Blogging for
Wholesalers and Designers - Part 2
Tink's Blogging Cheat Sheet
Here is a quick list of what you need to do to start a Blog.
At first glance, this may seem overwhelming, but don't worry, I
will be breaking it down in to easy steps!
This Cheat Sheet is for those who have the skills, or someone to
help them, and wish to dive right in.
If you haven't read the article on WHY you need a blog,
click HERE!
Tink's WordPress Blog Cheat Sheet
Choose a domain name and register it.
This is done using a company called a Domain Registrar.
I recommend 000domains.com
Purchase a hosting account.
A hosting account is the service purchased form a Hosting Company.
I recommend
HostGator
HINT: Look for a Hosting Company that offers
Cpanel administration software with Fantastico. This allows for EASY
installation of WordPress!
Acquire an FTP (FileTransferProtocol) program.
I recommend Core FTP Lite
This is the software you use to get files from
you computer up to your Hosting Company!
Choose a WordPress theme.
There are probably more than 1,000 WP Themes by now. Most of them
are FREE.
WordPress Theme Resources:
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
http://alexking.org/projects/wordpress/theme_browser.php
http://themes.wordpress.net/
http://www.bloggingthemes.com/
The Theme is the template that creates the *look* of your Blog. You
can use one as it is designed or tweak it to create a more personal
look.
Decide what changes, if any need, to be made to your chosen
WordPress theme
One of the easiest ways to personalize a theme
is to replace the default Header Graphic with your own unique Header
Graphic.
HINT: If you are changing the graphic header, the
new graphic header must be exactly the same size as the one you are
replacing. It must be the same number of pixels wide and high. It
must also be the same type of file either a JPEG or a GIF
Set up your new domain on your hosting account.
Go to the domain registrar and point that domain at the host you
have signed up with, using the information given to you by the
hosting company. This becomes your Blog Web Site.
Install WordPress on your Blog Web Site.
On a Cpanel host with Fantastico, this is an
relatively easy install
Choose the WordPress plugins needed for your Blog.
Plug-ins are little software programs that
help WordPress work better. You will download them from the web on
to your computer and then put them from your computer onto you Blog
Web Site using your FTP program.
For more information on which WordPress
Plug-ins to use, check out Blog
Resources.
Upload the WordPress plug-ins and the WordPress theme you have
chosen to your Blog Web SIte
Use your FTP program to do this
Upload new graphics if using them, using your FTP program
If you are personalizing your chosen theme
with a unique header, this is when you would do it. Put the files on
your Blog Web Site in the appropriate location
Rename your unique graphics with the name of the theme's original
graphics files (the ones you are replacing)
Use your FTP program to rename the graphics.
Install the WordPress theme you are using and/or have
modified.
This is done inside of WordPress
Install the appropriate WordPress plug-ins.
This is done inside of WordPress
Tweak WordPress section by section
The Tweaks that I recommend are covered in the
Blogging Strategies
section. See the detailed information HERE.
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