Learning Curve

I've learned much in the month I've been blogging, but there is still much to learn.  Yesterday morning I wrote a post first thing, then forgot to publish it until later in the afternoon, when I noticed it hadn't posted yet.  Since initially I didn't know what to write about, it had no title.  You will notice it still doesn't have a title because I forgot to give it one.  I can be a scatterbrain that way sometimes most of the time.  Blogging is more fun and satisfying than I ever imagined, mostly because of my fellow bloggers.  So I'm asking for all of your help in answering a few questions of a new blogger.

• Can I go back and title a post without it re-posting or messing things up?
• Is it quirky to just leave it that way?
• Can I go back and give past posts categories, or will it republish the post as new?
• When I use pictures from other sites on the internet should I credit the site?
• How do I know if a picture is copyrighted?
• Is there a blogging handbook I should be reading?
• How many other blogs do you read regularly?
• How often do you comment when you read a blog?
• Is it rude to read but not comment?  (I'm notorious for not commenting, even on all the message boards I've been a member of.  Not because I'm not interested, but because I frequently feel I have nothing to add.  I'm still only commenting on about half the blogs I read.)

Learn something new everyday is my motto, I plan to learn a lot today!

Comments

[Asthmagirl]

1. yes
2. no, not if you like it...
3. yes.... I mean it will not mess things up.
4. It's the nice thing to do...
5. Either the picture will have the copyright on it or the site will state that their pictures are copyrighted. Flicker is ambiguous because they state that they might be, so you don't know.
6. I don't think so. I know there are (believe it or not) books on blogging, but I think we develop as bloggers by not having an abundance of information in the beginning.
7. About 30-35
8. Most of the time. There are few blogs I don't comment on, just read for enjoyment. But most of the blogs that I visit regularly post regularly and there's lots of opportunity to respond.
9. I don't think it's rude. Manufacturing a comment isn't really the best of interactions. I read one bike blog that I love. As you know, I'm a casual biker. I don't know that I have a lot to add. The few times I've commnented I've seen traffic come to my blog and I know they're puzzled by the Chihuahuas and inhalers! But I continue to read the blog because it's so well done!

[Tammy]

1. Yes
2. Who cares - it's your blog.
3. On blogger you can add categories after you publish without screwing things up, not sure about typepad.
4. I usually don't - if I get in trouble, I will, but since it's just for leisure reading and not for profit I don't think it's a big deal.
5. If it doesn't say, then who knows.
6. Don't know.
7. Around 30ish
8. I comment on most of them - sometimes I read, then come back later and comment. I like it when people comment on mine, so tit for tat, I say.
9. I don't think so - sometimes I don't have anything interesting or clever to say. And some blogs that have 50+ comments, I'll sometimes not leave a comment on.

[noble pig]

Commenting on blogs is a way to build traffic to yours otherwise how would they know you exist. I can't comment on every blog I read, there's too many. I wish I could return all comments but again too many...argh!

[Tammy]

Thank you so much for answering my questions.

I will definitely start commenting on more of the blogs I read. I read about 20 daily, but comment on only about half of them.

I'm also going back and give categories to past posts.

I won't get too stressed about using pictures from the internet, unless they are obviously copyrighted.

You all have been very helpful and I really appreciate it.

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

This is a compilation of knowledge I gleaned when I was first starting out. http://jugglinglife.typepad.com/juggling_life/2008/03/jenns-guide-to.html

Usually it is rude to link to yourself, but I think I'm being helpful in this case.

Typepad seems to allow for changes in posts and categories, but I've been composing in Microsoft LiveWriter for a long time and I much prefer it. You can do a lot more with photos.

If you want readers you have to comment--and the comments must be pithy and fun in order to make people want to come check you out. Be sure to comment on some really popular sites--like Derfward Manor.

I follow 90 blogs--but I am a very fast reader. I try to comment almost every day. I also always visit and comment at least once to anyone that comments on my blog. I think it is extremely rude not to do that. If someone comments on my blog regularly, but is not a daily read of mine (I have to draw the line somewhere!) I try and comment at least once a week.

I hope this helps. Blogging has been one of the most fun things I've ever done and I have made so many real life friends it is amazing. There is a blogger I have never met in real life but consider a friend--I am going to take her daugher on a college visit when she is visiting my city. How else could something like that happen?! The blogosphere is a warm and wonderful place!

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

Also, I'd turn off comment verification until you actually have a problem. People comment more when they don't have to face that step-and TypePad's is the worst--that's what I have. In over a year I've not had a spam problem.