Social Media Leaps

Create a Blog

Set up a company blog

Choosing blogging software

Before you create a blog, you’ll have to decide whether you need a self-hosted blog (contained within your own existing site) or a web-hosted blog (a third-party service). Below are the benefits of each type of Blog service.

Self-hosted Blog:

You will need your own domain name and website in order to self-host a blog.
Your web host must also support PHP scripts and allow at least one MySQL database.
Do you want to display your own ads or add forums and other features to your blog? Options for some additional features are limited on web-hosted blogs.
Blogging software varies in terms of customizing the appearance and layout of their blogs with logos, specific fonts, and designs. If you want or need a lot of customization, it’s best to go with a self-hosted blog.

Web hosted Blog:

Web-hosted blogging programs typically offer more limited features, but are easier to navigate and maintain from a technical standpoint. Many self-hosted blogging software packages provide advanced customization but require at least some technical ability.
How many authors will contribute to your blog? Self-hosted blogging software platforms are easier to configure for use with multiple authors.
Self-hosted blogs are easier to transfer to a new domain if necessary.

Install a self-hosted blog in 5 minutes with WordPress.org

Note: These summarized steps assume technical familiarity—visit the links below for extended instructions.
Go to http://wordpress.org/
Download and unzip the WordPresss package.
Create a database for WordPress on your web server.
Create a MySQL user who has administrative privileges.
Rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php.
Open wp-config.php in your favorite text editor and fill in your database details.
Upload the WordPress files in the desired location on your web server.
Run the WordPress installation script by opening wp-admin/install.php in your web browser.

New to WordPress? Where to Start

Step-by-step video tutorial: How to setup a WordPress blog

Install a web-hosted blog in 5 minutes with WordPress.com:

Note: WordPress.com blogs can be exported to a self-hosted blog using WordPress.org—see link below.
Go to http://wordpress.com/
Visit WordPress and click the “Sign up Now” button in the top right of your screen.
Choose a username that will be displayed on each post you author and click the checkbox to accept the terms of service.
Enter a name for your blog and choose a corresponding domain name which will be the address for your blog: www.blogname.wordpress.com.
Click “Sign up” and then confirm your email address by clicking the confirmation link within the email that is automatically sent to the address you provided.
Log in with your username and password at WordPress.com.
From your Dashboard, you can change your blog’s theme and other options.
Your blog is now public and ready for you to add content.

Extended video tutorial: WordPress.com

Step-by-Step Tutorial Moving from WordPress.com to WordPress.org

Install a web-hosted blog in 5 minutes with Blogger:

Step-by-Step Video Tutorial: Beginner’s guide to blogging with Blogger

Tips for maintaining your blog:

Your blog’s design and content should reflect the expectations of your intended audience.

Visit Blogger and click the “Create a Blog” button. If you don’t already have a Google account, you’ll need to create one by completing the registration form. Otherwise, sign in with your existing Google account username and password.
Choose a username that will be displayed on each post you author and click the checkbox to accept the terms of service.
Enter a name for your blog and choose a corresponding domain name which will be the address for your blog: www.blogname.blogspot.com.
Select one of the design templates for the blog’s theme. You can add and change themes later as desired.
Your blog is now public and ready for you to add content.
Update your blog frequently to keep visitors coming back.
Offer new posts regularly by scheduling time to write.
Provide original content and commentary for your readers rather than only links.
Don’t repost images, videos, or articles from other blogs in their entirety without permission.
Be familiar to your readers by adapting a consistent tone for your posts.
Welcome readers and invite them to join a two-way conversation by allowing comments. Be sure to respond promptly to comments from your readers.