They started as obscure, personal online diaries, but grew to become genuine mainstream media competitors. “Blogs” and “blogging” are now as much a part of our lexicon as “online” and “e-mail,” and this unique form of social media represents an increasingly important information source for an ever more web-centric world. The proliferation of blogging services and simple-to-use blogging tools has made it easier than ever for anyone to join the blogosphere. But there are some tricks to this trade. Here's what you need to know to get the most from your blogging experience.