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Blogging basics start with understanding the vocabulary of blogs. You need to know what blog, blogging platform, domain and web host all mean. I'll give you a quick overview on what each of these terms mean. Once you know what you're talking about, you'll be able to start blogging on your own.

Blog is shorthand for web log. Where a log is like a diary, so it's an online diary! Blogs are generally published in reverse chronological order (newest first, oldest last). While most blogs are text, more and more are embracing video and audio. The remainder of blogging 101 has to do with more techie stuff. You'll need to have a web host, a domain and a blogging platform.

You'll probably have heard TypePad and WordPress banded about in relation to blogging platforms, these are the 2 most commonly used, though there are dozens of others. The blogging platform is what you type your posts into and by customizing it (not as hard as it sounds), you can get a different look and feel for your blog. The web host is sort of like the virtual file cabinet where your blog is stored. Your computer communicates with the host when you upload or edit a post. There are thousands of web hosts available. I personally use 1and1.com and Bluehost.com.

A domain is how your readers will find you. Instead of typing in a IP address, they'll type in an easier to remember domain name and the requests will get forwarded on to your web host who will handle things from there. Most domain names end in 'dot com' but 'dot net' or 'dot org' are also popular. Choose a good, easy to remember domain so your readers won't have a hard time coming back for more of your quality content.

Now that you know what a blog is, what a platform is, and what domains and hosts are, congratulate yourself! You'll be able to hold a basic conversation with your fellow bloggers now. It wasn't that hard, now was it?