New year, new blog? Make it a great one.

Ready to get your new blog off to a great start (or kick-start your old one)? Blogging 101 returns on Monday, January 5.

New to blogging? A new session of our introductory blogging course starts on Monday, January 5 — and all bloggers are welcome, whether you blog on WordPress.com, a self-hosted WordPress blog, or somewhere else entirely.

Blogging 101 is four weeks of daily bite-size assignments that take you from “Blog?” to “Blog!” — along with a supportive community to encourage you all the way through. At the end of the course, you’ll have a blog you’re proud and excited to publish, and that others are excited to read.
Here’s how it works:

  • Assignments fall into three broad categories — publishing posts and pages, customizing your blog, and engaging with the community — and are designed to build on one another.
  • We’ll post a new assignment here on The Daily Post each weekday at 12AM GMT. Each assignment will contain all the inspiration and instructions you need to complete it. Weekends are free (but we’ll suggest some ways you might want to spend them).
  • Participants will have a private community site, the Commons, for chatting, connecting, and seeking feedback and support. Daily Post staff and Happiness Engineers will be on hand to answer your questions and offer guidance and resources.

You’ll walk away with six (or more!) published posts and a handful of drafts, a customized theme that reflects your personality, a small but growing audience, a good grasp of blogging etiquette — and a bunch of new online friends.

My blog has gone from being dull and plain to having widgets and all this shmancy tech stuff, and from having almost no followers to having a loyal following now!
– Microgalactic

Ready to kick start your blog? Sign up by filling out this simple form:

Registration is closed, but Blogging 101 will be back in February!

Note: you won’t receive an automated confirmation email immediately, but you will get a welcome email with complete instructions prior to the start of the course.


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180 Comments

Comments are closed.

  1. Pat Luffman Rowland

    I got a “not safe connection” when I went on to sign up.

    Liked by 9 people

    • Michelle W.

      It’s the “s” in the “https” triggering a warning in your browser — you can either just delete the “s” (it’s totally safe, I promise), or fill out the form right in this post instead (eg, by visiting the post on this blog rather than using the link in the email).

      Liked by 6 people

  2. margber

    Loved getting involved in blogging 101 and highly recommend it to all bloggers. It’s an amazing tool and I credit the success and growth of both of my WP blogs to this course!!

    Happy New Year to you and all that make WP a creative outlet for so many. Thank you for all that you do us!! Love my WP family 💝

    Liked by 10 people

  3. impossiblebebong

    I already signed in. Can’t wait for Writing 101 to start again. I’ll join there too. Still plenty to learn and too much to improve. Glad there is a room in wordpress for people who are eager to educate themselves by way of these courses. Grateful.

    Liked by 8 people

  4. nancypruitt

    Please sign me up for your blog in class I tried to go to the view poll and it says it is an unsecured site so I was unable to complete the enrollment.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Michelle W.

      You can fill out the form right in this post instead (eg, by visiting the post on this blog rather than using the link in the email).

      Like

  5. sandyandsusie

    Does this course cost anything?

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Rose Spillenaar Harmer

    I am excited to take this course. However when I clicked on “Take Our Survey my firefox said it was not trustworthy???? Rose Harmer

    Liked by 2 people

    • Michelle W.

      It’s the “s” in the “https” triggering a warning in your browser — but no worries, you can fill out the form right in this post instead (eg, by visiting the post on this blog rather than using the link in the email)!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Rose Cothren

    Here’s probably the dumbest comment and question you’ll get today. I must have a blog url, but I don’t know what it is. How can I find out? (As you can tell, I really need Blogging 101. In fact, I might need Blogging 001.) Thanks, Rose

    Liked by 9 people

  8. Lady Tie Di

    when I click on the sign-up link, it gives me all manner of doom and gloom statements of people trying to steal our passwords, etc….. paranoid or do I sign up? 🙂 Signed, Interested blogger

    > >

    Liked by 2 people

    • Michelle W.

      It’s the “s” in the “https” triggering a warning in your browser — but no worries; everything’s safe, and you can fill out the form right in this post instead (eg, by visiting the post on this blog rather than using the link in the email)!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. service@tsimus.com

    Thank you very much. We look forward to the welcoming email.Tsimus

    Liked by 3 people

  10. Dolores Fawn

    I’m excited to do this! I’m really struggling to get the hang of meeting people and promoting my blog, and I’m excited to improve my writing abilities too.

