How to set up a blog site.
November 14th 2008 23:32
How to set up a blog site.
Often people find that technology is daunting and cannot imagine that could ever master it. When training novices in the IT industry I am often struck with one of two attitudes: one is over confidence and the other is a lack of confidence. Both can seriously restrict the effectiveness of a person in a professional environment. IT is a branch of science and in science egos are little more than background noise. An over inflated ego can lead people to be abrasive, fail to consult and make huge mistakes. A person who underrates their ability can often underperform due to the irrational fear of making a huge mistake. If an ego gets too large in person with limited knowledge then you will find that they often believe that they know everything and will never take advice from those that they consider to be inferior. Such people become obvious and cannot be helped until they make a huge mistake and are forced to eat a big plate of humble pie. What is often difficult to understand is a realistic assessment of your own capabilities and limitations before setting out to on a technical project. The project is the goal and you are just part of the process.
How hard is it to set up your own blog site from scratch? I am posing this as a rhetorical question because many people hold strong opinions on technical matters that they have not had to follow through with. I could just as easily asked ‘how to build a computer’ or ‘how to secure a network’ and begin to pontificate. Yet without any real experience or professional knowledge in the matter my word would be of no more validity than the next novice.
However I can assure you that setting up a blog site from scratch is not an impossible task. Even with a budget of less than $100 is can be done.
This is how:
1 - You need a host site for the blog.
2 - You need a domain name
3 - You need appropriate software
4 - You need a server.
There are endless companies out there that will sell you a website and domain name for less than $80 p.a. I pay just on $70 p.a. for my customers and domain name and for that I get 500 mg of space and 500 emails if I want. For another $20 dollars p.a. they will activate a blog facility and for another $20 p.a. I can add other features like chat and online purchasing for a similar amount.
To activate the Blog I downloaded Word Press and set up the accounts.
There you have it, an operating blog site in two days with a budget of less than $100.
The only issue I have is if I am required to advise the client on what policies they should operate on.
However in the end it is their site and I am not about to tell them how to suck eggs through straw if they know what they are doing. They paid for the site and they have the right to run it the way they want. If they ask for my professional help or advice I will give it but if they do not I will not push the issue.
Setting up a blog site is easy.
Running a business profitably is a completely different matter.
Then again I could have made this story up.
Big Brother is too lazy to watch everyone.
Often people find that technology is daunting and cannot imagine that could ever master it. When training novices in the IT industry I am often struck with one of two attitudes: one is over confidence and the other is a lack of confidence. Both can seriously restrict the effectiveness of a person in a professional environment. IT is a branch of science and in science egos are little more than background noise. An over inflated ego can lead people to be abrasive, fail to consult and make huge mistakes. A person who underrates their ability can often underperform due to the irrational fear of making a huge mistake. If an ego gets too large in person with limited knowledge then you will find that they often believe that they know everything and will never take advice from those that they consider to be inferior. Such people become obvious and cannot be helped until they make a huge mistake and are forced to eat a big plate of humble pie. What is often difficult to understand is a realistic assessment of your own capabilities and limitations before setting out to on a technical project. The project is the goal and you are just part of the process.
How hard is it to set up your own blog site from scratch? I am posing this as a rhetorical question because many people hold strong opinions on technical matters that they have not had to follow through with. I could just as easily asked ‘how to build a computer’ or ‘how to secure a network’ and begin to pontificate. Yet without any real experience or professional knowledge in the matter my word would be of no more validity than the next novice.
However I can assure you that setting up a blog site from scratch is not an impossible task. Even with a budget of less than $100 is can be done.
This is how:
1 - You need a host site for the blog.
2 - You need a domain name
3 - You need appropriate software
4 - You need a server.
There are endless companies out there that will sell you a website and domain name for less than $80 p.a. I pay just on $70 p.a. for my customers and domain name and for that I get 500 mg of space and 500 emails if I want. For another $20 dollars p.a. they will activate a blog facility and for another $20 p.a. I can add other features like chat and online purchasing for a similar amount.
To activate the Blog I downloaded Word Press and set up the accounts.
There you have it, an operating blog site in two days with a budget of less than $100.
The only issue I have is if I am required to advise the client on what policies they should operate on.
However in the end it is their site and I am not about to tell them how to suck eggs through straw if they know what they are doing. They paid for the site and they have the right to run it the way they want. If they ask for my professional help or advice I will give it but if they do not I will not push the issue.
Setting up a blog site is easy.
Running a business profitably is a completely different matter.
Then again I could have made this story up.
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
As regards IT I just love to learn and from a person, so much better than an instruction manual which is most useful after you've already learned everything.
There are still vast gaps in my knowledge and if I had my life to live over I might have gone for IT rather than other things.
There are too many lacking that finer expertise in many professions, being blissfully unaware of their own ignorance, the greater the ignorance the more they push their point.
I am, I must confess, a bit too lazy in my computer work, and often the recommendations are just not necessary, but I usually find out what I need to know.
I'm soon to tackle Vista when my new laptop arrives, but no doubt I'll learn my own kind of shortcuts.
An interesting post. The young can be so difficult to deal with, thinking they know it all, but then again there are a lot of others that are not like that at all.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments
I do not often write technical posts on a blog.
It becomes too much like work.
I just thought that it would be a bit of an eye opener if people realized how easy it is to set up a blog as opposed to how hard it is to turn profit.
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
Running a business profitably is a completely different matter.
That's something everyone invovled in the Orble wars should consider every now and again.
I've had a fair look around at blogsites and to this day still think Orble has the best format. (Don't tell Jon I said that. He'll get a big head).
Orble runs best when Orble is about Orble. Nearly everyone on Orlbe gets passionate about Orble. I'm seriously considering giving up writing, other than writing about Orble.
If I write about writing, there are too many experts on writing on Orble to listen to someone who has some expertise in the field of writing. So I'm glad you took some time out to write about IT when no-one is really interested in IT on an IT site unless the IT post relates to Orble.
I think I'll visit some writing sites and tell people how much their writing inspires me to give up writing altogether.
And then go back to writing posts about Orble.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
I do not often write about IT here.
After a day of working in IT it usually the last think I want to yap on about. Also IT attracts novice nerds who love to tell everyone else how to suck eggs.
I thought about setting up my own blog site where I could preach to myself and comment to congratulate myself on writing so well. 'You rock Damo, tell it like its and so forth,'
However with my limited knowledge of normality that would stretch the freaky limits just a tad.
By the time I start to heckle myself I think I am about ready for therapy.
Comment by Janet Collins
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Lady H....
Loved it!
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Like most endeavors almost anyone can do it at the hobby level. However when it comes to making a living at it...
Business plan, cash flow, wages, insurance, overheads, loans and then comes time to count the profit if there is any.
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
That has got me really worried about myself.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I was thinking of getting a cat so I could have an advantage against myself.
Comment by Mister Smith
Random Ramblings
FILMENATOR
Crime in Books
I have just been listening to personal development coach Dr John Demartini. Among many other things, he says that money flows to where it is most appreciated. I am now attempting to follow his advice and be wise with what little money I have so that a stream will branch off off the great river of wealth and head in my direction.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
People own multiply names for various reasons but I yet to see anyone trading them here.
I am not a fan of PD's and Life Coaches so Demartini is a name I am unfamiliar with.
My take on money is that the tighter the fist the harder it is to get paid.