How to Set Up A Kick Butt Blog!

If you're curious how to create a blog and you're trying to figure out what the best route to make a blog is-then you have made your way to the correct place! I'll help you sort out your choices for which method(s) to use to make your blog contingent on what kind of blog you may want, whether you want to make cash from it, and how much time/effort you want to devote to setting up your blog.

Topics that I'll go over will be:

1. Whether to create a blog using a hosted blog site (like blogger.com or Wordpress.com) or to create a blog using a blog platform (like Wordpress.org, Typepad, Blogsmith, Movable Type).
2. Comparing hosted blog sites--Blogger vs. Wordpress.com.
3. Comparing the Wordpress.org blog platform to similar blog platforms.
4. Why/Why not you should put time into learning HTML, CSS, or some Programming.
5. What's the best way to make income with your blog.

So proceed if you desire to learn how to make a kick butt blog!

Hosted Blog vs. Host Your Own Blog

Option 1) Use a shared domain blog

A shared domain blog is a blog that you don't have to pay to host on a web server. You can create these at https://www.blogger.com/start, http://wordpress.com/, etc. If you want to use this option, you'll be setting up what is known as a "shared domain blog" because you'll have .blogspot or .wordpress after your blog's URL like http://nameofyourblog.blogspot.com or http://nameofyourblog.wordpress.com. Creating a blog using a hosted blog is extremely simple to create and costs nothing. You can actually have a blog set up in a couple minutes if you use blogger.com or wordpress.com!

Blogger vs. Wordpress

If you are trying to decide which to set up your blog with just know that both are extremely simple to create. I would say that blogger is easier to use while Wordpress is a little better looking. Also, Blogger.com has nice ways to simply use Google AdSense Ads within your blog so you can earn some income from your blog but Wordpress is a little more customizable.

Option 2) Use a Web Host to Host Your Blog

If you use this option you would use a blog platform (like Wordpress--*from Wordpress.org and not Wordpress.com) and you pay a web host to place your blog on their servers. But why would you want to pay and use a host you have to pay for when your blog could be hosted at blogger.com or worpress.com for free? There's actually a numerous reasons:

1. You have better design/customization control.
2. You have many more monetization options (More ways to monetize your blog = more income for you!)
3. Your blog will appear much more professional-making your blog seem more credible.

If you are thinking about setting up a blog using this route then you'll be happy to know it is actually pretty easy to do. Blog platforms can be uploaded to a server and created in a matter of minutes. There are instructions for how to do this at all of the blog platform's sites (ex. wordpress.org).

Follow These Steps If You Want To Set Up Your Blog With A Host:

1. Sign up with a host.
2. A lot good hosts will have a one click installation for different blog platforms (like Wordpress, Typepad, Blogsmith, Movable Type)-so just click that and you're ready to start blogging (it's that easy)!

*If your chosen host doesn't let you use a one click installation option for the blog platform you desire, follow these instructions:

1. Download a blogging platform (like Wordpress (from Wordpress.org), Typepad, Blogsmith, Movable Type, etc) from their different websites.
2. Sign up with a Host.
3. Upload the blog platform you want to the host you signed up with.
4. Have fun...start blogging!

Wordpress vs. the Rest:

I have tried out numerous blog platforms and Content Management Systems (CMS) over the years and in my opinion the best blog platform is Wordpress. It is very user friendly, it has many people using it (and updating it and pointing out any problems it has to developers), there are a ton of sites and forums to assist you if are having problems, and there are many methods to customize it. Moreover, Wordpress is expanding out and implementing more elaborate features that other blog platforms don't have. So, in case you want to beef up your blog to look more like a website that includes things like forums, shopping carts, or other advanced features--Wordpress is the blog platform you should use. Also, Wordpress is one of the most easy blog platforms to put together.

Do You Need To Learn HTML, CSS, or Programming?

If you are using a hosted blog at blogger or Wordpress you do not need to devote time to learn these skills. Learning a little HTML will help customize your blog sometimes but you can always search for a certain code online when you want to do something on your blog. But, if you are using a blog platform (like Wordpress from Wordpress.org) learning a little HTML will help you out in the long run. I wouldn't suggest spend a lot of time learning it however if you have a very basic knowledge you can achieve a lot with your blog. *note-you can still develop a fantastic blog without ever teaching yourself HTML, CSS, or Programming.

Make Money with Your Blog

There are bloggers that can earn a fantastic income from just one blog! But, if your blogging ambition is only to blog about your life, a topic, or to get people to read about an issue--than building your blog with a hosted blog website (like wordpess.com or blogger.com) is probably your best bet. Hosted blog websites are pretty basic to use and you don't have to pay for hosting. With this option you can just blog and not worry about administrative things. But, if you want to set up a blog to make money than creating a blog with a blog platform (like Wordpress.org) is what you should do because blog platforms give you many more options to customize your blog, more ways you can place ads on your blog, and more features you can use with the blog.

I'm hoping that this article has helped you figure out how to make a blog. Blogging about things I love is a hobby of mine but the wonderful thing about this hobby is that it's very profitable! Surprisingly there are numerous easy ways to make money with your blog that will make you income for a long time. If you want to work at home and make money with a blog then check this out at my website!

If you are curious about how to set up and create a blog that earns a lot, about the 5 major pitfalls bloggers fall into, and how to choose a niche for your blog then click this to see a free report I have at my website! I really believe this is the best free report out there and it is made by Jason Gazaway- a 26 year old blog expert who earns tens of thousands of dollars a month from the blogs he sets up.

--Article by Steven Sick from "How To Set Up A Blog"