now that you have a general idea of WHAT blogs are, it's time to ask yourself some questions.
you've learned there are a lot of different programs to create blogs, and add to blogs.
it's all well and good to have a super design, and great content- but -don't you wonder how you get it "out there"?
The Blogopshere is where you need to be- getting there means making the correct logistical decision for what you do and have...
if you are tech savvy, know your "sql's" from your "php's",
the blogosphere is your proverbial oyster!
but, if you are still looking for a single strand when you hear about "perl", well, you are looking for a total package blog, along the lines of a turnkey operation.
don't stress about it- accept what you know now, get your blog up and running, and then, should the interest burn within, learn about ways to further your knowledge in configuring and designing not only blogs, but other applications.
many blog hosts offer a no cost, low frills setup and hosting package- for more info on what and where to find them, see
blog tools.
whether you do this from your own site, or you hook up with a hosted site, is up to you.
a hosted site makes it simple and usually offers everything your blog desires- such as design, an aggregator, community, add-ons and various combinations and computations of these and other frills.
paying a fee is well worth it if your time and abilities are limited, or challenged. no need to add complication to your world. spend the time on your content, on identifying the best community (should you so desire), aligning yourself, and thereby linking to and with, the most informative and inspiring blogs that will support your views and inspire your writing.
the links below are to useful information ranging from blog glossaries, to how-to's, marketing and further explanations.