why blog? to market or promote yourself, service or product

Why Blog?

Why Blog?

• To market or promote yourself, service or

product

Why Blog?

• To market or promote yourself, service or

product

• To establish yourself as an expert

Why Blog?

• To market or promote yourself, service or

product

• To establish yourself as an expert

• To boost SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Where do I begin?

Two initial decisionsneed to be made

Two initial decisionsneed to be made

FIRST

Should I pay for a hosting package

or opt for a free site?

FREE (?)WordPress.com

- - - - - - VS - - - - - -

PAID HOSTING

FREE: No Initial Fees

• Hosting and domain are free.

FREE: No Initial Fees

• Hosting and domain are free.

REMEMBER:

FREE: No Initial Fees

• Hosting and domain are free.

REMEMBER:-3GB storage space

FREE: No Initial Fees

• Hosting and domain are free.

REMEMBER:-3GB storage space-Domain name will begin with “wordpress.”

FREE: No Initial Fees

• Hosting and domain are free.

REMEMBER:-3GB storage space-Domain name will begin with “wordpress.”-No custom e-mail addresses included

FREE: No Initial Fees

• Hosting and domain are free.

REMEMBER:-3GB storage space-Domain name will begin with “wordpress.”-No custom e-mail addresses included-A customized “wp.-free” domain is $12-$17/yr

FREE: No Initial Fees

• Hosting and domain are free.

REMEMBER:-3GB storage space-Domain name will begin with “wordpress.”-No custom e-mail addresses included-A customized “wp.-free” domain is $12-$17/yr-Additional space is available starting at $20/yr for 5GB

PAID: Hosted Site

• Domain Registration: $10+/yr

PAID: Hosted Site

• Domain Registration: $10+/yr

• Hosting: Varies - $120/yrshould include one domain, custom e-mail addresses and ample storage space

FREE: Networking

• WordPress.com is a network

-May create additional traffic

-Slim possibility to be chosen as the “Blog of the Day”

PAID: No Network

• Responsible for your own networking

FREE: Auto Updates

• WordPress.com will automatically update your site to the current version whenever an update becomes available.

PAID: 1-Click Updates

• WordPress will notify you

• Your responsibility to install

• Usually done with 1-click.

FREE: Limited Themes

• Only WordPress.com free themes allowed

• Customization limited to the control panel options

• Style customization is $30/yr

• You are responsible for customizations

PAID: Full Theme Support

• Thousands of free and paid themes are available online

• Same control panel operates basic customization

• Open customization only limited to your imagination

FREE: No Plug-ins Available

• No plug-ins of any kind are allowed

• $2,500 each month (yes $2,500) join VIP Program for full control of customization and the ability to use plug-ins

PAID: Plug-in Freedom

• Unlimited access to all free and paid plug-ins available for WP

FREE: WP Ad Space

• WordPress.com reserves the right to sell ad space on your site

• Ad-free option is $30 per year

PAID: Content Control

• Only what you post or allow will ever be visible on your blog

FREE: Sales Restrictions

• Cannot sell or control the ad space on your site

• IF you receive MORE THAN 25,000 views per month and apply for the privilege

• If approved you will split the revenue 50/50 with WP

PAID: Make Money!

• Control and sell whatever ad space or items you want on your site

CONCLUSION

Nothing but the Gift of Godis ever free.

CONCLUSION

Paid Hosting = Freedom

SECOND

Should I design it myself

or pay someone?

Do-It-Yourself

Do-It-Yourself

• Easy to get started

Do-It-Yourself

• Easy to get started

• 1-click WP install

Do-It-Yourself

• Easy to get started

• 1-click WP install

• Select a theme

Do-It-Yourself

• Easy to get started

• 1-click WP install

• Select a theme

• Customize, fairly user-friendly control panel

Do-It-Yourself

• Easy to get started

• 1-click WP install

• Select a theme

• Customize, fairly user-friendly control panel

• WP is written in PHP, not HTML

Do-It-Yourself

• Easy to get started

• 1-click WP install

• Select a theme

• Customize, fairly user-friendly control panel

• WP is written in PHP, not HTML

• Install plug-ins (paid site)

Do-It-Yourself

• Easy to get started

• 1-click WP install

• Select a theme

• Customize, fairly user-friendly control panel

• WP is written in PHP, not HTML

• Install plug-ins (paid site)

• Spend a lot of time learning

Outsourcing

Outsourcing

• Get a professional

Outsourcing

• Get a professional

• No portfolio?

