I have set up quite a few Wordpress blogs after taking the blogging to the bank course and been able to make some money blogging. If you want to create a blog there are some important mistakes to avoid.
- Don’t use free blogging software like Google’s blogger. If you want to start a professional blog you need to get your own domain and hosting. There are many, many reasons for this and just a few are listed here: Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Web Hosts and Choosing Your Blog Platform and Hosting.
- Don’t use any software other than Wordpress. I have tried almost every one and it’s simply the best.
- Don’t install a blog as an added Website feature on top of other structures. Make sure you install the blog at the root of your domain. Use Wordpress as your complete CMS (Content Management System). It has everything you need, including static non-post pages.
- Don’t use a second rate Web host, I use and recommend Godaddy. As a Webmaster I have seen many other hosts and almost all of them have terrible admin features and customer service.
- Don’t use any Website traffic tracking software other than Google Analytics. It’s the best and it’s free.
- Don’t enable comments from readers unless you have the time and real desire to properly moderate and interact. I for one use my blogs as a personal journal and as a way to share what I have learned, not as a discussion forum.
- Don’t use the default Wordpress theme or any existing free Web blogging template. Start with a very, very simple Wordpress theme like naked and build up from there with your own custom graphics.
- Don’t use archive dates in your permalinks.
Don’t do this:
http://badexampleblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-want-to-make-money.htmlDo this:
http://www.johnchow.com/become-a-blogger-premium-opens-with-free-offers
There are many more details you will learn along the way. For instance, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is not knowing the purpose and audience of your blog before you start it. The most successful blogs have a targeted theme that they stick to.
As an example my Free Music Downloads Blog or Mashable which focuses on cutting edge Web 2.0 news. This blog, Being Pad, is a personal journal of what I learn in my life that I think can help people. Each post here may have a completely different audience and is not the right format for a commercial blog.