Ask Dr. P

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There are websites that provide free blogs for beginners such as Google’s blogger, wordpress.com etc. These blogs are automatically set up for you and you have no control over the source code and header tags. To optimize and monetize your blog you would need free access to these areas of your web blog. It is assumed that you intend to start you own blog and not set up one of the free blogs provided online.

To set up your blog you need to take the following steps:

Get a domain name

You domain name is the name you call your site. For instance the domain name of this blog is www.peleodiase.com. You are at liberty to call your blog anything you like as long as no-one else has the same domain name. Your domain name must be unique.

You can find information on how to choose a suitable domain name here: Choosing a domain name for your home business website. To find out if the domain name you have chosen isn’t already registered, browse to www.who.is, type in your preferred domain name and search. By searching, you would determine if the domain name is already registered or not and other options are available to you.

Choose a suitable web host

A web host is the computer where your files would store to be accessed by visitors browsing the web. Just as you rent an apartment or a home, you rent a web space provided by the web host. Click here for guide to choosing a web host.

There are number of web hosts that offer competitive packages that include free domain name registration which means you don’t have to pay an additional charge to register your domain. The rates are relatively cheaper if you register for a longer term e.g. 2 yrs. I have listed a few web hosts that are reliable and provide the resources required to power you blog.

Blue Host
1 & 1 Hosting
Host Monster
Yahoo Web Hosting
YouServing
Fast Domain
One.com Free
HostICan
Crucial WebHosting

Each of these web host offer similar services and features which would come in very handy. There are other web hosting packages not listed here which are not suitable for hosting your blog especially these that offer free web builder tools. The registration process takes minutes.

Payment is made via credit card and confirmation is sent via email. You may receive a phone call to verify your details. Contact us if you have difficulties paying by credit card or if you do not have one and we’ll try and sort out an alternative where possible.

Access your control panel

Once your details have been confirmed, you domain would be online and your username and password would be sent to you. You would need these details to login to your hosting account control panel to set up your blog. Next we’ll step through setting up your blog in: How to set up your wordpress blog – wk 3

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