Outsourcing

• Get a professional

• No portfolio? Guinea pigs don’t pay!

Outsourcing

• Get a professional

• No portfolio? Guinea pigs don’t pay!

• Look over their web AND WP portfolio

PHP NOT HTML

Outsourcing

• Get a professional

• No portfolio? Guinea pigs don’t pay!

• Look over their web AND WP portfolio

PHP NOT HTML

• Analyze styles and variety

Outsourcing

• Get a professional

• No portfolio? Guinea pigs don’t pay!

• Look over their web AND WP portfolio

PHP NOT HTML

• Analyze styles and variety

• Ask for references/recommendations

Outsourcing continued. . .

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Outsourcing continued. . .

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

KEEP COSTS DOWN!

Outsourcing continued. . .

• Browse free (if necessary paid) themes

Outsourcing continued. . .

• Browse free (if necessary paid) themes

• Choose one (or a few) ahead of time

Outsourcing continued. . .

• Browse free (if necessary paid) themes

• Choose one (or a few) ahead of time

• Blogging workshops AND online tutorials

Outsourcing continued. . .

• Browse free (if necessary paid) themes

• Choose one (or a few) ahead of time

• Blogging workshops AND online tutorials

• Gather high resolution images and media

Outsourcing continued. . .

• Browse free (if necessary paid) themes

• Choose one (or a few) ahead of time

• Blogging workshops AND online tutorials

• Gather high resolution images and media

• Outline your blog plans

Blog Outline

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

• Are you selling items or ad space?

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

• Are you selling items or ad space?

• Adding images or video?

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

• Are you selling items or ad space?

• Adding images or video?

• How many pages?

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

• Are you selling items or ad space?

• Adding images or video?

• How many pages?

• Custom e-mail addresses? How many?

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

• Are you selling items or ad space?

• Adding images or video?

• How many pages?

• Custom e-mail addresses? How many?

• Customized header? Additional design?

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

• Are you selling items or ad space?

• Adding images or video?

• How many pages?

• Custom e-mail addresses? How many?

• Customized header? Additional design?

• Launch date?

Blog Outline

• Are you just blogging (simple posts)?

• Are you selling items or ad space?

• Adding images or video?

• How many pages?

• Custom e-mail addresses? How many?

• Customized header? Additional design?

• Launch date?

• Choose a designer/developer

Questions to Ask

Questions to Ask

What does

the package

include?

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

• Domain registration and yearly renewal

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

• Domain registration and yearly renewal

• WP experience with customized themes

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

• Domain registration and yearly renewal

• WP experience with customized themes

• Number of e-mail addresses included

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

• Domain registration and yearly renewal

• WP experience with customized themes

• Number of e-mail addresses included

• Storage space included

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

• Domain registration and yearly renewal

• WP experience with customized themes

• Number of e-mail addresses included

• Storage space included

• Are plug-in recommendations and Installation included

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

• Domain registration and yearly renewal

• WP experience with customized themes

• Number of e-mail addresses included

• Storage space included

• Are plug-in recommendations and Installation included

• SEO plug-in?

Questions to Ask

• Hosting on secure server, NOT HOME COMPUTER!

• Domain registration and yearly renewal

• WP experience with customized themes

• Number of e-mail addresses included

• Storage space included

• Are plug-in recommendations and Installation included

• SEO plug-in?

• Length of included support

Thank You forYour Patience and

Attention

I hope this presentation will help you makeinformed decisions.

www.ChelsiGraphics.com