How to Create a Blog Site
So, you want to create a blog site. You’ve heard of it. You’ve read a few. You’ve even posted some comments here and there. And you think you’re ready to create your own blog. Where do you start?
Well, you have several options. The easiest, by far, is simply to go to Blogger.com. Open an account, choose a title for your blog, pick a template and you’re ready to start blogging. Blogger even makes it easy for you to monetize your blog by adding Adsense ads.
If you’ve never created your own web site before, this is probably the simplest way to go about it. That said, why then wouldn’t you want to start a Blogger blog?
Firstly, many Blogger accounts are being closed without warnings. Blogger.com is trying to combat spam blogs and in the process have affected many innocent blogs. So, if you’re thinking of using Blogger for your business. You may want to think again.
Another thing that I really can’t get over is the fact that Blogger does not provide an easy way to categorise your posts. I find it really difficult to read through a blog where all it’s posts are lumped in one topic.
Another alternative is WordPress.com. WordPress.com is similar to Blogger. WordPress.com is great free blog service. They do allow you set up categories for your posts. The only thing about WordPress.com is you can’t change the template. Why is this important? Because I can’t add my Adsense code to the sidebar.
If you want to start off on the right foot, I would suggest you get your own domain name and hosting account and install a copy WordPress on your server. I know, it sounds hard but trust me, it really isn’t. As you will see in the coming WordPress video tutorial series.
The trick here is to look for a web host that has a “one-click install” feature that will allow you to install WordPress onto your server space with literally a click of a button. If you’re still looking for a web host, I recommend ThirdSphere Hosting if you’re thinking of running a full fledged online business. If you only want to create a blog then check out HostGator.
Even if you already have a hosting account that doesn’t have this feature, don’t fret. As long as your web host supports php and you have access to one MySQL database, you can easily install it manually.
The great thing about doing this is you’ll have your blog on your own server space with your own domain name and you have absolute control over the look of your blog and how it works.
Anyway, I’m sure you’re eager to get started. So, I better work on those videos 
Related posts:
- I Did It! I’m blogging!
- Nvu - A Review
- Create A Cool Looking Blog With Squarespace
- Blogging your way to a web site
- Build Websites With Google Sites
April 24th, 2007 at April 24, 2007, 4:14 pm
[…] ” How to Create a Blog Site How to Create a Blog Site. Posted on Mon 27 Mar 2006 under Blogging … If you only want to create a blog then check out HostGator. … […]
February 1st, 2008 at February 1, 2008, 2:29 am
blog blog blog
I obtained the tutorial. It’s good.
I have used web editors before, but not really blogging editors.
This helps where things are blurry.
One note at this point. The ability to set up wordpress manually is not for the faint of heart. I have 2 service providers, and neither of them uses the fantastico cPanel gui. They use proprietary. Also they are hungry to collect fees for service contracts and set up, so they use proprietary control panels.
In one sense this shows they have programing and script chops. For the tutorial it is really futile to try to use anything else but fantastico cPanel as your tutorial shows.
Don’t get me wrong, the tutorial is great. But the learning curve on setting up a manual install is really hard.
Yes I downloaded the wordpress and extracted it.
Yes, I was able to rescript the wp-config.php file.
Yes I was able to set up the SQL database with ID & PW and associate it with where I wanted to put wordpress.org materials.
Yes - I was able to make subdirectories, etc.
Yes I used FTP to up load the the server and everything seems to be there.
No - I can’t call the admin program and set it up.
After all that work of about 6 hours, nothing. Everything seems to be done right, everything in it’s place……..but to get it to work, there is no way out of calling for some expensive support time. They have something specific just out of reach, unless you know their config, or are willing to pay for that.
The jist is this. Don’t bother to try this manually with a provider that won’t help unless they get paid to do so. It is no beginners activity and it’s a waste of money.
The provider I have even boasts about how good wordpress works on their webservers. I’m sure it does after they set it up and get paid.
Without the open framework of the visible fantasico cPanel gui as you describe it, it is way futile.
I just went with the free wordpress.com option. I can get the worth out of the instructions and how to set up stuff. That’s very nice.
But if you can’t get the admin program to load off of your providers server, forget it.
It’s not your fault. They want to make money. So they config the servers to demand extra explicite steps. That is powerful if you need it, but for us “newbie non-techs” that high power consultation driven server admin is a pain in the glutius maximus.
I stick with your stuff Bina, because to me it’s worth it. I return and have used your classes a lot. I have no plan to change.
Up front though, you could have said something like this: “REQUIREMENTS - must be willing to open a new web service provider, or be 100% certain that you have fantastico cPanel gui on the one you plan to use. DO NOT TRY THIS ON WEBSERVERS WITHOUT IT.”
Without this, I’m not sure how much that I’m going to be able to customize using wordpress.com, but I’m going to try, and no hard feelings, really.
thanks
JD Peddle