building blocks of better blogs
TRANSCRIPT
Building Blocks of Better BlogsBuilding Blocks of Better Blogs
Michael Carnell - Type B@carnellm
Michael Carnell - Type B@carnellm
Why Blog?Why Blog?
There is FaceBook and Twitter and FourSquare and ... ... so why blog?
Aren’t blogs yesterday’s news?
It takes too much time!
I don’t want an online diary.
Your Blog is Home BaseYour Blog is Home Base
You don’t own the other services. They can shut you down.
Who are you advertising? Them or you?
What ties everything together?
Who controls the look, feel, SEO, etc...
What happens when they change business models? Or go out of business?
Local news
Reviews
Sports
Recipes
Serialized Stories
Tips and Tricks
Travel Insight
Advice and Goals
Self PR
Photo Galleries
Fund Raising
Social Groups
Blogs are not just diaries they are regularly updated information feeds.
Blogs are not just diaries they are regularly updated information feeds.
It’s All About You!
It’s All About You!
You need to be in charge of what’s going on.
You need to own your content and its use.
You need to be in charge of what’s going on.
You need to own your content and its use.
Let’s Talk PLatformsLet’s Talk PLatforms
Full ServiceFull Service
Blogger (was blogspot, owned by Google)
WordPress.com
TypePad
Posterous
FourSquare (hybrid)
The Big BoysThe Big Boys
Drupal
Joomla
DotNetNuke
Custom Programmed
The Best of Both Worlds
The Best of Both Worlds
WordPress.Org
Moveable Type
Installed on your own web host
All goes back to control and ownership
Platforms of ChoicePlatforms of Choice
http://peltiertech.com/WordPress/which-blogging-platform-do-you-use/
OK, So Why?OK, So Why?
Control of your content and how it is used
Can move if you so chose
Lots of plug-ins, themes and experts
In the end, you are in control - can do as much or as little as you chose
A Few Dirty Detailsfor WordPress
A Few Dirty Detailsfor WordPress
Install CorrectlyInstall CorrectlyWhile Installing or using FTP
Delete Install.php
In config.php, add the optional security keys
Add index.php, a blank file to all plugin and theme directories
Consider your directory? Do you use the standard?
Check the file directory privileges
Once InstalledOnce InstalledCreate new admin user with strong password
Change Admin password and make a subscriber
Change setting to allow editing by outside packages if wanted
Change “permalink” structure
Setup your backups - for both database (content) and pictures, themes and media
Simple Backup for WPSimple Backup for WPGreat a GMail account or use your current one with custom address such as “[email protected]”
Make a filter that auto files away all email coming in to that address.
Database - http://austinmatzko.com/wordpress-plugins/wp-db-backup/
Images & Themes - http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/wordpress-backup/
Questions & Answers
Michael Carnellhttp://www.Palmettobug.com
http://www.TheSocialMediaMonster.com
@carnellm on Twitter
Slides and further info available on...