Getting My Blogsite Created
March 28, 2009
Getting my blogsite created was a process – one that needed time and attention to detail. It was a learning lesson and boy did I learn!
I was looking forward to having a blogsite so much I didn’t realize the steps involved that were required to do so. It was kind of like wanting to move but forgetting that you have to pack, find, sell and buy a house.
Before I could do anything I needed to find a host. One that had the requirements to host a Wordpress blog. According to Wordpress the host needs to have PHP version 4.3 or greater and MySQL version 4.0 or greater. It also helps immensely to have a host that is capable of performing the “one-click” install otherwise you better be a wiz at monkeying around with the folders that contain the website.
Now there are numerous hosts availble with a list of them on the Wordpress.org site. However I wanted one that was Canadian. I found Host Papa who not only was Canadian but also offered the “One-Click” install.
The next step was finding out the login information for the Domain Name Server which I contacted my current host for. This is important because if you don’t make the correct changes in the DNS the domain will not be moved to another host. When I logged in I checked to ensure that the domain name’s privacy setting was not locked in private mode and then proceeded to change the domain name servers to reflect my new host. The new server names can be obtained from your new host.
While I waited approximately 24 hours for the changes to take place I researched how my new server was going to host Wordpress. Because Host Papa uses Fantastico in their cPanel (the administration area for my account) the “one-click” couldn’t have been easier. Once I downloaded the Wordpress.org file I logged into my domain account, selected the appropriate blog and literally clicked the button.
Once I had my domain moved over to the new host , the Wordpress files intact….then my fun began.
I researched the different Wordpress themes available and picked one that I loved. I felt completely liberated and energized by this functional and easy to use format. What a difference from making changes on the page and uploading via ftp! Now bear in mind that not all Wordpress themes are created equal. Some are free and some are not. I picked a theme from iTheme and paid for it….and yes it was worth it! Every bit of the process!
The New E-Works Office Services Blogsite
March 22, 2009
Hello and Welcome to my new site!
I’m really excited to have launched my new blogsite and to have a brand new look! I’m fairly new to blogging and I’m not sure where to begin exactly but perhaps I’ll start with why I made a new site.
I recently completed the Social Media Marketing Specialist certification at VAClassroom and realized that my site was static and not doing a thing for me or E-Works Office Services. Blogs are highly indexed by Google therefore bringing more attention to your site. Having a blog is also a great resource to connect with people. They are also much more powerful not to mention flexible than traditional websites. Updating blogs is far quicker and easier too.
While I’m still gaining experience with my new blogsite I learned a lot about the process of switching to a blog, hosts and domains. Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll share my experience with you.
