India Blog School

Benefits of Blogging - Why You Must Have a Blog Now

2009-01-15T19:08:35Z

1. Share your thoughts and opinions with the world

Got something to say about the deteriorating political system of India? Or the performance of Indian cricket team? Or have an opinion on a topic like abortion or child marriages? Well, blogs are a perfect place to pen your thoughts online.

2. Preserve memories for great-grand children

Anything you blog, be it a story or a photo or a video clip, is saved forever on the Internet. Now imagine your great grand-children and their children reading your blog when they grow up. They'll almost feel like having a conversation with you.

3. Show your expertise, help people or even get a new job

A Blog instantly tells the world how knowledgeable you are on a particular topic and establishes you as an expert. You can also use your skills to help people online through the blog. Some companies even do head-hunting through blogs.

4. Stay connected with friends and family

If you have friends and family members spread in different parts of the world, a blog is the best way to keep in touch with everyone. For instance, if there's a family function at your home, you can upload the pictures to your blog and others can see view and comment on them instantly. No need for emails.

5. Make money from your blog

It's true that you can make a comfortable living from your blog provided you write consistently and work hard. Blogs won't make you rich overnight but if you follow some simple rules, chances are that blogging will definitely help you pay some of the bills.

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

Blogging 101 - Interesting Facts about Blogs - India Blog School

2009-01-15T19:08:14Z

Blogging 101

Some interesting facts about blogging.

Things you may not know about Blogs

A new blog is created somewhere in the world every half a second. That goes on to prove how popular blogging is on the Internet.
Blogs have influence. Surveys suggest that lot of Internet users prefer reading reviews published on blogs before making a purchase.
You don't need to spend a single penny to publish a blog. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection. You may even write blogs from a mobile phone.
You don't need any technical skills to create a blog. If you know how to write an email on the computer, you are good enough to write a blog.
If you are worried about sharing your details on the Internet, you can create personal blog that can only be read by your close friends and family members.
You can put advertising on your blogs and make some decent income. There are people who have quit their regular jobs to become full-time bloggers.
You don't need to know English to write a blog. There are free tools available to help you publish blogs in any Indian language including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bangla, Tamil, etc.
If you like clicking pictures with your digital camera, you can join the growing community of photo bloggers in the world who display pictures on their blogs.
44% of all bloggers are parents, 70% have college degrees, two-thirds are male and 50% of them lie in the 18-34 age group.
You'll find an audience if you write what you’re passionate about. - Mark Frauenfelder

To learn more about things you can do with blogging, read these benefits of blogging.

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

About Us - India Blog School

2009-01-15T19:07:45Z

Purpose of India Blog School

Blogging has taken the world by storm. It is a publishing medium like no other because the moment you write anything, your thoughts are instantenously published to millions of people across the globe - something that was unimaginable in the pre-blog era.

India Blog School is a non-profit initiative that aims to spread the blogging culture in India though training and interaction. We conduct training seminars to help people start a blog and also improve their blogging skills with time.

About the founder

India Blog School is founded by Amit Agarwal, an IIT graduate who is one of the few professional bloggers in the world and often referred to as the "founder of Indian Blogging Revolution".

Amit is technology columnist for Hindustan Times and founder at Digital Inspiration, an award winning software blog that is now among the top 200 blogs in the whole world out of 11 crore blogs. He is also a frequent speaker at blogging conferences across India. Microsoft awarded him the "Most Valuable Professional" award for three years in a row - 2007, 2008 & 2009.

Watch Interview with CNN IBN

Print & Television Coverage

Amit Agarwal has been featured on all major print newspapers, magazines and television channels including CNN IBN, NDTV, CNBC TV18, ETV, Times Now TV, Star News, BBC Radio, The Week, Times of India, Economic Times, Tehelka, DNA India, Mid Day and more.

The Straits Times newspaper of Singapre name him one of Asia's brand-name bloggers.

Blog Tip of the Day

"The word blog is irrelevant, what's important is that it is now common, and will soon be expected, that every intelligent person (and quite a few unintelligent ones) will have a media platform where they share what they care about with the world" - Seth Godin.

Blogging Resources

Email Address

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

Training Program for Bloggers - Blog School

2009-01-15T19:07:24Z

Blog Training Program

The blog training program is split in two sessions - one is for newbies who want to get started with blogging while the second session is for more experienced bloggers who want to take their blog to the next level in terms of readership as well as monetization.