    Liked by 4 people

  11. growhort

    Really looking forward to kick starting the New Year with this blogging course starting on Monday, January 5.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Gradmama2011

    One of the things I love about blogging101 is that there are no dumb questions! In fact, I’m signing up again…didn’t do it justice last time, so if they will take me I’ll re-take the course. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  13. blenderhill

    Is there a cost?

    Liked by 3 people

  14. Paola Faldon

    Hi Michelle, I don’t have a blog yet, may I join the course anyway? I would like to have one soonest! Thanx!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Michelle W.

      The course is open to anyone, but I’d strongly recommend that you create a basic blog first — all the assignments, from day one, are meant to be done on your blog, so if you don’t have one, you’ll be a bit hamstrung.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com

    I got the same doom and glom. I’ve been blogging on WP for nearly five years, but wondered if there might be some tips to get over the odd problem, eg how to change font and typesize; how to stop draft layouts from being condensed on publishig.

    Liked by 3 people

  16. mspam1

    I have been blogging for a year on Fsacebook and here at WordPress. I have been so disappointed with the likes, following and responses. I put a lot of work in my post. I research and my post look like I have. But to attract no likes or six views is becoming disheartening. I wonder if its me…I have no idea where to go….I have considered going hard copy with a newsletter. I am in a funk and I don’t like it.

    Liked by 4 people

    • Michelle W.

      Many people who take Blogging U. courses see a spike in their views and followers, and many of the assignments in this course are aimed at helping you build an audience — you might find it a fruitful experience.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. maristravels

    I’m already blogging but not happy with the appearance or what I’m doing. I need help!

    Liked by 5 people

  18. gritsonamission

    Excited about the opportunity to actually learn something about blogging. I’ve had a blog for some time, now, but it’s a flop. Looking forward to learning something that will help.

    Thanks for the course!

    Liked by 4 people

  19. aranislandgirl

    Wow! Amazing stuff, totally psyched to take this! Huge thanks! Xx

    Liked by 2 people

  20. itsthechakrasstupid

    I signed up under the blog name I began using several months ago. I would like to change the name to something else. Will I learn how to do that?

    Liked by 3 people

  21. annettebennett

    I can’t get on either – no s in the https – so what next??

    Liked by 2 people

  22. sjawy22

    I just started my own blog and I am excited to learn how to do it! Thank you!

    Liked by 5 people

  23. jkazakoff

    I’m in.

    Warm regards,

    Jim Kazakoff

    Liked by 3 people

  24. GamingPicks

    Registered, thank you! I think I still have a lot to learn.

    Liked by 3 people

  25. myscatteredmusings

    I’m so excited about this blogging class. I began my blog in Oct and here it is December. I am so lost and new to all of this I can not even get my first page going. This is a blessing.
    My Scattered Musings
    Kimberly

    Liked by 1 person

  26. prosper4christ

    Happy new year to you also in advance! Thanks…but i’am not a new blogger on WordPress.com.

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Cindy Braid

    2 questions~when do you start and end? Would this help me with my retail site as i do blog about my products? Thank you Cindy

    Liked by 2 people

    • Michelle W.

      The course begins on Monday, January 5 and runs for 4 weeks. It’s aimed at developing a blog, but you might find use it in for a different kind of site as well, and it would definitely help develop a product-oriented blog. It’s an open, informal course, so you can always follow along and drop it if it doesn’t seem relevant to you. (We also plan to introduce more education and inspiration for people building sites/businesses, but that’s still a few months away.)

      Liked by 2 people

  28. lorihenriksen

    I ignored the warning and hope I signed up correctly.

    Liked by 2 people

  29. lb9studios

    I joined and am looking forward to learning how to make my blog better!!!

    Liked by 3 people

  30. louisejarmo

    How do I sign up for Blogging 101? I am being asked for my blog’s URL but I don’t have one yet.

    Liked by 2 people

  31. nestorasoretzu

    English is not my primary language. How much can affect me if I take the course?

