Blogging for Dummies
February 23, 2010 4:16 AM Subscribe
Newbie question: how do I set up a blog on my own website?
I am totally overwhelmed by the amount of information available on Google, so would love to hear about your favourite instructional sites for this.
In a nutshell: I have purchased a domain name (no hosting as yet) and want to host a blog there rather than on a blogging site. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, I just wanted to have it on my own site. What host should I use? What blogging software? And then what?
I am reasonably computer-savvy and can easily follow technical instructions to do this myself, I just don't know where to start! TIA.
I am totally overwhelmed by the amount of information available on Google, so would love to hear about your favourite instructional sites for this.
In a nutshell: I have purchased a domain name (no hosting as yet) and want to host a blog there rather than on a blogging site. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, I just wanted to have it on my own site. What host should I use? What blogging software? And then what?
I am reasonably computer-savvy and can easily follow technical instructions to do this myself, I just don't know where to start! TIA.
I'd suggest WordPress as your blogging engine. I host a few WordPress sites at WebFaction and am pretty happy with them, so far.
You can host as many WordPress sites as you want on your WebFaction account, and they have an easy-to-use installer that will have you set up and running in a matter of minutes.
Plus, if you really want to dig deep into the details or customize your setup, WebFaction allows that. They'll even set up a dedicated Apache stack for you if their not overly restrictions are too restrictive for your needs.
You can also choose to install any of a number of applications (Ruby on Rails, Django, Drupal, Subversion, PHP/CGI, Static Nginx) from their installer (in addition to WordPress), and if you're comfortable executing a few Bash commands, you can install pretty much whatever you want, even if it's not offered under the WebFaction installer.
posted by syzygy at 4:25 AM on February 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
You can host as many WordPress sites as you want on your WebFaction account, and they have an easy-to-use installer that will have you set up and running in a matter of minutes.
Plus, if you really want to dig deep into the details or customize your setup, WebFaction allows that. They'll even set up a dedicated Apache stack for you if their not overly restrictions are too restrictive for your needs.
You can also choose to install any of a number of applications (Ruby on Rails, Django, Drupal, Subversion, PHP/CGI, Static Nginx) from their installer (in addition to WordPress), and if you're comfortable executing a few Bash commands, you can install pretty much whatever you want, even if it's not offered under the WebFaction installer.
posted by syzygy at 4:25 AM on February 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I agree with the above - if you pick a host with good WordPress support, setting it up will be pretty much as easy as doing it on a blogging site.
Remember though that these days you can use your own domain name on some blogging sites - certainly on WordPress.com (not to get downright monotonous with the WordPress). You'd save money that way, but of course you don't get the same level of control or a nice slice of space to host other miscellaneous things in.
posted by Phanx at 5:18 AM on February 23, 2010
Remember though that these days you can use your own domain name on some blogging sites - certainly on WordPress.com (not to get downright monotonous with the WordPress). You'd save money that way, but of course you don't get the same level of control or a nice slice of space to host other miscellaneous things in.
posted by Phanx at 5:18 AM on February 23, 2010
Nthing Wordpress. It's pretty simple- It's actually how I got started on my PHP/MySQL adventure. QUite a few hosts will allow you to purchase accounts with Wordpress pre-installed. I wouldn't pay extra for it, but that could be a option for you.
If you need any help MeFi mail me!
posted by GilloD at 5:30 AM on February 23, 2010
If you need any help MeFi mail me!
posted by GilloD at 5:30 AM on February 23, 2010
Both Dreamhost and Bluehost (among many others, I'm sure) offer 1-click installs for Wordpress. It doesn't get much easier. I've been with Dreamhost for several years now and have had no real problems to speak of.
posted by speeb at 5:54 AM on February 23, 2010
posted by speeb at 5:54 AM on February 23, 2010
These days i've seen a few hosting offers (even quite cheap ones) will install wordpress for you. which is probably the easiest way.
posted by mary8nne at 5:55 AM on February 23, 2010
posted by mary8nne at 5:55 AM on February 23, 2010
Also:
Steer clear of Typepad (blogging service), GoDaddy (hosting) and Windows servers (especially if you're going to to with WordPress).
posted by syzygy at 6:41 AM on February 23, 2010
Steer clear of Typepad (blogging service), GoDaddy (hosting) and Windows servers (especially if you're going to to with WordPress).
posted by syzygy at 6:41 AM on February 23, 2010
I've been very happy with the cost and service of hosting at NearlyFreeSpeech.net, but they aren't the kind of service that holds your hand. If the idea of running some scripts from a command line intimidates you, it's not a great choice.
posted by chrisamiller at 6:54 AM on February 23, 2010
posted by chrisamiller at 6:54 AM on February 23, 2010
Another vote for WordPress, then spend $10 a year to map your domain name to it
posted by hungrysquirrels at 7:08 AM on February 23, 2010
posted by hungrysquirrels at 7:08 AM on February 23, 2010
Seconding Dreamhost's 1-click install of WordPress. It's super easy and it has easy 1-click upgrades too.
posted by Kimberly at 8:24 AM on February 23, 2010
posted by Kimberly at 8:24 AM on February 23, 2010
Agree with everyone here who recommend Dreamhost/Bluehost with their 1-click install of Wordpress. That should get you a functional blog host with your domain name.
You do not say what your reservation with having your blog on a blogging site is - but if you meant having your blog on your own domain, you can easily just redirect www.domain.com to xyz.wordpress.com and it should work out for you.
upon preview, what hungrysquirrels said
posted by cusecase at 9:33 AM on February 23, 2010
You do not say what your reservation with having your blog on a blogging site is - but if you meant having your blog on your own domain, you can easily just redirect www.domain.com to xyz.wordpress.com and it should work out for you.
upon preview, what hungrysquirrels said
posted by cusecase at 9:33 AM on February 23, 2010
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posted by handee at 4:23 AM on February 23, 2010