Blogging for Dollars Blog

Got a WordPress blog?

If you have, you know that plugins are wonderful; they’re tools which enhance your blog in many ways.

However, wonderful as plugins are, they have a dark side too: the more plugins, the more danger than something will go wrong with your blog.

Plugins are unpredictable. It’s best to add one plugin at a time, live with it for a week or two, and then if all is well, you can add another.

I’ve just finishing helping a WordPress blogger with close to 50 plugins. Her blog wouldn’t load, and when it did, she couldn’t access her archives.

She’d purchased a blog package, which included a blog setup, with a mass of plugins. She wasn’t sure what most of them did, and she certainly didn’t need them all.

Once we’d cleared the undergrowth of plugins, she was left with the six plugins she really needs, and now her blog loads fast, and works.

So be careful with plugins. Limit your plugins to those you really need.

Step by step to blogging success

Blogging for Dollars is a comprehensive blogging package which helps you to make money blogging.

Pro bloggers can make serious money, whether you choose to blog for a company as a freelance blogger, or build your own entrepreneurial blog. Many bloggers make six figures annually, and blogging networks have been sold for millions of dollars.

Make money blogging today – you’re sure of success with Blogging for Dollars to guide you.

Technorati Tags: WordPress, blog, how to blog, blogging, blogging tips

Love to own a WordPress blog but nervous of installing it yourself? Among professional bloggers, WordPress is the platform of choice. It’s completely free, and is easy and simple to install, just by following a few steps.

The first step in is to get your own domain name. If you already have a domain on which you want to install WordPress, you’re good to go.

There are two basic ways you can install WordPress, either via a script from your hosting provider, or by uploading WordPress yourself via FTP (File Transfer Protocol.)

Let’s look at both ways.

The Easiest Way to Install Wordpress

The easiest way to install WordPress is to let your host do it, via an automatic script. Search your host’s Help files for “WordPress”. You should find a “WordPress Install” option.

Some hosts have one-click installation options for many programs, such as blogs, forums, and picture galleries.

When you’ve found the WordPress installation script, decide where you want to install your blog. You can install it either in the root of your domain, or in a blog sub-directory. The sub-directory option is popular.

Now ensure that you’ve opened a new text file. Save the file before you start, and give it an appropriate file name it so you can find it again. You need the file to make a note of your database name, user name and password, as well as your blog’s admin name and password. Don’t lose this information, it’s important.

Why a database? WordPress is actually a Content Management System, and it stores everything related to your blog in a database.

Now just click the Install link, and follow the installation wizard, as it guides you through creating your database and blog.

You’re done – the installation should take you no longer than a couple of minutes.

The FTP Way – You Have Complete Control

If you’re a slightly more experienced blogger, you can install WordPress manually, by downloading the WordPress program to your computer, then uploading it to your server, once you’ve created a database and have changed the WordPress configuration file.

Which way of installing WordPress is best?

It depends on you – and on your hosting company. If your host just doesn’t provide a WordPress installation script, you’ll have to do it yourself. However, don’t despair, it really is simple, and you should be able to complete the process in five to ten minutes, depending on the speed of your Internet connection.

See? No need to be scared. After you’ve installed WordPress once, you’ll know how easy it is – and you’ll become a WordPress fan too.

Here’s a big tip – if you want to see EXACTLY how it’s done, use the WordPress In 1 Day Video Tutorial. It ensures that you can’t go wrong. You’ll also discover how to customize your new blog exactly to your needs.

Blogging makes a great home business

Many bloggers blog full time in their blogging home business, and earn a great income – much more than they could earn at a job.

Discover how you can make money blogging, with Angela Booth’s blogging bestseller, Blogging for Dollars – blogging is fun, and profitable.

Technorati Tags: blogging, blog, how to blog, make a blog, WordPress

Although WordPress is rightfully popular as a blogging platform, many bloggers are wary of installing it because it seems complex. It’s not. Discover how you can create your own perfect WordPress blog in five simple steps.

The major benefit of WordPress is that it’s a complete Content Management System. No matter how large your blog grows, WordPress will manage it for you. WordPress also has many plugins which will extend the functionality of your blog.

Another huge benefit of installing WordPress on your own domain is that you have complete control over your blog. With free blogging platforms, your blog may be deleted without notice. This is heartbreaking if you’ve spent time and energy on your blog.

Discover blogging with Blogging for Dollars – your complete blogging guide.

So here we go. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Think keywords and buy a domain name

What will your blog be about? Make a list of keywords which describe your blog. For example, if you wanted to create a blog about dogs, make a list of keywords a person would type into a search engine to find your blog.

“Dogs” would be an obvious keyword; others include “puppies, dog, canine, hound.”

Now it’s time to buy a domain name. Many hosting companies will include a domain name as part of your hosting package, but find a company which just specializes in domain names. You may want to move your blog at some stage, so the domain name registrar should be separate from your hosting.

Do a search for “domain names”, pick a company, and register your domain name.

With your domain name purchased, it’s time to get hosting.

2. Get hosting

You can either pick a company you find via searching, ask a friend which company they use, or ask on any forum for favorite hosting companies.

A tip – read your chosen company’s Help files before you buy. Look for “WordPress installs”. Be sure that your host will install WordPress for you with just a few clicks.

Pick a company, and pay for your hosting. Their Help files will tell you how to update the DNS (Domain Name Service) to your new hosting company.

Once you’ve updated the DNS, allow 24 hours for the domain name to be updated around the Web. If you try to install WordPress immediately, it may succeed, or it may fail – so give yourself a break of 24 hours.

3. Run the WordPress script – read your hosting provider’s Help file

Since WordPress is so popular, most hosts offer scripts which install WordPress. If your host uses CPanel, click the Fantastico icon to install the WordPress script.

Some companies use proprietary scripts, so just do search to find the script, and install it.

4. Choose a theme

With your script installed, you’ll arrive at your WordPress Dashboard. Click Design to change the theme.

You can find hundreds of great WordPress themes on the Web, both free and commercial, so you’re sure to find exactly the right theme for your blog.

5. Add plugins

You’ll also want to install some WordPress plugins. These are scripts which perform functions on your blog. Your blog already has a plugin which will guard it against spam, so activate that plugin.

Other useful plugins are those which will create a contact page for you, create archives, and allow you to backup your blog.

Now all that’s left for you to do is to – start blogging!

Discover blogging with Blogging for Dollars – your complete blogging guide.

Technorati Tags: blogging, blog, how to blog, traffic, blogging tips, pro blogging, WordPress