    Liked by 3 people

    • Michelle W.

      All the assignments will be in English, but you’re free to blog in whatever language you’d like. Some bloggers, particularly those who write in French of Spanish, have also found that they’re able to participate and get feedback from other bloggers, but it depends entirely on who’s taking the course.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Oz Nature Shots

    Hi When I went to register for this I received the following message from Firefox.

    Is there a reason that you aren’t using trusted identification?

    Thanks Emmy

    Liked by 2 people

    • Michelle W.

      It’s the “s” in the “https” triggering a warning in your browser — you can either just delete the “s” (it’s totally safe, I promise), or fill out the form right in this post instead (eg, by visiting the post on The Daily Post rather than using the link in the email).

      Liked by 2 people

  33. Rita Jensen

    Looking forward to this class. I have tried to create a blog a few times but never stuck it out because I just was not educated on how to run one or manage one.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Be a good one

    Just signed up (after ignoring the warning). Looking forward to the first assignment. 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  35. marksway33

    Tried to register but the registration is asking for my url address. Not sure how to retrieve that, di

    Liked by 2 people

  36. mmbaquiran

    I just created my blog on wordpress but I have not published anything. I am interested to join this workshop to jumpstart my blog.

    Liked by 2 people

  37. mmbaquiran

    But the signup is a fail. I cannot sign up.

    Like

  38. Brian21

    I don’t have a URL, what do you suggest is the best way to set this up?

    Like

  39. examhacker

    Will i able to learn how to increase traffic in this course?

    Liked by 2 people

    • Michelle W.

      That’s definitely part of what we’ll do, but if that’s your main focus, we’ll have an intermediate course focused on traffic and growth coming up in February.

      Liked by 2 people

  40. endiadavis

    Thanks! I am looking forward to this!

    Liked by 1 person

  41. robofics

    Well, im new to blogging.

    And the problems is always “i dont know what to write” haha.

    Still dont have enough inspiration to write >_<

    Liked by 2 people

  42. Lebo.M says.....

    Hi. I really do appreciate this opportunity. I have been struggling with my blog but also trying my best with managing it. I have registered too and looking forward to learning as much as I can. I would be very glad to receive your assistance. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  43. turistipersbaglio

    I wonder, with my blog being in Italian, if I can join in anyway…. and see what happens: I’m pretty curious and it was in my 2015 wishes to improve our newborn blog.

    Liked by 2 people

  44. abbeycity1

    Pls, I don’t have a laptop so I blog most of the time with my blackberry9700. Will it be convenient to take the blogging class on my cellphone. I am from Nigeria.

    Liked by 1 person

  45. retrocookery

    Tried to sign up, but the page will not load.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle W.

      If you’re trying to access the sign-up form from an email, the “s” in the “https” might be triggering a warning in your browser — you can either just delete the “s” (it’s totally safe, I promise), or fill out the form right in this post instead (eg, by visiting the post on this site rather than using the link in the email).

      Like

  46. samanthajolenejames

    oooh I wish i could take this class ! just started writing a book blog a few days ago and have posted some reviews and favorite author’s list but have not had any traffic or followers gained , i dont know how to get notice! this class would be great !

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Juinita

    Thank you for the tutorial. Just recently, I told myself to start blogging again, and hopefully by sign up in your tutorial, could help my blogging habit back to the surface again.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. Tina Thoughts

    Thank you for this another opportunity! 😀 I can’t wait!

    Liked by 2 people

  49. craftybstards

    This form won’t recognise my url!

    Liked by 1 person

  50. Terry

    Michelle,

    Bless you and your tired little fingers. Looking forward to starting my second blog having had a loss of focus on the first.

    Terry

    Liked by 1 person

  51. ellasevistedeblanco

    Hi! this is so exciting! I just opened my blog and can´t wait to get new ideas and tips! Hope I can still do it even if I already have a blog! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  52. Willoughby Wonders

    Just signed up for the course and am looking forward to it!

    Liked by 1 person

  53. blueblankiebooks

    I have a question. I’ve just registered with the URL that still had .wordpress attached to it. I’ve since purchased the .com URL on its own. Does this matter? Or do I need to register again with the updated URL?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle W.