Level I - The basics for beginners

General Introduction to Blogs
Anatomy of a Blog and their unique structure
What makes Facebook and Orkut different from a blog
How to create your first blog - blog platforms, hosting, design, etc.
How to gain readers and make your blog popular
How to make a living from blogs - AdSense, Amazon, PayPal Donations, T-Shirts, etc.
Basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques for Bloggers
Blogging Etiquettes and Rules of the Web
Finding Images for your Blog - Creative Commons
Tools for Blogging - Blog Writers, Image Editors, Screenshots, Video Editing, etc.
How to track your blog visitors - Google Analytics
Alternative form of Blogging - Tumblr, Flickr, YouTube, etc.
Ego Surfing - Find what people are saying about you and your blog on the Internet
RSS in simple English
Useful Web Tools - Google Alerts, Quarkbase, delicious, Evernote, Google Docs, etc.
Precautions before you announce that new blog address in your email signature
.. and much more.

Level II - For experienced bloggers

Blog Censorship - How anonymous can you get online
Dealing with Online Plagiarism
How to blog from a mobile phone or email
Keyword Research and Advanced SEO techniques
Getting direct advertisers for your blog
Alternate source of blog traffic - Google Images, Yahoo News, etc.
SEO through Images, PDF, Office Documents and Flash movies
Social Media Tools & Social Networks
Pros & Cons of Guest Blogging
Full RSS Feeds vs Partial RSS Feeds
Custom Search Engine, Widgets, Translation, Toolbar Buttons, etc.
Indirect ways to market your blog through contest, conferences, etc.
How to make your content go viral
AdSense Optimization Techniques for higher CTR / CPM
Common mistakes in Web Design
How to grow your blog community
Handle the Slashdot / Digg Effect without burning a hole in your pocket
There's gold in the archives - How analytics can help you dig that gold
.. followed by Q & A

To attending this training program in Agra, please register yourself.

Blogging Fact of the Day

Among bloggers who have advertising on their blogs, two in three have contextual ads (such as Google AdSense). One-third of bloggers have affiliate advertising on their blog. One in five negotiate directly with advertisers and one in ten sell advertising through a blog ad network. - Technorati

Blogging Resources

Email Address

Blogging Resources

Recommended Sites

Blogging 101

Mark Frauenfelder says that you'll find an audience if you write what you’re passionate about. See more facts.

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India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

Popular Indian Bloggers - India Blog School

2009-01-15T19:06:57Z

Amitabh Bachchan

Bollywood Actor

Popular Indian film actor Amitabh Bachchan is one of India's best known bloggers. He writes a very personal blog to communicate directly with his millions of fans across the globe. Following Amitabh, other bollywood celebrities like Aamir Khan and Karan Johar too have started their own blogs.

Sanjeev Bikhchandani

Founder, Naukri.com

Sanjeev Bikhchandani is the founder of Naukri.com, one of the most popular job sites in India. He uses the blog as a platform to share his entreprenial knowledge and immense exprenience with the world.

Rajdeep Serdesai

TV Journalist, CNN IBN

Rajdeep Sardesai is a columnist and popular face on Indian TV best known for his IBN Live channel that he launched in collaboration with CNN IBN and TV 18. His wife, Sagarika Ghose-Sardesai, too has a blog on IBNLive.

Amit Varma

Writer, Columnist

Amit Varma is based out of Mumbai and has been blogging at India Uncut since 2004. His blog won the Best Indiblog Award in 2005 and continues to remain one of most widely read and successful blogs in India. Amit is now writing his first novel - My Friend, Sancho.

Rashmi Bansal

Author, Blogger, Entrepreneur

Rashmi Bansal is a graduate of IIM Ahmedabad and founder-editor of the popular youth magazine JAM. Her blog, like the magazine JAM, continues to be an inspiration for youth and other bloggers.

Arnab Ray

Research Scientist

Arnab is a PhD in Computer Science by education but a blogger at heart. His DesiBong blog takes a satirical view of Indian politics, Sports Bollywood and current events. It also won the most humorous blog of India award in 2006.

Meeta Khurana

Cooking, Food Blogger

Blogging is also about sharing your expertise with the world and Meeta did exactly that with her popular food blog - "What's for lunch, honey?". She is a working mom with a six year old son but when Meeta has time, she is busy blogging mouth-watering recipes for the world.

Akshay Mahajan

Photographer, Travel Columnist

Akshay is both young and famous. He turned his hobby (photography) into a profession and is now one of the best known photobloggers in the country.

Winkie's Way

Mother, Housewife

More and more mothers are creating blogs in India to share experiences about raising kids, managing families and life in general. Winkie's way is one such popular blog where a mom narrates her interesting experiences around raising two kids.

More Indian Bloggers

Wait.. there are many more.

What you read above is just a quick glimpse of the Indian Blogging community. There are hundreds and thousands of blogs in India on literally every topic from science, politics, sports, music, education, wildlife, children, travel and the list goes on.

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

Books on Blogging - Read The Best Selling Books on Blogs

2009-01-15T19:06:34Z

Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income

Whether you're just starting a blog or have been blogging for years, professional bloggers Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett show you how to turn your passion for blogging into extra revenue.

