggers (geneablogers.com)
 Genealogy Blog Finder (blogfinder.genealogue.com)
 Cyndi's List (www.cyndislist.com/blogs)

10. How do you read blogs?
 Bookmark
 Blog Reader (i.e. Google Reader)

11. How to get a Google Account
 Go to http://accounts.google.com
 Click the Sign Up button on the top right.

12.  Complete the form by filling in the
requested information.
 Click Next Step.
 Add a picture or profile information (if you
like)
 Click Next Step.
 Click Get Started.
 Go to http://www.google.com/reader

13. How do I add a blog to my
reader?
 RSS feed button
o RSS=Real Simple Syndication
o Buttton looks like:
o If you see this on a blog, click on it. You will
then see different options.
o Click on Add to Google then Add to
Google Reader.

14. How do I add a blog to my
reader?
 Manually
o Go to the blog you want to subscribe to.
o Copy the website address.
o Go to Google Reader.
o Click the SUBSCRIBE button.
o Paste or type in the website address.

15. Over coffee…
 Overcoffee each morning, I scroll
through my Google Reader and Twitter
feed like my dad scrolled through his
newspaper every morning.

16. How do you write a blog?
 Now that you have Google account it’s
easy to create a blog!
 Go to Blogger.com
 Click New Blog

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 Give
it a title, address, choose a
template, and click Create Blog..

18.  Your blog will now be listed on your
Dashboard.
 Click the pencil icon to start writing!
 Tips:
o I write my posts in Word and paste to
Blogger.
o I give it a nice title.
o Fancy it up with side bar items after you get
the hang of writing.

19. How do I publicize my
blog?
 Send an email to your family and friends
with your blog address.
 Sign up with Geneabloggers.com
 Use your Facebook, Twitter and
GooglePlus streams to advertize your
posts.
 Put your blog address on your calling
cards.

20. How to I find something to
write about?
 Write stories of your family
 Write stories of YOU
 Show your family old pictures and tell
about the people in them
 Write about what you know
 Write about what you learn and how you
learn it
 Use the daily prompts from
Geneabloggers

21. Saturday
Shopping Saturday
Sorting Saturday
Sports Center Saturday
Surname Saturday
Tuesday
Sympathy Saturday
Talented Tuesday
Society Saturday Tech Tuesday
Tombstone Tuesday
Tuesday's Tip
Sunday
Thursday Friday
Black Sheep Sunday
Thankful Thursday Family Recipe Friday
Church Record Sunday
Those Places Thursday Follow Friday
Sentimental Sunday
Thriller Thursday Friends of Friends Friday
Sunday Supper
Treasure Chest Thursday Funeral Card Friday
Sunday's Obituary
Wednesday
Wedding Wednesday
Monday Wednesday's Child
Amanuensis Monday Wisdom Wednesday
Madness Monday Wordless Wednesday
Mappy Monday Workday Wednesday
Maritime Monday
Amatrilineal Monday
Military Monday
Motivation Monday
Mystery Monday