As I’ve been doing this blogging thing a little while now and it seemed a good idea to pass on a few of the things that I’ve learned over the five years that I’ve been doing this. In easy and often geeky steps you’ll be taken through the steps and point out the pitfalls of taking your blog seed and growing it into something really amazing.
The Start
Let’s say for argument’s sake you’re starting on a free wordpress.com site domain. YOu’ve taken the bold step of registering your site name after much searching through names and you’re here. You have these options.
Naturally the first thing you want to do is make the blog / site look and feel how you want it to. So where it says themes, hit Customise.
You’re then presented with this, loads of different and wonderful templates to make your blog look the way you want. Naturally the best ones cost so if you want pick one of those and pay or in the top right there’s options to filter and you can view only the ones that come for free.
The next bit is down to you, select the one that you think releases your creative blogger in the way you want. Follow the instructions, and if needs be keep changing until you’re happy.
If you’re not back onto your ‘my Sites’ page hit that button in the top left and then scroll down to settings.
Setting up
This is the basic set up for the blog that you want. You don’t have to do it like I have if you don’t understand anything use Dr Google to help. There’s loads of Web help for WordPress and if you get really stuck Automattic’s Happiness Engineers really do try to make you happy by getting you going, it just might take a day or so for them to answer your question in the forums.
Here is easy. Get a goofy picture and upload it for your profile, set a site tagline which will describe your blog to all that find it in the blogosphere and set the title. With the title it’s important NOT to use the web address of the site, many have done this and it seems to screw with things so that people can’t get to your site. This is a name only and can be anything.
In the writing tab are all the settings for writing your blog posts. Most of what’s set in here is fairly self explanatory and it’s each to their own preference. What is worth noting is that Categories and Tags can be entered here.
I got really confused on what these were for when I first started blogging but Categories help the blogger organise their posts, a default category can be set and as many can be set up as desired. The best way to think of categories is to treat them as drop down menu’s on your blog site. So keep the number to a minimum and make them relate to your site becasue later when we get to site customisation these can be used to help with menu’s and organisation.
So that leaves Tags, these are used for readers and bloggers to help them find your content. So if you’re posting on how to set up a WordPress blog then tags like WordPress and Blog and Setup or Starting out might be a good place to start. Both Categories and tags can be added while writing blog posts but if there’s an organised plan to your blog site then this is the time to start.
The discussion tab is a load of settings on how interaction is meant to work between yourself and other bloggers. It should be straightforward and I think this is pretty much the default setup. Basically go nuts and do it how you want it!
Lastly there’s the Traffic tab, I’m not going to say much here as it’s all fairly well set up anyway. The Google site indexing and all that I haven’t shown becasue this is more complex stuff to cover later.
What the blog needs now is content.
So get writing!
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Hi Simon,
These are great tips – thank you!
It would have been great to know the categories & tags when I first started. However I discovered them about 6 months into my blogging adventure. 🙂 Still, better late than never.
I was taking a blogging break and just returned. Will start posting again soon, looking forward to resume writing on forgiveness, etc. Hope you’re well – and thanks for the follow.
Best, Debbie
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Hi Debbie,
I’m pleased that you like the tips, since your last visited I’ve posted a little series of these posts. We all learn by doing and will always make mistakes.
I remember you saying you were taking a break, it seems like so long ago. I hope you’re back refreshed and ready to continue doing great things. Pleasure to follow 🙂
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Reblogged this on .
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Thanks for reblogging 🙂
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really a lot for me! but good info in there
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There is a lot in the first post on this. But starting up is item that way don’t you think? 😀
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Reblogged this on Therapy Bits and commented:
Check out this how to guide on how to use wordpress a beginning guide!
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Thanks for reblogging my post 🙂
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Great post! Thanks for this tutorial. It’s help many newbie blogger.
