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Set Up a free WordPress blog to start sharing your story with prospects and customers. As presented by Bull's-Eye Writing at Blue Ridge Community College on January 25, 2011
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How to Set Up a WordPress Blog
Why Blog?
Pros: Demonstrate your
expertise & passion Attract new
prospects with valuable content
Engage with customers & get valuable feedback
Increase visibility
Cons: Time consuming Requires decent
writing & editing skills?
Requires patience & commitment
Choose Your Platform
Free resources: Blogger WordPress.com WordPress.org
Blogger Owned by
Google. Created by Evan Williams of Twitter.
Free. Simple. No hosting
account required.
WordPress.com
Again, free, simple, and no hosting required. Great for the “technically challenged.”
WordPress.org The
download is free, but you must pay for hosting and domain.
Requires some technical expertise to install.
And the winner is...
WordPress.org
Why? You own the blog.
The URL = www.mycompany.com not www.wordpress.com/mycompany.
More professional. More versatility and control. Better search engine rankings. Hosting is inexpensive (<$20/month)
Setting Up WordPress
First, you need a domain name:www.yourcompany.com
Or, you can use your existing domain and add “/blog” to the end of it:www.www.bullseyewriting.com/blog
Make sure you have a link to it on the home page of your business site (and elsewhere, such as your Facebook or LinkedIn page).
Setting Up WordPress
Next, set up a hosting account if you don't already have one.
I use GoDaddy.com, but there are many other options out there. GoDaddy includes many useful tools,
including the option to automatically install the WordPress database.
Setting Up WordPress
Once hosting is set up, download and install the Wordpress database on your hosting server.
GoDaddy will help you do this with the press of a button.
Otherwise, you'll have to use a FTP program to transfer the files to your server and run the install program. Note: I use the free CuteFTP program that
you can download from www.cuteftp.com.
Setting Up WordPress
Use the instructions on the home page of Wordpress.org to help you:
Log-in to Your “Dashboard”
Go to your “admin” page (set up during installation. Usually:
www.yourdomain.com/blog/wp-admin
Enter your username and password.
Welcome to Your Dashboard
The man behind the curtain.
This is where you'll write blog posts, create pages, customize the look of your blog, change settings, add plug-ins, and more.
Choose Your Blog Template
Under the Appearance menu, click on themes.
Install a Template
Your blog comes with a standard WordPress theme by default, but you'll want to change that.
Click the “Install” tab at the top.
Install a Template
Use the search form to find the template that suits you best.
For templates you'd like more control over, select “Custom” features.
Preview and install the template you like.
Upload a Header
If you want your header to reflect the look and feel of your company's marketing literature, be sure that your template allows for a custom header.
Upload your header image.
Make sure that the image fits based on the dimensions set by the template.
Customize Menus
Each template has different appearance options, but generally you'll have a navigation menu on your blog.
You can customize the menu choices.
Adjust Your Settings
Access the Settings menu on the right to adjust the formatting of the site and determine how users will interact with it.
Most importantly, enter the site title and tagline.
Preview Your Site
See what your blog looks like at any time.
Click on the link at the top left of your dashboard.
Write Your First Blog Post
Click “Add New Post” and start using the WYSIWYG editor just like a simple word processor.
Write Your First Blog Post
Add images, movies, and music. Podcasts and video are great alternatives to
written articles (as long as you allow comments). Insert hyperlinks into your text. Use styles to format headlines within your copy.
What Do I Write About?
Start with your passion. Think about why you do what you do. Read! Comment on other blogs. Make a running list of blog topics. Set a publishing schedule. Use posts for generating feedback or
getting answers/advice.
How Do I Write It
Keep it short (600-800 words at most). Be concise: short sentences, short paragraphs. Use subheadings (great for SEO). Use keywords. (Google's Keyword Tool.) Write your headline last.
Insert keywords, but make sure it's catchy. Starting with a number always works best for me:
5 Reasons Why Independent Publishers Are the Future of Publishing
Categories & Tags
Assign categories and tags to your post.
Choose tags based on your SEO keyword research.
Make sure that the words appear in your blog post.
Helps readers navigate your blog
Boost search engine visibility.
Preview & Publish
Save and preview your post. When you're ready, go ahead and publish it for
the world to see!
Plug-Ins Add plug-ins to improve the functionality of
your site. Add plug-ins sparingly. Too many can slow
down your site. Must haves:
All-in-One-SEO Pack – Helps with search engine rankings.
Google Analytics for WordPress – Metrics are vital!
Light Social – Inserts social media buttons at the end of every post...so people can spread the word!
Good luck! There are tons of bells & whistles. Don't get
carried away with them. Set a publishing schedule (a realistic one). Share your articles in multiple venues
around the web (ezinearticles.com, stumbleupon).
Send a link to every post out through Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn—at least!
Encourage friends to comment. Remember that it's all about generating a conversation.
For More Help...
Find me at:
828.290.9314
www.bullseyewriting.com
Facebook Page: Bull's-Eye Writing & Editing Services
Twitter: @BullsEyeWriting
