Christianity… Technology… Photography… Life Musings…

How To Set Up A Blog

Yesterday, I started a new blog, and I thought I would document all the technical details of setting it up, partly for my own future reference and partly to help out others who want to go all out and do this thing properly.

This step-by-step is for the WordPress blogging platform:

  1. Register a domain name and sign up with a web host. I currently use Lunarpages. They have great hosting plans at very competitive rates with good technical support when you need it.
  2. Install WordPress.  You may need to download it from wordpress.org.  If you are using Lunarpages, they have a simple click through installation using Fantastico.
  3. Explore the thousands of WordPress Themes available and pick one you like.  A good place to start is the WordPress site.
  4. Download the theme, unzip it, and upload it via FTP to your “blogdomain/wp-content/themes” directory. For FTP, I use the FireFTP plugin in combination with Mozilla’s Firefox web browser.
  5. Now comes the fun part, customizing your WordPress installation.  For a detailed look at what all you can do to customize everything from timestamps to maximum comment links, check out the WordPress Codex, Blog and Forums.
  6. Something else you’ll want to look into are plugins. There are way too many of these all waiting for you to bloat your blog with them. Here are the ones I use regularly and find very useful:
    1. Akismet spam blocker. This does an excellent job of keeping comment spam at bay.
    2. Google Analytics for WordPress. A best-of-breed website statistics suite. You’ll need a Google Account.
    3. WordPress Stats. For when you just want to see simple statistics in a very elegant way. I actually prefer using this over Google’s most of the time. You’ll need a WordPress.com account.
    4. Google sitemap generator.  This tells the “big three” search engines (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft) how to list your website in their search results.
    5. All-in-one SEO Pack.  Used in conjunction with Google’s keyword tool, you can drive more search engine users to your website with carefully crafted page titles, meta tags, keyword rich content etc. This is just one tool in a Search Engine Optimizer’s toolkit of wizardry.  It works quite well.
  7. One last step I usually take is publishing a feed using the Feedburner service.  This gives you detailed statistics on who has subscribed to your blog with a feed reader of their choice (example: Google Reader) or via their email.  There are many more features to this service, but statistics is what I mainly use it for.
  8. Once your blog is set up, you can start posting about whatever fires you up to start writing or linking, or embedding media from other websites.  I may write more about this last process in a future post.

Posted on September 18th, 2008 by Josh Champagne
Filed under: Audio / Video, Bible Study, Computers & Technical, Research & Learning

36 Responses to “How To Set Up A Blog”

  1. Aidan Bailey, on August 1st, 2010 at 10:20 am Said:

    spam blockers are really needed these days because you will always get spam from e-mails and on your facebook account too.`**

  2. Alexa Stewart, on September 27th, 2010 at 8:38 pm Said:

    spam blockers are necessity these days with constant spam coming from the internet,”-

  3. Letter Tray :, on October 24th, 2010 at 11:52 pm Said:

    spam blockers are always needed these days because of the growing number of spammers online-,:

  4. Bath Screens, on December 22nd, 2010 at 12:01 pm Said:

    spam blockers are always necessary because there are so many spam these days ;’:

  5. Byron, on September 13th, 2011 at 10:41 pm Said:

    Identified you blog through digg I have to admit I m astounded with all your posts!

  6. Abner, on September 14th, 2011 at 9:01 am Said:

    I have read some of the content on your site now, and I enjoy your style of blogging. I added it to my favorites site list and will also be looking at back again shortly.

  7. BG mail, on October 2nd, 2011 at 7:16 am Said:

    I’ve read several just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much effort you set to make the sort of wonderful informative website.

  8. BG mail, on October 7th, 2011 at 2:46 pm Said:

    I was looking at some of your content on this internet site and I think this web site is really informative! Keep on putting up.

  9. Car Rental Comparison, on October 9th, 2011 at 12:02 pm Said:

    I have learn a few just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you set to make one of these fantastic informative web site.

  10. Teodoro Molgard, on October 9th, 2011 at 2:04 pm Said:

    Thank you so much for providing individuals with an exceptionally wonderful possiblity to read critical reviews from this website. It is usually so ideal plus jam-packed with a lot of fun for me personally and my office co-workers to visit your website no less than 3 times in a week to see the new stuff you will have. And indeed, I’m just actually motivated concerning the unique suggestions you give. Certain 4 tips on this page are in truth the most efficient I have had.

  11. halloween supplies, on October 13th, 2011 at 2:09 pm Said:

    Normally I do not read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice post.

  12. grammar check online, on October 16th, 2011 at 4:04 am Said:

    Atamanczyk387@yahoo.com

  13. MovieReview, on October 18th, 2011 at 12:20 am Said:

    An attention-grabbing dialogue is price comment. I think that you need to write more on this subject, it may not be a taboo topic however usually persons are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  14. green stationery, on October 22nd, 2011 at 12:29 pm Said:

    Hi there, I found your site by the use of Google even as searching for a similar matter, your web site came up, it seems great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  15. Free Classified Ads UK, on October 29th, 2011 at 7:51 am Said:

    I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your web site?

