Why Blog and How To Get Started

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In this blog we will learn how to set up a wordpress blog that is entirely free. It will take about 30 mins.  It costs nothing except some of your time. Go through the first post without doing anything then read it again. It is not difficult, read slowly and take it in. Then have a go. There are 4 posts, the first sets up a wordpress blog (this one), the second is your first post where you learn how to put in a picture and video and the third as you surf the web gives you some knowledge and knowledge is power! The fourth is for themes and changing them. There is a Quick Start here, 4 videos.

Mouse tips: hold the left mouse button down and drag it over the text, this highlights it. Then right click on it and copy. Go to where you want the text and right click and paste. Try it now to this text!

Links: Don’t click on links till you are ready. They can be distracting until you are familiar. Watch the videos full screen.

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Hi there,

There are approximately over 150 million blogs on the Internet with 1.3 million blog posts per day. Btw if you don’t have a computer you can use the library.  Clearly people have got something to say. I started this blog for older citizens because there is a treasure trove of experience that should be tapped.

All links that you click on eventually open into new tabs so this page will stay open.

For some retirement can be a lonely time bringing with it isolation. A blog can bring people together; those with like minds and similar experiences. It can also be a moan at the state we are in in the 21st century! 😆 It can be about anything from a holiday you took 50 years ago to what your cat did this morning. Really anything you like.

Polly

me and Marcella 1965 Spain

And a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s a tip: If you have a photograph album use your phone camera to take a picture of them this will convert them into digital format and upload them to your computer from your phone! This is me and Mum 67 years ago!!

Setting up a blog is easy, all you need is an email address and access to the Internet (ha ha yes you are reading this lol). It is easy and takes about 5 minutes. AND IT’S FREE! Yes there is no need to spend any money at all! WordPress has many features some cost but there is no need for them . The blog http://OlderCitizens.wordpress.com was set up completely free.

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How to set up a WordPress blog

Think of a name for your blog. This can be yourname.wordpress.com you may have to be imaginative if your name has gone perhaps use your middle name as well or an initial. You may have a nickname you can use. Given so many blogs it may take some work. Just keep typing  in wordpress.com till you find a combination that doesn’t exist, you have to have wordpress.com ending in the title. You can use a short phrase like BillWatkinsSuperBlog.wordpress.com as long as it makes sense. Be imaginative. Notice when I write the blog address I use capital letters to make it more readable? This is fine, web browsers ignore capital letters and treats them as lower case. Watch the video full screen.

youtube full screen button

In the video you see the “new and improved” menu system which I don’t like. I use the dashboard. Read on….

Once you find a combination that doesn’t exist go ahead and register it. Take it slow and get it right the first time. You may make a mistake BUT its not the end of the world go back to wordpress.com and start again BUT better get it right the first time. You might need a second email address for a second blog. Let me know in the Contacts page and I’ll send full instructions.

or

If you want an email adress at yourname@OlderCitizens.org let me know Philip@OlderCitizens.com

Once you have been blogging for a while and have a feel for it you may want to change to a different name. I have about 10 covering different aspects of my online life.( First wordpress blog 2009 ). Go through the registration procedure until you are done.

Familiarise yourself with the menu on the left. Save your draft as you go (on the right) so you don’t inadvertently  delete something but this will happen it happens to us all so try and get into the routine of saving.

The Dashboard (Main Editor)

Your dashboard where you add posts, edit them change themes etc is:

thenameofyourblog.WordPress.com/wp-admin

is your route into the editor . So the admin for this blog is OlderCitizens.wordpress.com/wp-admin and there is my login to the editor.  Login asks for username that was set up when you started or your email address. It will then ask for your password. Set a memorable difficult one. Include numbers and one odd character like !* say at the end. If you forget it you can change it by “lost password” and they will email you with a link to make a new one. I’m always forgetting mine.

WordPress has set up a “new and improved” menu system. I don’t like it its not as good as the main editor, the dashboard.  /wp-admin will take you to the main editor.

Below is a screenshot of the  of the dashboard. You do everything from there and in my tutorials I will be using the dashboard.

Experiment with the menu items, mostly you can undo or change what you have done. All blogs have a theme you can read about them in a later post. The free 2016 theme I am running here is Twenty Sixteen. Its a great theme and even looks good on a mobile.You can use it when you are ready. Its free.

https://wordpress.org/themes/twentysixteen/ download it and “Add New” in your Appearance/Themes page. If you can’t find it.

Mum at the table with her daughter
Mum “Guess what dear? I’ve got a blog”
Daughter: “Nooo, really? Whats it called?”
Mum: “marionjwinslow.wordpress.com”
Daughter: Oh I’ll look it up when I get home”
Mum: “You can look it up on your phone”

And why not? This blog looks great on a modern phone.

You can email me at Philip@OlderCitizens.com or call on +353 (0)89 429 7539 here to help.
and skype Philip Finlay Bryan Tullamore.

Please use the comment feature or use the contact page to comment or ask for help. It will be great to hear from you. You also can follow the blog and be notified of next posts. You can Skype me too, Philip Finlay Bryan Tullamore. I set up skype a long long time ago in “Search” look for dude.starship

See the “About” page for info on me

The next post will be “My First Post”

Have a look if you feel like it. http://OlderCitizens.com which will be a global resource is in progress)

Remember from little acorns mighty oaks do grow. Lets get planting!

and just to finish off a rare ole tune from the man himself Shane McGowan.