Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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August 14, 2008

The Ultimate Guide 3: Every Blog Needs a Platform

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:14 am

The Ultimate Guide to a Wildly Sticky, Successful and Outstanding Blog
A SERIES

Setting up the Blog — Picking the Platform

If you’re new to code and blogware, take heart. Most bloggers started out knowing nothing about the technical side of blogging. It might seem like a lot to learn, but we all did, just as we all learned to read. You’ll be tweaking your blog in no time. Somehow, playing with the code seems to be in a blogger’s genes.

Choosing or Changing a Domain Name

Naturally the closer your URL matches your blog title, the easier it will be for readers to remember and return to it. When you sign up for that domain, check the box for at least two years. Search engines look more favorably on new domains that plan to stick around. Also consider the option of buying an existing domain, but read up on the subject before you do. Here’s some additional advice.

  1. The site wizard tackles the questions you’ve been wondering about in Tips on How to Choose a Good Domain Name for Your Website

  2. Consider what’s going on in the marketplace when you areChoosing a Good Domain Name.

  3. Seomoz offers realistic Expectations and Best Practices for Moving to or Launching a New Domain If you don’t need this information now, you’ll need it one day.

  4. Sitepoint offers solid guidance on how to Hit the Jackpot! How to Find Money-making Domains. Do the research Mara Miller suggests and you could end up way ahead of the game.

  5. And Don’t Buy that New Domain Name Yet think about the values of buying an old one. Also weigh in the baggage an old domain can bring.

  6. BONUS: How to Use the New Custom Domain Name Feature for Your Blog*Spot Blog: A Tutorial

Choosing the Blogging Platform — What Sort of Home Will You Build?

Bloggers are generous with their time and we’re helpful. Don’t be shy about asking, especially about the technical stuff. Someone will step up to offer the hand you need. Bloggers care about the blogosphere working right.

  1. Start here. USC Annenberg has pulled together the background, a list of the common blogging jargon, and an overview of the blogging tools. [via Frank]

  2. The purpose of this research is to find what your options are. About.com’s Which Blog Platform is Right for You? offers 15 links to blog platforms. The selection is useful to new and advanced bloggers.

  3. A well-thought top-ten list can be helpful. The Top Consideration When Choosing a Free Blogging Platform.

  4. Though most seasoned bloggers might steer you from a “hosted” or free blog — blogger, wordpress. com, or the free SixApart typepad.com — Each has its value. If you’re blog is solely a personal, or a short-term project, a free blog might work best for you.

  5. Be sure to consider the opinions of other bloggers as well as those of reviewers. Which Blogging Platform Do You Use and Why? - Open Mike Some reviewers aren’t as hands on as we might wish they would be.

  6. Keep in mind that the platform or blog software you use will be easier to negotiate, if you are part of a community who use the same tool. Reach out to bloggers when you have a question or a problem to solve. You’ll be blogging sooner and better if you Learn from Someone who Knows.

Choosing Hosting — Who Will You Count on?

Your host is someone you rely on to care for your blog in ways that you cannot. Don’t make price the only issue. As with everything else, in hosting you tend to get what you pay for. Know what you need and what to look for before you choose. Here’s outstanding wisdom on choosing a host.

  1. To understand the specs and the key questions, you might start with What to look for in a Web Host? It’s nice to know the difference between a T-1 and an OC-24.

  2. With those basics, you’re set to consider the values and features that would meet your exact needs. Christopher Heng has outlined solid criteria for choosing a free web host or commercial web host. He includes further references if you want to know more.

  3. In this classic, What to Look for in a Web Host, Dan Cray offers a starter list of questions to ask when you make the calls to web hosts you’re thinking of doing business with.

When choosing a host, ask for recommendations from bloggers you know. Also ask the web host for recommendations from clients they have hosted in the past. We had two great sponsors at SOBCon — Network Solutions and THC. Read their blogs and see which is for you.

Setting up your first blog can be daunting. . . . Recently someone said that he had trouble choosing because the blog software had adequate tech support. No worries there, the whole blogosphere seems to be ready to help a new blogger.

The list is thin by comparison to what’s available. What advice would you add?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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17 Comments to “The Ultimate Guide 3: Every Blog Needs a Platform”

  1. August 14th, 2008 at 7:03 am
    Douglas Karr said

    There’s also a ‘new’ breed of blogware out there for enterprise level companies. I helped start one of them, Compendium! Compendium is built with the business in mind and automates all of the complexities of blogging so users only have to think about writing.

