Building The Foundation For A Successful Blog

One of the discussion groups that I am part of seems to constantly veer to the subject of blogging platforms, which one is best?

The choice usually comes down to Blogger or Wordpress. Some talk about other options such as Joomla.

To me the choice comes down to individual preference, and the best option is what suits the individual, and how serious they are about blogging.

Setting up a hosted blog on Wordpress or Blogger is a great way to start, as it allows you to try your hand, and see what is available.

I have used both these platforms, and ended up opting for Wordpress, simply because of its ease of use, and the number of plugins that are available to make it more user friendly.

Because I wanted a more professional look, I decided to use the self hosted version. If you decide to go down this track, it will mean that you will need a domain name, and a hosting account.

Installation is easy, as most web hosts include different blogging programs as part of the deal, and some include an automatic installer such as Fantastico to do this.

I use Godaddy.com for domain names - I find them relatively inexpensive, the service is great and they have a number of other services as well. I host my domains at Hostgator.com, but any good host will do.

I have friends that host their site at Godaddy, and they often get special discounts for buying the domain, and hosting, as a one stop deal!

I wrote a post about building a successful blog on Coffee With Allan recently.

That post came about because a friend had her site crash on a Friday night, when her tech person was out of town, and out of contact.

It took two days for her to get it right.

So the message is that it pays to develop at least some basic web building skills.

What Are You Going To Write About?

I was all set to write about passion, and how to choose a topic that interests you.

That topic, and that passion, I was going to say, would tide you over when things got tough, and you couldn't come up with something to write.

But then I found Maki's post that said all that, and much, much more!

While you're on Maki's site, check out the Wordpress themes that he has available. I use his Prosense theme on a couple of sites, and find it very easy to play with and adjust.

Getting the right theme can make or break your site.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a theme, is to remember that you are trying to attract people, not repel them.

Many of your visitors will be tired, or may have poor eyesight.

If your color scheme causes them discomfort or makes it harder to read the text, they will be gone faster than you can say 'click', never to return.

We are after all, building the site for them, not just to suit our own taste....