Introduction… and Other Stuff

Well, well, well. So you guys thought that I was on hiatus or something, eh? Fortunately (or unfortunately), that wasn’t the case. I was just having some “tiny” problems with my ISP and obviously, that was the cause of my inactivity. Anyway, ranting about my super “awesome” ISP is not the purpose of this post. See the title? Yep, that’s right. You’re about to read the 2nd part of my series called Blog Cash Hunt!

To start off, let me tell you some things about starting a blog. Basically, when you’re starting a blog, you need to choose a blog software, a decent web host, and some accessories that can make your blog stand out from the crowd. You have to choose carefully if you plan on getting your blog to the top. Making wise decisions can be easy… or not. Don’t worry though, I’ll help you through it. (Gee, I’m too kind! )

Choosing a Blog Software

There is a bunch of blog software packages out there, and the best ones are free. When choosing a blog software (or blogware), you have to carefully look at the functionality and flexibility. The software, at the very least, must have the ability to accept comments, have different themes for the blog, and other basic stuff. To add to that, the admin control panel MUST be neat. (Yep, who likes a topsy-turvy blog dashboard anyway?)A few of the most popular choices are WordPress, Blogger, b2evolution, and MovableType.

Several bloggers use WordPress simply because it’s the most powerful (in my opinion), and its developers are constantly working on it. Blogger, on the other hand, is a good choice as well. Read my post entitled 5 Reasons to Use Blogger for more information why it is a good option.

Personally, I prefer WordPress over any other software because it’s easy to use and there are many extensions (or add-ons) available to make your blog customized.

Choosing a Web Host

There are tons of free blog hosts out there like WordPress.com, but I must warn you… they are very limited. You can’t upload your own themes and you can’t install plug-ins. On top of that, you can’t make money with your blog because some free hosts prohibit placing ads.

I strongly recommend that you purchase a hosting plan. It doesn’t have to be the very expensive plan out there or the plan which gives you 6,500GB of space that most oversellers offer. You can start off with a hosting plan especially made for blogs like what DownTownHost offers. For only $5.95 per month, you will get a free blog installation which means you don’t have to go through a tedious process of uploading the files and configuring all the technical stuff. There are a lot of other features that DTH’s blog plan can give you; just check the site out to learn more.

In case you’ve decided to go with a paid host, read my post about choosing web hosts. The post can save you time and money. Promise!

Other Stuff that You Need for Your Blog

Once your blog is up and running, you need to get some stuff to customize your blog. Well, go on, grab some widgets, themes, and plug-ins. If you really want your blog to stand out, consider ordering a custom theme from a reputable designer. In case you choose WordPress as your blogging platform (I bet you will!), check this post out. It can help you in buying custom WordPress themes.

Looking for stuff to add? Here’s a short list of stuff that you might want to get for your blog.

AddThis
A small button that you can place on your blog so that people can easily bookmark it. It’s pretty neat and compact so it’s not distracting. I highly recommend this social bookmarking widget.

BlogRush
This is a little widget that can also bring in some traffic. It displays headlines from other blogs, and in return, your newest posts will also be posted on other people’s blogs which display the BlogRush widget.

Entrecard
It’s sort of a banner exchange thing for blogs, useful if you want a bit of traffic for your newly published blog.

ScratchBack
This can help you earn a small amount of money by allowing readers to donate. In return, your readers will get a link on your ScratchBack widget. Here’s a little post of mine about ScratchBack.

One reminder though… don’t fill your blog with widgets and other accessories! It might load as fast as a turtle. You wouldn’t want that to happen!

Summary

When you’re about to start a blog, don’t make decisions in a split second. Think of which blogware to use, which host to trust, and which extras to put. That concludes the second part of Blog Cash Hunt. Stay tuned guys, don’t go anywhere!

Other posts that you might find interesting:

• Blog Cash Hunt: Basic Blogging Facts
• Clean Up and Think Better
• Blog Cash Hunt: Make Money by Blogging Series