How to Blog

Nivea Visage Vital, together with New Idea, the Seven Network and Yahoo!7, is giving these four ladies the opportunity to experience the beauty of making a difference by taking part in one of two exciting overseas volunteering projects. We’ve shown them how they can set up a blog to keep in touch with us while they’re away and here’s how you can be involved too.

You can check out Our Four Volunteers blogs here:

Diana Fazekas, Diana's Blog
Suzanne Bradbury, Suzanne's Blog
Patricia Woodham, Patricia's Blog
Sue Blanning, Sue's Blog

In recognition of the valuable contribution women over 50 make to volunteering, The Vitality Project from NIVEA VISAGE VITAL has rewarded four women from around Australia with the opportunity to take part in an overseas volunteering programme in one of two exciting locations. Sue Blanning (NSW) and Patricia Woodham (SA) will travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to take part in a spoken English project, whilst Suzanne Bradbury (WA) and Diane Fazekas (SA) will live for four weeks in South Africa to assist in a conservation project on Pidwa Private Game Reserve. Whilst overseas, the volunteers will be keeping in touch with everyone back home in Australia via a regular online blog.

If you’re interested in tracking their progress or want to stay in contact with friends and loved ones by setting up your own blog, read on to find out how.

What is a Blog?

A blog is a website, or part of a website, comprised of entries written in the style of a journal or diary. The entries could include components such as text, video, photos and links to other websites. Blogs are also used by people who want an easy and immediate way of letting their family and friends know what they’re up to, or to keep a record of a special event in their lives, such as a big holiday, getting married or becoming a parent.

Bloggers don’t have to share their thoughts, some blog services make it possible to keep your entries completely private, such as Yahoo!7’s 360°. It’s your place to share your ideas, thoughts and opinions on absolutely anything with everyone, a few special people – or no-one!

How can I start a Blog?

Go to http://au.360.yahoo.com

Click on the big ‘Get started’ button. You will be asked to provide some basic information – the nickname and email you would like to have associated with your Yahoo!7 360° blog.

Click on the ‘Finished’ button to move to the next step – starting your page. Click on the ‘Start my page’ button and follow the simple three-step process to create your very own page.

Your 360° page is made up of many functions, all of which have been designed to let you express yourself in any format you like.

You can share photos, send an email blast to all your friends, let people know your favourite websites and keep your blog full of your favourite moments and personal thoughts.

Your First Blog Entry

Now that you have set up your page, it is up to you to format the look and content to reflect all the things that are relevant to you. To get started, follow these steps:

1. If you’re already on your home page, click the ‘Start a blog’ link, which will take you to the blog creation page.

2. Follow the instructions on the page to add a title for your blog and description, as this will appear at the
top of your blog when people view it.

Each blog entry consists of a title, a photo (optional), and content (also optional!). To personalise your page, format the text to your liking by simply utilising the toolbar – you can add HTML links, bold or italic text, emoticons and even change the colours. Congratulations – you’re now officially a blogger!