Blogger; the free website from Google

Many people desire to have a website of their own, but turn back when they come to know about the cost involved in designing and hosting a website. Google has helped such people with its more flexible product, “Blogger”. Blogger lets you design your website or a ‘blog’, free, with its own hassle-free templates, allowing customized settings for normal and advanced users. A blog is a set of posts made by a user in different pages. The templates range from ‘Simple’ to ‘Ethereal’ that can be chosen for your particular niche. The posts you make in your blog are displayed one by one date-wise, with the latest post on top. Blogs are placed in its sub-domain blogspot.

The HTML editor is user-friendly and you can include images, videos and links in your posts. The “Design” option enables the user to edit and insert the right gadget in the right place. Each gadget is a page element that has its own purpose. There are several gadgets available currently and Blogger is adding one by one to improve the functionality of the blog. Page status, followers, images, slideshow of images and profile views are some of them. Customized template and customized page elements give the user total flexibility of creating a blog that is in his imagination. For including ‘Privacy policy’ or ‘About me’ details, you can create static pages that won’t pop up while viewing a blog. They are treated as third-party elements that contain links to other websites, images or videos.

• The Google Toolbar has a feature called "BlogThis!" which allows users with Blogger accounts to link posts directly to their blogs.
• Blogger supports Google's Adsense product as a means to generate revenue for the user from running a blog.
• Blogger also started integration of Amazon Associates as a service to generate revenue.
• Group blogs are established by way of multiple author support.
• Customization of Blogger templates is another added feature.
• The standalone app Windows Live Writer of the Windows Live Suite, publishes directly to Blogger.

There are many different types of blogs, differing not only in the particular niche, but also in the way posts are made.

Personal blogs

Personal blogs cater to a single user’s personal experiences. It can be sometimes an online diary or online commentary. Your expertise in a specific bailiwick can be showcased with the help of a blog. This does bring in expressing your opinions as well as passing information to the whole world. Blogging can have a sentimental quality. One type of personal blog, referred to as micro-blog is extremely detailed and seeks to capture a moment in time.

Business blogs

Business blogs are intended for communicating to business clients. Large corporations and enterprises make commentary about their updates and events by means of corporate blogs. Emailing each single employee and customer is time-consuming, but by blogging everyone is invited to make aware of the current affairs and activities. Blogs for clubs and societies are called club blogs and group blogs.

Niche blogs

Each one of us would be an expert in some niches. Niches can be weight loss, travels, music, art & craft, education, fashion, politics, economics or anything that you’ve acquired knowledge about. For example, a blog that has posts from a mom and her family is called a mom blog. These kinds of blogs can help run small home-based businesses.

Media blogs

A blog feauring videos is called a vlog, one featuring links is called a linklog, a site containing a portfolio of sketches is called a sketchblog or one featuring photos is called a photoblog. Blogs that have less content with mixed media types are called tumblelogs.

Device blogs

Blogs can also be defined by the device from which it was created. A blog written from a mobile device like a mobile phone or personal digital assistant could be called a moblog.

Templates of various color combinations that echoes the topic of your blog can be chosen from the ‘template designer’. Each template has got different page layout and design. The fonts and colors of Blog title, post title, page text, tabs text all can be customized by going to 'advanced' option according to your choice.

1. Simple

These are templates with few graphic elements and a simple composition. With a variety of color combinations, Simple blogger templates are apt for featuring an artist’s accomplishments and awards.

2. Watermark

These templates contain several graphic designs of varied colors. If you’ve knowledge in coding HTML, you can include images of your choice and make it more lively.

3. Dynamic views

This designer allows posts to view in different ways which you can choose. This kind of design makes it easier for the reader to navigate through your blog.

4. Awesome Inc.

In this kind of template, major area of the background is plain which ranges in several colors. You can choose the right color of your choice.

5. Ethereal

This is another designer template that looks ethereal really. With simple backgrounds and page layouts, Ethereal designer template is suitable for niche blogs.

6. Travel

This template goes well with travel blogs. Photos, videos that are captured from natural spots cherish in the memories of the reader when blogged in this kind of templates

7. Picture Window

This is another designer template that has a picture in its backdrop. Pictures may vary and you can select the design of your choice. I’ve selected this template for my blog “kaatriniley”.