Would you like a fabulous, custom built, feature packed Wordpress (.org) blog?

Step 1

You will need your own domain name and hosting.  Your little piece of web real estate!

Set up your domain and hosting. Or if you already have your domain, then go directly to setting up your hosting. And if you already have your hosting go right to Step 2 below. If you need hosting, there are tons of options for hosting, but we suggest our favorites:

HostGator.com

HostMonster.com

I’m most familiar with HostGator and have my hosting with them. They offer excellent technical support. As a second option, HostMonster offers very good prices. Both companies offer live help via phone, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. 

These links are my affiliate links and if you don’t already have a hosting package and would like to use one of my links I offer a 20% discount off my fee as a thanks!

(Regarding the HostGator ‘coupons’ there are  many and they occassionally change. I offer all of them; simply enter a coupon code when you purchase your hosting and you’ll receive the coupon offer you’ve chosen. Be sure to go through my link on this page — and if you have questions about any coupon offerings that you may see on the Internet — HostGator occassionally runs specials for limited times – please email me at Ann@BlogsByAnn.com.)

Step 2

Email me (Ann@BlogsByAnn.com) and we’ll go over what we need to do and get started! 

I’ll need to know what “theme” (template design) you would like.  I can install any WordPress theme that is available online.  There are literally thousands of free themes to choose from.  This site has over 750. I also highly recommend the Flexibility theme and it’s an amazing free theme. You’ll see expamples in ‘Some Favorite Blogs that I’ve Recently Installed’ below. Of course you may also purchase a premium theme and there are many fabulous options — Woo Themes happens to be one of my personal favorites.

Step 3 

Relax.  I’ll build your blog within 48 hours and email you when it’s ready to go!  By the way…in addition to the awesome theme, I’ll be installing the following “plugins” that will make your blog super powerful!

Akismet - Widely regarded for stopping comment spam.

All-In-One SEO Pack - Complete solution to make your site immediately more effective from a Search Optimization perspective.

Google XML SiteMaps - Makes sure your site is mapped properly to be indexed regularly by Google, Ask.com, Yahoo, and MSN.

ShareThis - Allows your users to share the content with other users on Social Bookmarking sites.

Viper’s Video QuickTags - Quick and easy posting of videos on your site from Youtube and other popular sources.

WordPress Database Backup - On demand backup of your WordPress Blog.

WordPress Related Posts - Generates and displays related posts so users can find other related posts quickly.

WP - Contact Form - A simple drop in form so users can contact you easily.

Remote Database Backup - Enables automated remote backups.

Max Blog Press Ping Optimizer - Saves your Wordpress blog from getting tagged as ping spammer.

FeedBurner FeedSmith - For the best results using FeedBurner for RSS. This plugin will detect all ways to access your feed so you track every possible subscriber.

Add Post Footer - Allows you to automatically add custom paragraph, html code, ad code technarati tags and/or related links lists to the end of every post.

The package includes:

-Blog installation

-Theme installed on Server

-Plugins listed here

-Four social networking logs and links

-RSS installation

-Contact Me page

-Customized email address

Price for all is $100.

Questions? You can email me directly at Ann@BlogsByAnn.com. Again, thanks!

Why Dump BlogSpot/Blogger?

1. Freedom: Features for BlogSpot are less than 10% of what’s available on blogs like Wordpress.org. Once you see what you can do with Wordpress.org, you’ll feel like your BlogSpot site is a car with no air conditioning, manual windows, and no radio! Wordpress is faster, more efficient, more attractive - and far more profitable.

2. BlogSpot is like renting: No matter what you do to improve your BlogSpot site, you don’t own it. BlogSpot can shut down your site for any reason at any time. They have total control and reap any long term benefits of your hard work. Why invest time and money into bringing traffic and long term visitors to someone else’s site?

3. Credibility: BlogSpot is not taken seriously. Because hosting and domain are so inexpensive, consumers wonder why a successful, reputable business would team up with a free blogging service. And the truth is that real businesses don’t use BlogSpot.

4. Difficult to remember: A BlogSpot address is cumbersome to share with new contacts and twice as difficult for them to remember. And did you know that many corporate networks now ban BlogSpot sites because the content in many of them is inappropriate and are simply Splogs (Spam Blogs).

Basic (and Important) Tips for Choosing Your Blog Theme

1. Select a white or light colored background page. A Theme with a black or dark colored page and white type is hard to read and casues eye fatigue. You will lose your audience.

2. Most free themes come with a set line width for your text. Choose a theme with two columns or if you prefer one column, choose a theme with a text line that just isn’t too wide. When the line is very wide it’s difficult for eyes to follow and you may lose your audience.

3. If you would like music for your blog install it with an ‘On/Off’ button set to default ‘Off’. Unexpected music may startle your reader. Let your audience choose to listen — or not.

4. Note that with most themes, especially free themes, the font (lettering) style and size are set and can’t be changed. Consider this important aspect of your blog when you choose your Theme.

Then when it’s time to write your first post, and thereafter, it’s essential to write directly on the blog page or if your write on Word or anywhere off the page, copy and paste to Notepad, THEN copy and paste to the blog page. If you copy and paste directly from Word or an email page as examples, the code carries over to the blog page and you’ll soon have several different fonts on the different pages in your blog — not the best for a successful blog.

Some Favorite Blogs that I’ve Recently Installed

www.AndyMeeks.com

Andy chose a free  WordPress theme from WebDesignLessons.com and his blog looks wonderful!

www.CarinDavis.net

Carin also chose the Flexibility theme which is an excellent choice and a stunning blog and you can see how flexible Flexibility is when you compare to some of the other blogs below where Flexibility is also used.

www.DeeRobinson.com.au

Dee chose a free WordPress theme, Intrepidity, which is perfect for her personal development and inspirational messages.

www.EddieEspiritu.com

Eddie purchased a premium WordPress theme, Fresh News, by Woo Themes and requested a custom header for his marketing blog. Fabulous!

www.SallyBath.com

Sally chose to purchase a premium theme by Woo themes too. Her blog looks so clean and professional!

www.JalanaDavis.com  

Here’s another Flexibility theme demonstrating how many options there are with this amazing free theme!

www.BigDivaHq.com

Ms. Pillowz created a wonderful blog using Simple Red Wordpress theme by Profit Blogger. Looks terrific!

www.ConnieRosen.com

I love this playful theme, Desk Mirrored, from Buy Now Shop.com. Great choice, Connie!

www.TerryApger.com

Terry’s blog is another colorful variation of the Flexibility theme. Love it!

About Me

My background is in graphic art and I’ve illustrated more than 50 books for children. (I’m published as Ann Schweninger, my maiden name. If you are curious you can do a Google seach and will find some of my books.) My love for art and design and the Internet attracted me to Wordpress blogs. Blogs are art, design, publishing, and Internet all in one. I think it’s fabulous that the average person (just like me) can have their own easy-to-use blog, can design it themselves, and publish what ever they wish to share with the world.  (P.S. That’s my dog, Zimmie, in my arms. I’m one of the world’s biggest pet lovers!)