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I hope it does – thanks 🙂
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Aaah, so THAT’S what has happened when I try to check out someone’s blog and it says it’s empty! Good to know! This a handy little guide, Simon… Wish it had been there when I started out 😀
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Yes… you get that too. It’s funny – I’ve only posted three of these (I think) fourth out today and I’m getting all kind of questions and people going Ah-ha!
It seems this is needed.
So hopefully it’s get more interest in Planet Simon and then I can mind suck them into reading the rest of my trash! Muhahaa!!!!
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Aha! There’s an evil plan at the root of this, then! 😆 I can see why everyone’s responding to it though… The WordPress help is great and all, but there’s SO MUCH it can be overwhelming. A little bit every couple of days is a lot easier to digest and learn from!
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Of course there is. It’s not that evil though.
I tell you something. Writing these shows how easily you can get lost in WordPress. I’m only skimming the surface right now.
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No, not really! 😁 And there is a lot to learn… We could probably all do with sitting down and reading the whole manual, but who has time?
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No one has time, so that’s why nice me is helping everyone! 😀
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Hello!! I cant figure out how to see the messages people send me in the “Contact Me” section of my blog. I’ve sent myself a few messages to test it out and I dont get anything. I know people are visiting that page a lot and Im worried I’ve lost out on some business!!
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I’ll have a look at what might be happening if you like?
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Hi there, I’ve looked at how to create a contact page and I have some advice if you need it. I have a created a special post just on this which will be out later today. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Its good to be crazy Sometimes and commented:
I love a good how to guide
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Thanks for the re-blog 🙂
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Most welcome
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Where was this when I started 😂🙈
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This is what I mean… I think people need this 🙂
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Absolutely!
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Keeping this on my ‘Favourites’ for quick access.
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Cool! 🙂
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This is great – thank you 😊
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Happy to help – there’s more to come over the coming weeks 🙂
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Since I set up two themes I know how helpful your post is! Thank you for this great support!
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Always a pleasure ☺️
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😊😊
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Great info even for an old dog! HaHa 🙂
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Is there anyone old around here? 😝
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I’m the old dog, an American saying. 🙂
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Shouldn’t that be old dawg, then? Lol
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If I were in England. 🙂
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Don’t you guys say that then?
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Not normal to say, some guys who thing their cool say that. That’s more the younger guys. 🙂
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Ok… Bad stereotype then. 🙂
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Unless you want to play that role, don’t think you’re a good fit. You appear to be a gentleman. Little out of space but nice. 🙂
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I do my best… 🙂
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Can you find a way to block idiots from following you? I’ve only had one or two, but what a hassle…I know I can take out their comments, but I’d rather just block them…
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I don’t think you can… That’s the thing with blogging. It’s a few for all access website.
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Ugh
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Sorry… have a creepy stalker?
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He was, till I threw his crap into my spam. 😏
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Haha.. all goes to spam now eh? I hope he wasn’t really rude or I may have to go after him
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Oh he was very rude. I don’t mind people expressing their opinions of me, but I won’t stand for personal attacks from someone who really knows nothing about me.
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It does happen around here sometime and they can be quite unpleasant. But good for you for kicking his butt!
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Unacceptable to me. It’s the very reason I’m not on Facebook.
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I don’t post on Facebook I only use it to try and promote my posts on groups I’ve set up.
Even so after what’s been found out over recent days I’m sorely tempted to delete my FB account anyway
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I did, I think 5 years ago. I have no use for it.
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I don’t blame you…
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https://justifiableopinions.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/what-makes-todays-youth-so-strong/comment-page-1/#comment-5
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Thanks Simon – I wasn’t aware of the title/web address issue.
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It’s common, I find it a lot and it’s a problem when your want to visit a blog that’s visited me.
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Am I a problem? Careful how you answer!
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Lol… No. You’re set up fine. What happens when it goes wrong is that worried WordPress can’t find your blog, thinks it’s deleted and I can’t see any posts or follow.
But you’re fine. 🙂
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Thanks Simon.
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Cool 🙂
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