Choosing your platform
There are several major platforms to blog on, but for simplicity's sake, we're only going to focus on three options: Wordpress (self hosted), Wordpress (hosted) and Blogger. All three give you strong, steady options to blog from, and all three are easy to configure – and best of all, all three should integrate with any structure you've already created or are planning to create within your business.
You may find, however, that you can't integrate the self hosted Wordpress with your site, but you should find that you can find a complimentary template on most good self hosted Wordpress blogs.
Wordpress – self hosted
By far and away, one of the most popular options for anyone that is serious about their blogging, the self hosted Wordpress option. You can install your blog anywhere on your site, and its completely within your control, which means YOU can choose what you'd like to have running – an important feature if you're looking to add the ability to do things like email the information to people, or polls. Or your own advertising in some cases.
By far and away, the easiest way to install Wordpress is via Fantastico – most cpanel hosts offer both Fantastico and the ability to install up to date Wordpress. Otherwise, you can find instructions online at http://wordpress.org
You can choose your own themes, your own plugins – and modify it in any way you see fit.
Wordpress (hosted)
Hosted Wordpress is a secondary option for anyone whose hosting won't support the Wordpress self install options. You can grab blogs from lots of places, but places like http://wordpress.com won't allow you to run a commercial blog – while places like http://thejv-press.com do, in exchange for joining their email list.
Hosted Wordpress blogs will only ever offer the very basics of WordPress blogging – you can't control the themes on offer, which means you can't choose a specific theme – unless it’s already installed on the site. The same applies to plugins.
Blogger
Blogger is a Google owned blogging system, and is highly popular with non tech savvy people. It gives you a basic frame to build on – and is less flexible than either version of Wordpress hosted blogs.
However, Blogger is a great option if you really don't want to modify anything to do with your blog, other than the theme and possibly add some surface widgets.
Blogger also lets you archive your blog on your own site, giving you all of the benefits of self hosting with none of the update headaches.
Ultimately, there are more software options for your blog – such as Moveable Type (perl based) and Typepad (hosted, by the same company that offers Moveable Type and Livejournal). Moveable type is not free for commercial purposes – another one that isn't free, but is a really solid blogging package is Expression Engine – again, you'll have to make sure that you get a valid licence for it, for the purposes you want to use it for.
What about CMS’s?
I'm not recommending any of the CMS based systems, despite the fact that you can use them to build really nice, really strong blogs; you can't use some of the nicer features of blogging that you really need to take full advantage of, to get the most out of your efforts.
Most CMS systems don't have tagging protocols, track backs and pinging - though they have ways to leave comments per article or post, you'll find that they are lacking for full featured blogs.
All of the options will give you a blog that you can build a solid base from, but of course ultimately, where you want to build your blog, be it on your own website or via Blogger (to archive on your site) or hosted with another site, you'll have to stick with what you choose – purely for the fact that you're going to be promoting it – and the last thing you want is to move on after a couple of weeks cause you've played with the others and discover you prefer one over the other.
There is NO HARM in testing them all out first and getting comfortable, if you've never blogged – or haven't explored for a while. Wordpress (self hosted) is easy to install 'vanilla' (no plugins or themes) via Fantastico – just follow the instructions presented and it'll install a simple Wordpress install in around three clicks.
Once you've gotten comfortable you'll need to decide on your theme – you'll also want to pick plugins for Wordpress, play with certain features in Blogger, and add widgets in other programs. We'll cover the plugins and other features for Blogger at the end of the book – for the moment, all you need do, now, is to find a theme you're comfortable with.
Picking a theme
Most people that found blogs have great plans – they want to write interesting content (that makes them money for their effort) and they want to be THE site that people come to for their information.
Most people don't consider what they want their site to look like though. Whether this is a deliberate oversight or if they just don't know what to do with their theme, it’s probably one of the biggest 'beginner' mistakes that anyone can make.
Blogger comes with lots of pre-installed themes – or you can add your own CSS to it, to give it your 'unique' look. Its important to at least personalise any theme you choose be it on Wordpress(self hosted) or Blogger – its not possible on hosted versions of Wordpress, or at least, not as easily. There are customisable options on Wordpress.com but they cost money and they are still aren't as flexible as you can have on your own site, so aren't as customisable as you really need to present a professional image for yourself and your blog.
There are many themes that you can choose from – and it can kind of be like decorating your first house – lots of fun, but very wearing!
Wordpress:
http://themes.wordpress.com
http://www.wpthemesfree.com/
http://www.wpthemespot.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/02/09/83-beautiful-wordpress-themes-you-probably-havent-seen/ (this might take a while to load, but its well worth it)
All of the above sites allow you to use their themes for free, though its well worth checking the licences – some are completely open – others are restricted simply to personal use.
You can also buy templates from professional designers – or look around and see who other people are using. It’s a fair bet that your colleagues or favourite blogs will have designers to recommend highly.
Blogger
Unsurprisingly most Blogger template sites are actually hosted ON Blogger, so you've got a vast array of free blog themes.
http://www.isnaini.com/2005/09/04/blogger-templates-no-60-profesional-themes/
http://blogger-themes.blogspot.com/
http://blogger-templates.blogspot.com/ - the final site also contains a lot of wonderful tips outwith the scope of this guide, about how to add more features, such as web albums (including Picasa) and forms.
Themes are easiest described as the thing that 'skins' your site to look different – more than that though, your theme controls ALL of the appearance of your blog – it’s not just the wall paper on the walls, but the walls themselves in some cases.
