chapter RI AL 1 PY CO SEARCHING.. RI GH TE D MA TE Introducing Blogging and WordPress Creating a blog is a great way to get your message across once you have decided you have something to share with the world. WordPress blogging software lets you deliver that message for free even while giving you complete control over your site.
Choose a Version of WordPress ....................... 4 Choose a Blog Topic............................................ 6 Research Blog Titles ............................................ 8 Buy a Domain Name ......................................... 10 Plan Your Blog’s Content .................................
Choose a Version of WordPress WordPress is available in three different varieties. WordPress.com provides hosting service for blogs and standard configurations. WordPress.org offers blogging software for self-hosted blogs plus WordPress MU (multi-user), a relatively complex program that allows you to run thousands of blogs.
1 chapter Introducing Blogging and WordPress Key Differences: Appearance WordPress.com offers more than 60 layout designs, called themes, but they are good ones. If you want to customize your theme by editing the cascading style sheet, or CSS, you must pay an annual fee. With a selfhosted WordPress blog, you can choose among countless free themes or purchased themes, or create your own. Key Differences: Ads With a self-hosted WordPress blog, you can have zero to endless amounts of advertising.
Choose a Blog Topic You can choose anything as your blog topic, but doing a little research may help you identify the topic that you will love to write about and that readers will come looking for. Expertise If you are an expert in some field, your knowledge could make an excellent blog topic. By writing about your area of experience you will have plenty of content and confidence, and you may be able to use your blog to attract business and advertising. FORWARD STOP .com .
1 chapter Introducing Blogging and WordPress Focused The more focused your topic, the easier it will be for search engines to find it. A focused blog also has greater potential to generate advertising revenues later, if that is one of your goals. www.foodperson.com http://www.flakmag.com/ lly.c www.travelswithsa http://www.slate.com/ Useful and Entertaining Whatever topic you choose, you will get more readers if your blog is useful or entertaining — or both.
Research Blog Titles If you do not take care in naming your blog, you may find down the road that your choice does not serve you well. It may duplicate the name of an existing blog, or you may decide you want to get a domain name but a Web site with your blog’s desired domain name already exists. Blog Title versus Domain Your blog title generally appears across the top of your blog’s front page. A domain name is the part of a Web address that includes .com or .net or one of the other domain name extensions.
Introducing Blogging and WordPress Brainstorm Names Your blog topic is the place to start your search for blog titles. Write as many words and phrases as you can think of associated with your topic. If it is a personal blog, you may simply want to use your real name. Even your real name may not be as unique as you think, however, so write down many options. 1 2 . 3 . 4 . . 5 6 . 7 . 8 . .
Buy a Domain Name If you are self-hosting your blog, you likely will want to buy a domain name to make it easier for readers to find you. You may want to buy one for a WordPress.com blog too. You can buy a domain name from any number of registrars. Web hosts often give their customers a price break on domain registrations, so if you are planning an independent blog, you may want to choose a Web host before registering your domain. RESE WWW RVED FOR .WILE Y.
Introducing Blogging and WordPress 1 chapter 4 Click the domain name you want to register ( changes to 5 ). ● The domain also appears on the right side of the screen under Shopping Cart. You may select multiple domains. 5 5 When you have selected all the domains you want to register, click Buy This or Buy All These Domains if you selected several. 4 6 Review the information on the confirmation page. 7 When you are satisfied with your selection or selections, click Add and Proceed to Checkout.
Plan Your Blog’s Content Your blog will be easier to create and maintain and easier for readers to follow if you plan your content before you start blogging. By planning ahead, you can give your blog a consistent approach that works for you, your content, and your readers. Words, Pictures, or Both? Your choice of having content that is word heavy, picture heavy, or an even balance of words and pictures affects not only the appearance of your blog, but how you spend your time preparing your posts.
Introducing Blogging and WordPress 1 chapter Consider Post Frequency Some bloggers post multiple times a day; others post once a week. Your blog’s topic and your time constraints may dictate how often you can post, and that is fine. More is not necessarily better, but predictable is definitely better! Make Your Blog Stand Out After you have studied other blogs in your subject area, ask what will make your blog unique, aside from its being written by you.