If you are going to buy a book about blogging, make it this one. Each page includes useful tips and techniques for building a successful blog.

Blogging For Dummies

Whether you're just finding out about blogs or you've been blogging for a while and are curious about podcasting or videoblogging, you can find answers in this book!

Like many Dummies books, this book is comprehensive! It's a thorough introduction to blogging from rank Internet newbie, to the typical active blogger seeking to learn more about the medium.

Secrets of Videoblogging

From coming up with a style for your vlog, to planning your vlog posts, including a host of tips on how to best shoot, edit, compress, publish and promote your videos, the book covers all the bases you will need to know about in order to get your video blog off the ground.

Ryanne and Michael have been educating people about how to set up their own videoblogs at the website freevlog.org for some time now. They bring their expertise to bear in this book going wider and deeper.

Blogging Heroes: Interviews with World's Top Bloggers

Among more than 100 million blogs, a few stand out as influential, ground-breaking, and singularly successful. In the book, these bloggers have shared their tactics, their philosophies, what drives them, how they mine for subject matter, and their personal secrets for success.

As you read the book, you'll easily notice patterns in the advice, motivations and other factors that were keys to these bloggers' success. By the end of the book, you'll have a very concise list of what to do if you want to get started blogging (or improve your current blog).

How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers

Robert Scoble and Shel Israel argue that every business can benefit from smart "naked" blogging, whether the company's a smalltown plumbing operation or a multinational fashion house.

Naked Conversation is an explanation of how blogging works, and how useful blogs can be to companies. Don't miss this book even if you and/or your organization haven't yet jumped into the blogosphere.

Blog Blazers: Top Bloggers Reveal Their Secrets

Blog Blazers is full of tips from highly successful bloggers and shows you what it takes to make your own blog successful.

A blockbuster blog, the kind you thought only a few lucky souls had, is less about luck and more about common sense and a little extra effort. And it's within your grasp. Let the pros show you the way.

Blog: Understanding the Information Reformation

Millions are changing their habits when it comes to information acquisition, and the blogosphere has appeared so suddenly as to surprise even the most sophisticated of analysts.

Hugh Hewitt helps you catch up with and get ahead of this phenomenon. While many others have compared blogging to the invention of the printing press, Hewitt delves shows how a young monk named Luther used the new technology to transform Western culture.

Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts for the Classroom

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson is a great resource for any teacher or instructional technologist who wants to integrate technology into the classroom.

This guide demonstrates how Web tools can generate exciting new learning formats, and explains how to apply these tools in the classroom to engage all students in a new world of synchronous information feeds and interactive learning.

Blogging for Business

In Blogging for Business, authors Shel Holtz and Ted Demopoulos tell you exactly how and why more companies are incorporating blogs into their business strategies. This smart new guide helps you engage in the global conversation by creating and maintaining blogs to generate heightened awareness and greater customer mindshare.

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

Blogging Resources: PowerPoint Presentations and Videos about Blogs

2009-01-15T19:06:11Z

Blogs in Plain English

This video explains blogs and blogging in plain English. Courtesy Common Craft.

Basic Styles of Blogging

Learn about the basic styles of blogging including tips on how often to use each of them. Courtesy Rohit Bhargava.

How to Make Money Blogging

Learn how to pick a topic for your blog, fill it with good and useful content, and then monetize it. Courtesy Matthew Haughey.

How to Create a Successful Blog

Learn how to get your blog noticed on the Internet. Courtesy Robert Scoble.

How to Create a Blog

This quick video tutorial explains how to create a free blog on Blogger. Courtesy Google.

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

Learn Blogging from the Gurus - India Blog School

2009-01-15T19:05:46Z

Recommended Blogging Tools and Resources

This is list of most popular blogging resources on the Internet - all tools and services mentioned here are completely free and have a very large user base.

