Blogging Software And Tools
Now that you know what a blog is, and how it can benefit your business, let’s look at some of the most commonly used ways to get your blog up and running.
WordPress
WordPress is the most popular blogging software used online today. This is because it is not only free to use, but has a huge support community that helps new and veteran users alike.
The biggest advantage to using WordPress, is that it is constantly being updated and improved upon. In fact, because it is open source software, there are hundreds, if not thousands of programmers constantly creating WordPress plugins.
These plugins are basically like bonus features you can use with the software, to upgrade its functionality (Making your life much, much easier).
You can view a list of these plugins at:
http://wiki.wordpress.org/?pagename=Plugin
One major feature of the software, is that it automatically creates a RSS feed for your blog (The benefits of RSS will be discussed later on).
Each time you post to your blog, the software automatically updates your feed. This is a dynamic feature that will help expose your blog to a wider audience, and best of all, requires no extra work on your part.
Installing WordPress
The first step you will need to take, is to download WordPress here:
http://wordpress.org/download/
You can then follow the detailed installation instructions. Should you run into any problems, don’t hesitate to use the support forum at:
http://wordpress.org/support/
After you have installed the software, you will want to change your theme. The theme is simply the layout/design of your blog. You can make it look as simple, or as creative as you wish.
To choose a theme for your WordPress blog, visit:
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
Once you have chosen your preferred theme, simply download the file to your hard drive. The zip file should contain easy installation instructions for changing your theme in a few simple steps.
These are just the basics you need to get started using WordPress to power your blog. As you become more familiar with the software, you can slowly begin to use more of the advanced features and plugins.