Launching a blog has never been easier. I’m frequently asked about recommended resources and Cyber Monday seems like the perfect day to pass a few along.
Since 2007, I’ve used WordPress as my blogging platform. As the engine for 1 in 6 websites on the Internet, WordPress has become the king of online publishing.
If WordPress is the engine, themes are the vehicle. In very simplistic terms, your theme is what gives your blog its “look.” Of the thousands of themes available, I highly recommend the Standard theme. I’ve used it for the last 6 months and wouldn’t dream of looking back. Gary Henry recently transitioned WordPoints.com to Standard and seems to be very happy about the switch. Added bonus? Standard is 30% off for Cyber Monday if you use the coupon code BF2012.
Once you’ve decided on a platform and a theme, the next step is setup. I’d recommend Michael Hyatt’s extremely helpful video to walk you through the process of setting up a WordPress blog in 20 minutes or less. Jeff Goins also offers a helpful step-by-step guide to launching your own blog.
In Episode 31 of his This Is Your Life podcast, Michael Hyatt offered Advice to Beginning Bloggers. It’s definitely worth a listen. I’d also highly recommend Hyatt’s book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, a definitive guide for publishing and selling in the digital age. Few people know more about publishing and social media than Hyatt, a former CEO of Thomas Nelson.
For those who really want to dig deep, I’d recommend a variety of resources from John Saddington:
- Blogging Starter Kit
- Blogging Foundations Starter Kit
- The Ultimate Guide to Launching a WordPress-Powered Blog
- Making Money Blogging
- Blogging Google AdSense
What about you? Are you looking to jump into blogging? Do you already have a blog? What resources have you found to be helpful? Do you have other recommendations to offer? Let us know in the comments section below.
thanks so much for the love!