      No need to re-register — we just use the URLs to compile a community blogroll, and since your original .wordpress.com URL will redirect to your custom domain, everyone will still be able to find you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  54. Rahul Ranjan

    Nice initiative indeed! WordPress.com is so simple and flexible. In three years my blog reached to so many people that won’t be possible to meet them physically wont be possible in a lifetime.
    Thank you wordpress.com for this beautiful community 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  55. SalmaOA

    I’m so excited, I can’t wait to start this course!!

    Liked by 1 person

  56. annmarieabongo

    my first blog post is on new years day. cant wait to take this

    Liked by 2 people

  57. Sheila Long

    Is this course free? Also, I’m going to be away Jan. 5, returning the 7th, so can I catch up once the course has started?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle W.

      Yup, everything we do in Blogging U. is free and open. All the assignments will be available online, so you can catch up as you’re able.

      Like

  58. htran780

    Hi I am completely new to blogging and looking to improve my writing skills.
    looking forward to this course, as I also just got into affiliate marketing.

    Liked by 2 people

  59. allyxstuart

    I don’t see the link to the sign up?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle W.

      If you’re viewing this post at your computer, you should see a short form right in the post itself; if you received the post via email, there should be a link in the post that says “take survey” or “view poll” — that’s what you want.

      Like

  60. sharolene

    No need to register or reregister. I never registered originally. Do I need to put in my email address somewhere?

    Liked by 1 person

  61. patternsofsouldevelopment

    Hi, Michelle! I can’t wait to go from “Blog?” to “Blog!” Thanx a lot for your offering of time, effort and expertise!

    Liked by 1 person

  62. songlinespilgrim

    Thanks for offering this course again for the new year! I’m looking forward to attempting a reboot on a blog I started a couple of years back. It’s been lying untended for a while now, but I’m excited to see how I might make the most of it in 2015.

    Liked by 1 person

  63. The Welsh Bee

    Looking forward to documenting 2015! Excited to do it properly haha

    Liked by 1 person

  64. edna blanco

    …thanks for the opportunity and sparing your precious time and expertise. ..
    … i really need this … parlance is new…

    Liked by 1 person

  65. southp

    Registered at the first sight! Is it ok to write the assignment posts in Chinese?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle W.

      Of course! You’ll get less feedback from your peers on the Commons, if you choose to participate there, but you’re free to blog in whatever language you choose!

      Liked by 1 person

  66. unifiedsistershttps://wordpress.com/?ssl=forced#!/settings/public-profile/

    Hi there the link on my email aslo stated the site is untrustworthy . But i signed above .Cant wait happy new year

    Liked by 1 person

  67. ARealGoodThing

    I would love how to blog better and get more readers to my site as I continue to build it up! Thx!!

    Liked by 1 person

  68. asuncheerwine

    I can’t wait for it to start!

    Liked by 1 person

  69. Lexcee Roupe

    How do I sign up for the blogging 101?

    Liked by 1 person

  70. Jay Neog

    How do I confirm if I am registered or not? I filled out the form and clicked on register. The page kind of reloaded and the form reappeared as blank. Should I get a already registered button?

    Like

  71. jelem10

    Ho do I join the course?

    Like

  72. manonplatje

    I’m really excited! Can’t wait to learn stuff properly, instead of figuring everything out DIY-style 🙂

    Like

  73. frohdog

    When I tried to sign up for this, my computer told me that the link I clicked on was dangerous and I shouldn’t go there, so I didn’t. It said that the link was impersonating someone legit. Too bad, because it looked like a good course.

    Like

    • Michelle W.

      It’s the “s” in the “https” triggering a warning in your browser — you can either just delete the “s” (it’s totally safe, I promise), or fill out the form right in this post instead (eg, by visiting the post on this blog rather than using the link in the email).

      Like

  74. ayietim1

    Congratulations WordPress team!! You guys are ahead of the time and you are doing a great job, keep it up. I have registered, I can not wait to be part of it. It sounds exciting.

    Like

  75. lindiwem

    I’m so excited to take this course and looking forward to meeting other bloggers
    http://portialindi.wordpress.com

    Like

  76. lindaferguson10

    I so need this. Can’t wait to discover the secrets of blogging

    Like

  77. leiatilley

    Hey,
    I am not sure if this course will help my blog, as I am not sure of the quality of my blogs appearance etc. Also is this course only open to new blogs?