  2. August 14th, 2008 at 7:05 am
    wilbau said

    Nice post. I agree to most of what you say above. Concerning getting an own domain I’m usually a bit critical. Some inspirations dont last long and then one is stuck with a certain domain. I propose to start a blog at some platform and then to join a lot of communities and other micro blogging services, etc. and with this kind of background one has a good chance of success in even getting an own domain.

  3. August 14th, 2008 at 8:21 am
    Writer Dad said

    You kind of just have to jump in. You’re right, it’s like learning to read. We all did, and now do it without thinking. Getting my Wordpress theme up was a lot of trial and error. I went through three themes before I was happy. Now I feel like I’m flying.

  4. August 14th, 2008 at 9:00 am
    Shirley George Frazier said

    What a wonderfully complete, online bibliography, Liz.

    These links point anyone who’s starting a blog, whether new to the process or a veteran, how to create a space that will be appreciated and bookmarked by all who visit, even the robots.

  5. August 14th, 2008 at 9:36 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thanks, Doug!
    Compendium is a nice offer for business, I agree. It’s worth looking into by serious bloggers.

  6. August 14th, 2008 at 9:37 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Writer Dad,
    And I’ve been to your blog. It does all you need it to and I’d never know you had a problem at any point along the way. :)

  7. August 14th, 2008 at 9:38 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Shirley!
    Great to see you! You’d know. You’ve been doing in so many ways. I’ve bet you’ve launched more than a few bloggers on their careers. :)

  8. August 14th, 2008 at 9:56 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    Perhaps those bloggers selecting the typepad platform could use the 4 quick guides on our .a href=”http://www.blog-studio.co.uk/”>blog-studio blog (we use that blog for our blog-students and the guides were written for them, but of course everyone is welcome to them!)

    The latest post on the blog-studio even talks about how to use typepad to set up a more ’static website’ with the dynamic options still readily available.

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  9. August 14th, 2008 at 9:57 am
    Karin H. said

    Darn, coding went wrong (didn’t you just say that bloggers learn coding very easily ;-)
    Blog-studio (two times lucky I hope)

    Karin H.

  10. August 14th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Wilbau,
    I think in the end it comes down to how determined you are and what your goal is. If you’re blogging an event, I would encourage you to use a free hosted blog. If you’re starting up your business, and you’re serious, I would never suggest that route. :)

  11. August 14th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Thanks for sharing what you’ve done to make blogging easier for beginners. :)

  12. August 14th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
    Connie Bensen said

    Thanks Liz for including us in your recommended hosts. Network Solutions is working hard to meet the needs of small businesses with new products, but also with our new community for small businesses, My Solution Spot and by being available on Twitter @netsolcares. We really hope your readers will contact us directly. We are willing to answer any of their questions personally. Thanks, Connie @ Network Solutions smedia@networksolutions.com

  13. August 15th, 2008 at 1:39 am
    Cath Lawson said

    Hi Liz - Thanks for this resource. My blog goes down frequently, so I’m looking for a new host.

    I’ve heard bloggers mention in the past that they have their own server. But I’m technically challenged. Do you know if it’s necessary to have your own server when your traffic reaches certain levels? And are there any other benefits to having one?

  14. August 15th, 2008 at 11:02 am
    Shashi Bellamkonda said

    Hi Liz,

    Great post that every new entrant can use as a checklist. It also brought back the good memories of SOBCon 2008 - the Biz school for bloggers and I look forward to the next one.

    As Connie commented above - Thanks for honoring us by mentioning Network Solutions. I want to add that Network Solutions has a company wide focus to request feedback from customers and review it on a daily basis. We’re paying close attention to our customers concerns, issues and ideas and are working on some easier ways for you to talk to us.

    Regards,

    Shashi

  15. August 15th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Connie and Shashi!
    Great to have partners who work with us, we need them when things aren’t working and we need to appreciate them when things are.

    Connie, I hope you come to SOBCon next year with Shashi!

  16. August 15th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Cath,
    It’s never “necessary” to have your own server, as in to manage it yourself, but it’s great to have one from the beginning that’s managed by someone who can be reached quickly and who has your interests at heart at times you want to upgrade, redesign, or when problems happen. :)

  17. August 18th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
    Cath Lawson said

    Thanks Liz - That sounds like a better solution.

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