The WordPress Platform has come a long way since the early days, so much so that you can now easily control every function of your WordPress Blog from an easy to manage WordPress Admin Dashboard ….
Install your WordPress Theme, Install your WordPress Plugin, Install Affiliate Products, Optimize your WordPress Blog.
Now if you have never used WordPress before you may be breaking into a cold sweat just thinking about this ….
Worry not, it is simpler than you may think….. I would suggest following the simple steps before you even start to think about the technical stuff… Now most would tell you get a domain name etc
Ok, that is half right, but if you follow the steps suggested below, then the likelihood is you will get your WordPress Blog setup right – First Time ……
Step 1 – Research and choose a Niche
This is an important first step, this will get your creative thinking head on, just get a blank piece of paper and write down maybe 5 things that interest you. Once you have your list, then you can check how popular these ideas may be by using for example the Google Keyword Tool Analyser…
Step 2 – Choosing your Domain Name
Choosing a Domain Name could be a two-minute job, for example if you want to self-brand yourself, if so it would be a case of registering yourname.com
If you are looking to blog about a certain niche, then some basic research is required. I would also suggest you look to try and chose a keyword rich. For example, if you are blogging about Bonsai Trees, then try and have this within your Domain Name.
Step 3 – Registering your Domain Name
There are many Domain Name Registers out there, I have used a few, over the last year I have used Namecheap.com for a number of reasons, they are reasonably priced, offer free WHOIS Gaurd to protect your Personal Details and with their money off coupons you can secure your Domain Name for under $9.00! . If you enter “Namecheap Coupon Code – July 2009” then you can save money on the cost.
Step 4 – Setting up your Web hosting Account
It is important you get this step right, I have in the past lost out with Webhost companies disappearing overnight and with it your websites and business. It can be personal choice who you decide to host with, I would recommend Hostgator.com, the reasons behind it they are reliable and cheap, offer 24-7 customer service and to help you get started you could get the first months hosting for only 1 cent!
Step 5- Updating your DNS Nameservers
This step is required to have your Domain Name Register, ‘point’ your Domain Name to your ‘webspace’ so when people type your WordPress Blog Domain Address into their Internet Browser, it will automatically go to where your WordPress Blog is installed. Your Web hosting company will supply your Nameservers Information – for example- ns1.yourwebhoster.com, ns2.yourwebhoster.com you would access ‘Transfer to Webhost’ in your Domain Control Panel and enter the Nameserver Information and Update. It can take up to 24 Hours to propagate the information and point to your webspace.
Step 6 – Installing your WordPress Blog
As I mentioned in Step 4 it is important to choose the correct Web hosting Company for your web hosting needs, one of the reasons being that they will supply a powerful function called ‘Fantastico De Luxe’ , so with a few clicks of your mouse you can have your WordPress Blog installed in under 3 minutes.
The steps above are just the start to creating your profit pulling WordPress Blog.