  16. windows8, on November 1st, 2011 at 6:26 am Said:

    I was just searching for this information for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your website. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Generally the top web sites are full of garbage.

  17. Cell Phone Antenna Boosters, on November 8th, 2011 at 6:28 am Said:

    Can I simply say what a aid to search out someone who really knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know how to deliver an issue to gentle and make it important. More folks have to learn this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre no more common because you undoubtedly have the gift.

  18. Chicago Used Cars, on November 9th, 2011 at 7:45 am Said:

    F*ckin’ remarkable issues here. I’m very glad to see your article. Thank you a lot and i’m taking a look forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

  19. engagement photography, on November 12th, 2011 at 12:17 pm Said:

    I precisely had to say thanks yet again. I am not sure the things that I might have worked on in the absence of the entire smart ideas discussed by you about such question. It had been a very troublesome condition in my opinion, but viewing a new specialized manner you dealt with the issue forced me to cry for happiness. Now i’m thankful for the guidance and pray you comprehend what a great job you’re doing training other individuals through the use of your web site. I am certain you’ve never come across all of us.

  20. cctv installers kent, on November 14th, 2011 at 2:33 am Said:

    Hello I’m so psyched I recently found your web site, I really found you by accident, while I was searching on Stumbleupon for something diffrent, Regardless I am right here now and would just like to say kind regards for a great post and a all round pleasurable weblog (I also really like the theme/design), I don’t have the time to look through all of it at the moment but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, and once I have time I’ll be back to read a great deal more, Please do sustain fantastic work.

  21. Gift ideas for girlfriend, on November 15th, 2011 at 6:45 am Said:

    I’m now not sure where you are getting your information, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or figuring out more. Thanks for wonderful info I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.

  22. roadmaster tow bars, on November 18th, 2011 at 4:06 pm Said:

    This is the correct weblog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its virtually hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You undoubtedly put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply nice!

  23. tutto gratis, on November 23rd, 2011 at 3:57 am Said:

    My spouse and i have been absolutely fortunate Albert managed to complete his basic research via the ideas he discovered through your web site. It’s not at all simplistic just to happen to be handing out strategies which often other folks might have been making money from. And we do understand we need you to be grateful to for that. Those illustrations you have made, the easy blog navigation, the relationships you make it possible to foster – it’s mostly awesome, and it is facilitating our son and our family reason why that concept is entertaining, and that is very essential. Thanks for all!

  24. Call India Cheap, on November 29th, 2011 at 5:03 am Said:

    I was recommended this blog by means of my cousin. I am no longer certain whether or not this submit is written by way of him as nobody else know such particular approximately my difficulty. You are incredible! Thanks!

  25. Call India cheap from Canada, on November 29th, 2011 at 7:05 am Said:

    I am no longer certain where you’re getting your information, however great topic. I must spend a while learning much more or working out more. Thanks for great info I used to be searching for this information for my mission.

  26. Blog Marketing Info, on November 30th, 2011 at 7:05 am Said:

    I am really inspired with your writing abilities as well as with the format to your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way stay up the nice quality writing, it’s uncommon to peer a great blog like this one nowadays.

  27. Inn, on December 7th, 2011 at 4:17 am Said:

    I was just seeking this information for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your website. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Usually the top websites are full of garbage.

  28. my IP address, on December 10th, 2011 at 10:55 am Said:

    You actually make it appear really easy along with your presentation however I find this matter to be really one thing which I think I’d by no means understand. It seems too complex and very huge for me. I’m having a look ahead for your next submit, I’ll try to get the grasp of it!

  29. iberbanda, on December 11th, 2011 at 3:45 am Said:

    Hello there, I discovered your website by way of Google while looking for a comparable matter, your web site got here up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  30. Ethernet cable splitter, on December 11th, 2011 at 2:11 pm Said:

    Great website. Lots of helpful information here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks in your effort!

  31. vision51, on December 12th, 2011 at 6:39 am Said:

    Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Magnificent. I am also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.

  32. hotel price comparison, on December 13th, 2011 at 7:15 am Said:

    Whoah this weblog is great i really like studying your posts. Keep up the good work! You recognize, many persons are hunting round for this information, you can help them greatly.

  33. Total Web Traffic, on December 14th, 2011 at 2:30 pm Said:

    I found your weblog website on google and test a couple of of your early posts. Continue to keep up the superb operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Searching for forward to reading extra from you afterward!…

  34. ??????? ???????, on December 17th, 2011 at 12:02 pm Said:

    I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I am not positive whether or not this submit is written via him as nobody else recognize such exact about my problem. You are amazing! Thank you!

  35. Funny T –shirts, on December 21st, 2011 at 4:09 am Said:

    I enjoy you because of all of the labor on this site. My niece enjoys participating in investigations and it is simple to grasp why. Most people learn all concerning the powerful manner you render informative techniques via this website and in addition improve participation from other people on that issue while my girl has been learning a great deal. Have fun with the rest of the year. You have been conducting a wonderful job.

  36. mail order bedding plants, on December 21st, 2011 at 5:05 am Said:

    Good blog! I really love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I could be notified when a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!

Leave a Reply

« »