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How To Start a New Blog

Posted By BlogsNBucks On June 7, 2007 @ 10:36 pm In Blogging | 4 Comments

How to create a new blog? I will explain how I did it within 24 hours. It’s very easy and I will show you all the step by step process to start a new blog.

10 Steps to make a new blog:


#1 Buy a Domain Name: The very first thing any new blogger or web developer has to do is to decide their domain name, even if you are planning to create a free blog in blogger.com or blogspot.com. I personally prefer buying a domain instead of using free sub-domain. If you want to do it for fun than it’s more than okay to go for a free service. But if you are planning to make money form your blog then a good domain name is important.

I bought my domain from GoDaddy Inc. They are one of the largest domain sellers in the world. I have few other domains with GoDaddy. There service is outstanding and price is very cheap. So, go ahead and buy a domain name from GoDaddy and start your blog today.

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#2 Find a Good Web Hosting: Now once you grabbed you domain name, you need to host it somewhere. There are hundreds of web hosting companies out there but not all of them are reliable, have good customer service, or even offer affordable price. I would personally pick GoDaddy web hositng since i am hosting with GoDaddy Linux server. But PowWeb Web Hosting, Yahoo! Web hosting and Hostrocket are on the top list too.

#3) Install WordPress: There are many web hosting companies who offers free blog or CMS (content management system) script installation. It comes as a built-in with the hosting plan. Godaddy and Powweb both have amazing auto script instalation system which will not take more that 5-10 minutes to install the complete WordPress (including database and necessary files upload) on your web server. I personally choose WordPress because this is the easiest and the most popular blogging script out there. I might discuss how to install WordPress manually on web server later in my blog but for now i will skip that part.

#4) Upgrade WordPress: After installation of WordPress, as soon as you login to the dashboard or control panel, you will see if there is any latest version of the script available or not. I highly recommend that you download the updated version at this point of starting your new blog. Because once you install all the plug-ins and add-ons for WordPress you might have to stick with your older WordPress version due to the version requirement.

#5) Activate Permalinks: Now it’s time to load your blog with features. First you should activate permalinks from WordPress dashboard or control panel (look under options tag).This will create static URL for your blog instead of basic or dynamic WordPress URL .

Example:

http://www.mysite.com/?p=7 (dynamic URL)

TO

http://www.mysite.com/your-blog-title (static URL, search engine friendly)

This way you have the advantage over search engine optimization because many search engine including Google search crawler DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT prefer sign(”?” or “=”) in the URL.

#6) Install Title Tag Plug-in: Now you need to have a better title tags for each of your blog post. This feature is also very important when it comes to search engine ranking. I will explain more about the importance of title tag later on SEO article section. But for now just install the title tag plug-in (it’s very easy to install, all you have to do is upload the folders or a single file) and thank me later because i suggested so. You can get many verities of title tag plugins for WordPress but i am using actually two of these following scripts at the same time.
i) SEO Title Tag By Stephan Spencer, Netconcepts
ii) HeadSpace 2 By John Godley

The reason i am using two plug-ins it’s because they give the ultimate control over your blog posts. Read my next step and you will exactly know why i installed two same plug-ins (almost the same).

#7) Install Meta Tag Plug-in: There it is, i needed a plug-in to write different meta tags (meta keywords and meta description) for different post in my WordPress blog. I know, i know, Google does not follow meta tags but guess what the second biggest search engine who receive the most web traffic in the world Yahoo! Search still looks for your meta keywords and meta description. Having said so, make sure you use your meta keywords and meta description right after your title tag. There are many top class search engine optimizers still think this is a good approach to attract search engines to your website.So, beside title tag plugin i am using SEO Tittle Tag plug-in just to create more unique and more attractive page for both users and search crawlers.

#8) Choose WordPress Theme or Template: I do not have lots to say about templates or the design of a blog but when you are choosing your weblog template or theme keep 3 things in mind at least:

  • Try not to use flash or fancy web design that will not only take your visitors eyes to the web designing rather than your post but also search engine will not or cannot read you flash design.
  • Try to use a blog theme that has a built-in search box at the top. If not use widgets (look under “Presentation” tabs in WordPress dashboard or control panel) and keep your search box at the top. It will increase your visitors stickiness.
  • Try to use a blog template that has a navigation bar where you can add all the most important pages of your blog. It will help both your visitors and search engine to find your different blogs or post easily and quickly.

There are hundreds of free WorPress Themes. Download the one that met most of you r needs. The last thing about blog theme is that at least make an unique header image rather than copying someone else’s header or using the same header image that comes with the template. I have seen many people just add some alpha numerical sign on the images and get ready with there blog.

#9) Keep It Simple (KISS): I always try to keep my sites simple and neat. This is good for your new visitors who is not familiar with your site’s navigation or layout. We can also call it user friendliness. keeping extra URLs or link, ads, unnecessary activated plug-ins, extra side bars might look attractive in your eyes but you visitors might think differently.

#10) Install Google Analytics: The last but not the least, install Google Analytics, it will collect all your blog visitors information including how many unique visitors, how many page visits, visitors location, languages, referrer and so on. So, this is very essential if you want to know about your visitors a little more. Because obviously visitors or web traffic are the most important element of a website and doing some research on them will totally worth it.

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