There are several major platforms to blog on, but for simplicity's sake, we're only going to focus on three options: Wordpress (self hosted), Wordpress (hosted) and Blogger. All three give you strong, steady options to blog from, and all three are easy to configure – and best of all, all three should integrate with any structure you've already created or are planning to create within your business.
You may find, however, that you can't integrate the self hosted Wordpress with your site, but you should find that you can find a complimentary template on most good self hosted Wordpress blogs.
Wordpress – self hosted
By far and away, one of the most popular options for anyone that is serious about their blogging, the self hosted Wordpress option. You can install your blog anywhere on your site, and its completely within your control, which means YOU can choose what you'd like to have running – an important feature if you're looking to add the ability to do things like email the information to people, or polls. Or your own advertising in some cases.
By far and away, the easiest way to install Wordpress is via Fantastico – most cpanel hosts offer both Fantastico and the ability to install up to date Wordpress. Otherwise, you can find instructions online at http://wordpress.org
You can choose your own themes, your own plugins – and modify it in any way you see fit.
Wordpress (hosted)
Hosted Wordpress is a secondary option for anyone whose hosting won't support the Wordpress self install options. You can grab blogs from lots of places, but places like http://wordpress.com won't allow you to run a commercial blog – while places like http://thejv-press.com do, in exchange for joining their email list.
Hosted Wordpress blogs will only ever offer the very basics of WordPress blogging – you can't control the themes on offer, which means you can't choose a specific theme – unless it’s already installed on the site. The same applies to plugins.
Blogger
Blogger is a Google owned blogging system, and is highly popular with non tech savvy people. It gives you a basic frame to build on – and is less flexible than either version of Wordpress hosted blogs.
However, Blogger is a great option if you really don't want to modify anything to do with your blog, other than the theme and possibly add some surface widgets.
Blogger also lets you archive your blog on your own site, giving you all of the benefits of self hosting with none of the update headaches.
Ultimately, there are more software options for your blog – such as Moveable Type (perl based) and Typepad (hosted, by the same company that offers Moveable Type and Livejournal). Moveable type is not free for commercial purposes – another one that isn't free, but is a really solid blogging package is Expression Engine – again, you'll have to make sure that you get a valid licence for it, for the purposes you want to use it for.
What about CMS’s?
I'm not recommending any of the CMS based systems, despite the fact that you can use them to build really nice, really strong blogs; you can't use some of the nicer features of blogging that you really need to take full advantage of, to get the most out of your efforts.
Most CMS systems don't have tagging protocols, track backs and pinging - though they have ways to leave comments per article or post, you'll find that they are lacking for full featured blogs.
All of the options will give you a blog that you can build a solid base from, but of course ultimately, where you want to build your blog, be it on your own website or via Blogger (to archive on your site) or hosted with another site, you'll have to stick with what you choose – purely for the fact that you're going to be promoting it – and the last thing you want is to move on after a couple of weeks cause you've played with the others and discover you prefer one over the other.
There is NO HARM in testing them all out first and getting comfortable, if you've never blogged – or haven't explored for a while. Wordpress (self hosted) is easy to install 'vanilla' (no plugins or themes) via Fantastico – just follow the instructions presented and it'll install a simple Wordpress install in around three clicks.
Once you've gotten comfortable you'll need to decide on your theme – you'll also want to pick plugins for Wordpress, play with certain features in Blogger, and add widgets in other programs. We'll cover the plugins and other features for Blogger at the end of the book – for the moment, all you need do, now, is to find a theme you're comfortable with.
Picking a theme
Most people that found blogs have great plans – they want to write interesting content (that makes them money for their effort) and they want to be THE site that people come to for their information.
Most people don't consider what they want their site to look like though. Whether this is a deliberate oversight or if they just don't know what to do with their theme, it’s probably one of the biggest 'beginner' mistakes that anyone can make.
Blogger comes with lots of pre-installed themes – or you can add your own CSS to it, to give it your 'unique' look. Its important to at least personalise any theme you choose be it on Wordpress(self hosted) or Blogger – its not possible on hosted versions of Wordpress, or at least, not as easily. There are customisable options on Wordpress.com but they cost money and they are still aren't as flexible as you can have on your own site, so aren't as customisable as you really need to present a professional image for yourself and your blog.
There are many themes that you can choose from – and it can kind of be like decorating your first house – lots of fun, but very wearing!
Wordpress:
http://themes.wordpress.com
http://www.wpthemesfree.com/
http://www.wpthemespot.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/02/09/83-beautiful-wordpress-themes-you-probably-havent-seen/ (this might take a while to load, but its well worth it)
All of the above sites allow you to use their themes for free, though its well worth checking the licences – some are completely open – others are restricted simply to personal use.
You can also buy templates from professional designers – or look around and see who other people are using. It’s a fair bet that your colleagues or favourite blogs will have designers to recommend highly.
Blogger
Unsurprisingly most Blogger template sites are actually hosted ON Blogger, so you've got a vast array of free blog themes.
http://www.isnaini.com/2005/09/04/blogger-templates-no-60-profesional-themes/
http://blogger-themes.blogspot.com/
http://blogger-templates.blogspot.com/ - the final site also contains a lot of wonderful tips outwith the scope of this guide, about how to add more features, such as web albums (including Picasa) and forms.
Themes are easiest described as the thing that 'skins' your site to look different – more than that though, your theme controls ALL of the appearance of your blog – it’s not just the wall paper on the walls, but the walls themselves in some cases.
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