|
HOW TO PUT A WORDPRESS BLOG ON YOUR WEBSITE
Many people who blog using the blogging software host, such as using Google's Blogger or Wordpress.com, also have their own websites and the reason that they do not operate their blog from their website is that either they don't know that they can, or don't know how to do it.
Hopefully, those in the first set of bloggers now know that they can through visiting this website, and those in the second set are about to find out how easy it is. But don't worry: if you are determined to run your blog from your website and find it difficult to follow my simple instructions, I can help you out and do it for you for a small fee of $16.
The Benefits of Wordpress
Blogger has a lot going for it and is simple to use for the beginner. In fact, if you are new to blogging I would recommend that you try Blogger first to get used to this means of communication. However, everybody who is interested in blogging should also try out Wordpress.
If you are already a Wordpress user, then try out Blogger. Once you have used both, then you will be in a position to decide which you like best. I am not going to tell you which is the better: that is your decision to make. If you prefer the way Blogger is structured, and they way the blog software does things, then stay with it.
On the other hand, if you prefer Wordpress, then you should consider running your blog from your own website if you have one. There are many advantages in doing this, and those below are the ones that I have found to suit me. Some of these options are available in the hosted version of Wordpress on Wordpress.com but not to the extent that they are on the downloadable version from Wordpress.org
- Wordpress themes: loads of free and paid templates for your Wordpress pages are available to download from dozens of online sites. Unless you are a pro the free ones are fabulous, and there are thousands of them.
- Wordpress plugins: loads of free plugins that allow you to add almost any feature on your blog that you can think of, including podcasts, video, auto SEO, web2 bookmarking, auto XML sitemap generation, and any other feature that you would like on your blog.
- Totally formatable sidebars: you can use html to design your sidebars exactly as you want, and include links to your other blogs or websites, and any extrernal links you want.
- Adsense Capability: you can monetize your blogs by adding Adsense blocks anywhere you want on your blog, because you have complete control of all the HTML on your blog pages and templates, including Stylesheets, Sidebars, Headers and Footers.
- Continue your monetization by adding some of your affiliate products to your blog, so long as they are relevant to the blog topic. You can do this with both the permanent pages and the individual blog posts.
- Statistics: You can add any of several different stats packages to your blog so that you can analyze traffic exactly as you want to.
- Opt-In Forms: Add opt-in forms to your blogs to build up your own email list. You can add addresses to one of your regular lists, or generate a separate blogging list of email addresses with which you can maintain constant contact. Everybody knows the benefits of an email list in internet marketing (or should do).
- CAPTCHA: Add captcha security to your blog, and ensure that only humans can register with your email list. Prevent spamming and maintain a clean list full of people genuinely interested in the subject of your blog.
These are only a few of the many plugins available for Wordpress blogs that are not available to those restricted to blogging from the Wordpress website.
There are many other reasons for operating your blog from your own website that I will not reveal now, because it is lot more fun finding them out for yourself. However, please let me give you one warning. Do not download Wordpress to your website if you are otherwise a busy person, because you will become hooked.
When you see what you can with your own blog, run from your own website, you will find little time for anything else. So keep that in mind.
If you decide to ignore me, I am working on a webpage that will show you by means of instruction and screenshots how to set up your own Wordpress blog on your website. If there is no link to that yet below, then keep visiting. It will be up in about 2 - 4 weeks from now (8th Jan, 2008).
Here it is now: I have provided most of the instructions for you. All you need do after this is to play about with your blog and find out how to personalize it. If you get stuck email me on the address provided on this page:
WORDPRESS BLOG DOWNLOAD AND INSTALLATION |
