The New Blogger Toolkit

I have been asked several times in the last few months about a basic set of tools for people wanting to start blogging. “What does it take to make it easy?” is usually how it goes.

Regardless of what blog engine your server is running, or what platform it is running on, making the writing experience pleasant is key to ensuring you’ll keep writing.

Here is my minimum list of tools:

1. MS Live Writer. Bar none, this is the best blog writing editor.
2. Source Code Formatter plugin for Live Writer that lets me insert code without marking it up.
3. Zemanta plugin for Live Writer, which helps find and insert images easily.
4. And SnagIt

And here is my number one piece of advice:

Don’t think you have to write a masterpiece of content to hit the publish button.

In speaking with other bloggers, and through my own experience, I have learned that it is often the innocuous post that you burned out in 5 minutes one afternoon between meetings that lights up people’s passions.

Blog on…