This is the second article for “Blogging Guide Series”. In the first post, I have discussed what niche you should select for your blog and are you ready to blog and have you got guts for blogging. If you have not read that post, just go back and read it before you enter a new world ( Before Blogging: Blogging Guide Series ).

Now if you have decided to have a blog, just follow these steps:

1.Self-hosted or Free Hosted:

First of all decide about the hosting. Do you want to get a pre (free)-hosted blog or do you want to set it up yourself as self-hosted blog?

Pre-hosted blog is already installed and you don’t need to get a hosting plan, make database and install it. Just make an account and start blogging. Here are three best sites for pre-hosted blogging: wordpress,  blogspot and LiveJournal.

However, I suggest you to get a self-hosted blog because you will have full control on your blog. You can modify it accordingly, install your own themes, plugins and get full control on your hosting plan.

2. If Self-hosted, Get a domain name and hosting Plan:

Domain name is your identity. By this domain name your blog and you will be identified in this internet world. Here are some simple tips to select a domain name for your blog:

1. Try to keep it small
2. Try to get one-word domain name like guttts.com, bloggging.com, but two to three words domain are also suitable. The main purpose is that it is easy to remember.
3. Avoid dashes, underscores and even numbers in your domain name.
4. Try to include one keyword ( like you are going to start a blog about cats, try to include “cat” in your domain name ). It will help you in SEO.

Here are two good sites to search a domain name;  instant domain name search and domize.

For hosting plan, intially get a cheap hosting plan and later on you can switch over to good ones. Search the net and you will find many companies which provide hosting plans. Or ask other bloggers, they will help you.

3. Install Blogging Software on Your hosting Plan:

1. Download the software of choice to your computer — for example, WordPress or Movable Type.
2. Install the software on your server. Usually this involves unzipping the downloaded software file, editing a couple of text files in the unzipped folder, then uploading the whole directory to your Web space using an FTP client like Filezilla ( my best free FTP software). You usually need to create a database on your server too (ask your Web hosting company if you’re not sure how to do this). Here are detailed instructions for installing WordPress and Movable Type.

4. Writing Posts:

After successful installation of blogging software, you can login to the admin page and start writing posts. Click on new post and you will find many options. Some are;

1. Tile of the post: Select an appropriate title of the post, especially SEO friendly title. I will try to write a detailed separate post on “SEOed Title of the Post”.
2. Write the main content of the post and include keywords in it.
3. Select an appropriate category.
4. Assign some tags to the post;
5. And publish the post.

You have achieved one sub-goal. And if you want help for installing the wordpress software on your server, I am here.