    Thanks!

    Like

  78. Gen

    I’m so excited for this course! Thanks for doing this!

    Like

  79. Chumbin Bujari

    I fear that people might copy my work and pass it off as their own. Is there anything about copyright (or something like that) that you’ll cover in the course?

    Like

    • Michelle W.

      Not really, this is more of a nuts-and-bolts course on customizing, publishing, and building an audience. However, the Commons site is a great place to start a conversation with other bloggers about their takes on copyright and how they handle things.

      Like

  80. rainerreflections

    I’ve registered (chose to ignore warnings about security certificate!) and look forward to improving my existing blogging – I seem to have got to a fairly basic level and got stuck, so very much hope this course moves me on!

    Like

  81. Alicia Ai Leng

    Time to start afresh with all the initiatives abound.

    Like

  82. christopherthomas27

    I need this aswell, looking forward to following this!

    Like

  83. RootsViews

    I have been blogging very sparsely for roughly the past 2 years. The only reason I continue to check up on it is because I get around 3-5 views daily, and it’s sort of funny and motivating! I want to build a better following, post more routinely, and spice up my blog. I’m hoping this WordPress 101 course will be even more motivation!
    Happy New Year!

    ~RootsViews

    Like

  84. waynemullane

    I’ve just got into blogging; can’t believe I’ve left it this late: it’s so addictive. The fact that this is a free course is great. I’m looking forward to gaining loads of new skills

    Like

  85. anooptommy

    Hi michelle,

    Glad to join in. Would this be some sort of chatroom bound course.(meaning will we have to be online at a particular time for the course) or can we take it up as per our convenient time?

    Thanks for organising this course.!

    Like

  86. reneeadams

    I would love to start this course…sorry to say…I’m not seeing the form to fill out..? It says…fill out this simple form…it’s not showing up…

    Like

  87. jacobojuliet

    Is this for free?

    Like

  88. crazyd07

    really excited about this…! 🙂

    Like

  89. Do This For Real

    I’m in! And super excited!

    Like

  90. evilqueenhr

    I haven’t seen the email yet. I want to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Did it go out or when will it come? Thank you, I’m excited about the course.

    Like

  91. urell

    Hi Michelle,

    A recent commenter (anooptommy) above, asked if this course is sort of a chatroom and followed up to clarify what he meant. Your answer was “nope, no chatrooms,” and you further explained, “…interact on the private course site…,” do you mean the “Commons” as you’ve mentioned to others earlier?

    Like

  92. itripler

    This is great! I’m so excited to get started on this 🙂

    Like

  93. Kozmique

    I have a blog, but it’s been lying fallow for the last couple of years. My problem is not that I can’t think of what to write about, but I have too many things to write about, and I can’t figure out where to start, how to manage my time, etc.

    Like

  94. chadaboom

    I am uber excited to start. I have started “blogging” a few years ago only to never type one blog. I tried again at the beginning of last year but didn’t keep up with it. I found that I have no clue how the make the page more appealing or any of the basics. I look forward to learning and hopefully growing my blog. Thank you in advance.

    Like

  95. Charlotte Ortega

    Happy New Year Michelle! And thanks for this wonderful learning opportunity. I have been blogging for a while but I am using a fraction of the potential on the word press blog and there are a lot of terms on the dashboard I don’t understand. Is it okay for me to sign up for this course although I am not a brand new blogger?

    Like

  96. Loretta

    Michelle, I registered for the course about a week or so ago, but have heard nothing since. Where do I find out about Monday’s course?

    Like

  97. KaboodleMum

    I just signed up but I’m nervous!

    Like

  98. pendrym

    I’d love that, but my blog is mainly about photography. If it’s still alright I am in 🙂

    Like

  99. Niceforo Nacaytuna Iroy

    thanks for the opportunity looking forward to learn more…inspite of an IT prof..

    Like

  100. Naijahomecaterer.wordpress.com

    i tried signing up for the class, but it didnt work out, i dont know wat to do pls help me out. Thanks

    Like

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