Blog Writing Tools

Windows Live Writer
Scribefire
Flock Browser
Google Docs

Image Search and Photo Editing

Google Picasa
Windows Live Photo Gallery
Picnik / Flickr
Creative Commons

Podcasting & Video Blogs

YouTube
Blip.tv
Audacity
Windows Movie Maker

Blog Publishing Platforms

Blogger
WordPress
Tumblr
Windows Live Spaces

Web Statistics

Google Analytics
Google Ad Planner
Statcounter
FeedBurner for RSS

Making Money from Blogs

Google AdSense
Adify
BlogAds
Amazon Associates

Blog Search Engines

Google Blog Search
Technorati
Ask.com Blogs

Tracking Blogs

Google Reader (with translation)
FeedDemon + Newsgator
My Yahoo! / Google IG

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration

Blogging Resources: Good Articles on Blogging, SEO and Blog Monetization

2009-01-15T19:04:30Z

Useful Blogging Advice from Gurus

The Newbie Guide to Blogging - A blog gives potential employers and customers a way to find out more about you and to build a relationship that’s more human.
Blogs - A short history - This overview of the development of weblogs and an introduction to the ways you might use a weblog.
It's weblog, not web log - The correct term is "weblog". Furthermore, "blog" is not short for "web log", it is short for "weblog".
Why I Blog - The word blog contains, in its four letters, a concise and accurate self-description: it is a log of thoughts and writing posted publicly on the World Wide Web.
What We're Doing When We Blog - Blog posts are short, informal, sometimes controversial, and sometimes deeply personal, no matter what topic they approach.
Calculating the ROI of blogging - The ROI of blogs can be broken down into three components: Benefits, Costs and Risks.
How to become a Freelance Blog Writer - Have a target per-hour rate that you’d like to charge. And charge a little below that when you first start, just to get your foot in the door.
Lessons I've Learnt as a Blogger - Success in many areas of life comes out of discipline and hard work. Getting your body in shape, having good relationships, succeeding at study etc all take some level of commitment and work.
How can simple articles change your life - Most Web sites end up becoming useless chunks of digital real estate, barely worth the price tag that accompanied the original domain.
Introduction to Blogging - Learn the basics of blogging from WordPress team.
Blogging - It's Good for You - The Scientific American says that the therapeutic value of blogging has become a focus of study.
Lessons learned about Blogging - Writing a blog is way easier than writing a magazine article, a published paper, or a book -- but provides many of the same benefits.

Blogging Guides & Code of Ethics

Weblog Ethics - The weblog's greatest strength - its uncensored, unmediated, uncontrolled voice - is also its greatest weakness.
Legal Guide for Bloggers - Like all journalists and publishers, bloggers sometimes publish information that other people don't want published. Sometimes bloggers do get into trouble for what they post.
Blogger's Code of Conduct - It's important to be transparent. If a comment is deleted, it's likely good practice to say so, and to explain why.
Blogger Outreach Code of Ethics - Blogger outreach is about creating a relationship - so start by being honest about why you are contacting a blogger, and how you came across their blog.
Corporate Blogging Policy - Ask your manager if you have any questions about what is appropriate to include in your blog. Respect the company’s confidentiality and proprietary information.

General Blogging Tips

Become a Better Blogger - The Internet made it possible for anyone to publish content to a worldwide audience. The Web log, or blog format, has made it easier and more convenient.
Open your Blog Post with a Bang - A great headline mixed with a lame opening is like inviting someone into your house, only to slam the door in their face as they approach.
How to Find Time to Blog - Blogging can be a time consuming thing so for all of you who may be struggling to keep a blog going while doing your day jobs, here are a few tips.
Tips for Better Blogging - The blogosphere is a crowded place, so don't hesitate to do what you must to be heard above the din.
The 5 deadly sins of Blogging - Many bloggers just think about themselves when blogging which is why no one ever comments on their blog.
Lessons for Would-be Bloggers - The problem with blogging isn’t just the writing part. It’s also the putting-myself-on-public-display part. Once you get a little practice under your belt, you’ll find that it’s only an initial fear, it gets easier as you go along.
A sample blogging workflow - It’s not always easy to keep up a steady blogging pace, and there are days when you might run into a roadblock or two that might keep you from delivering on your schedule.
Blogging Terms Glossary - If you come across a term that sounds unfamiliar, this blogging glossary might come to your rescue.

Blogging for Dollars

How to Launch a Successful Blog - Here are some tips for new bloggers on what you may want to focus on in your first 90 days of blogging.
How to Get Traffic on your Blog - Marketing guru Seth Godin lists 50+ ways on how to get traffic for your blog. Write stuff that people want to read and share.
How to Bloggers Make Money - What does it take to live the dream—to write what I know, and then watch the money flow?
How to Make Money from your Blog - If you do decide to generate income from your blog, then don’t be shy about it. If you’re going to put up ads, then really put up ads.
Blogging for Dollars - Blogs are not just a hobby - some small sites are making big money. Here's how to turn your passion into an online empire.
Blogging Boom: Blogs to Riches - Blogging is increasingly becoming a survival of the fittest - and that all boils down to who has the best content. The blogs that are going to stand out are the ones who break news and have credibility.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Blogs

Beginners Guide to Search Engine Optimization - This resource will help individuals, organizations, and companies inexperienced with search engine optimization learn the basics of how the service and process operate.
SEO Guide for Bloggers - SEO for a blog is different than SEO for most other websites, largely because of the social elements baked into blogging technology.
SEO Basics - There are three important steps to rank your site well with search engines.
Google SEO Guide - This is a PDF guide on Search Engine Optimization from Google.

Blog Tip of the Day

There's no undelete key on the Internet. Once you hit that publish button, there's no going back so make sure you think before you write. Never blog while you are angry as that will reflect in your writing.

Blogging Resources

Email Address

India Blog School is a part of Digital Inspiration