You want to try your hand at this Blogging thing, but don’t know where to start?
Frustrated by the WordPress Codex? Not sure what the Codex is?
Not sure what a MySql database is or how to set one up?
Do you just want to get blogging and not worry about all the technical mumbo jumbo??
Then the Blog Package is the best solution for you.
You can either spend hours reading through the WordPress Codex and figuring out how to setup a MySql database and how to make your blog search engine friendly, or you can let me do the work for you.
I do this every day, so I’m fast and efficient
Starting at just $195*, the Blog Package will get you up and running with a theme of your choice, add the plugins you need to stop spam and take care of backups, and do it quickly and cheaply.
There’s one catch, though: You need to use one of the webhosts I recommend.
Why? Because I’m very familiar with their webmaster tools and know for a fact that they have everything needed to support WordPress. This is a big deal because at this price, I can’t afford to spend several hours searching their help files and sitting on hold with their tech support team. Hey, I like cheesy musical hold tunes as much as anyone, but there are only so many times in a week a person can listen to “Girl from Ipanema”, ok?
The other reason is, the webhosts pay an affiliate fee, thereby subsidizing your website. You can either pay me the $65 or let your new webhost pay it. Personally, I’d let the hosting company pay and spend that money on fancy business cards or cool software or food.
Package Details:
Install WordPress
Install the Theme of your choice
Install plugins for:
- Spam filter
- Database Backup
- XML Sitemap Generator
- Subscribe To Comments
- SEO plugin, All-In-One-SEO or equivalent
I configure all of the settings for you
Setup an About page using text and photos you provide
Add your Google Analytics code (you must provide the code)
Additional:
I can add more options to your blog for an additional fee, just let me know what you’re interested in. These can include things like a mailing list setup such as Aweber or a contact form.
The Fine Print
This is where things get a bit technical. If you’re not sure you understand something, just let me know.
Web Hosting
I use WordPress as the ‘engine’ of your blog. WordPress has some very specific technical requirements and not every web hosting service is suitable. To get all technical: I require a web host with PHP5, MySql, cpanel, and Fantastico support. Anything less requires a few hours of searching through their knowledge base to figure out how to install and configure WordPress and the database it uses. As a small business owner, you know that time = money. If you want to spend the money, I’m happy to spend the time. But you’ve got better things to spend your money on, like stationary, custom golf clubs, or food.
I have identified a couple of web hosting companies that offer competitive pricing, good technical know-how, great customer support and all the bells and whistles you could ever need. These are companies I’ve dealt with in the past. In fact, this page is hosted on Lunar Pages. WI don’t recommend companies I don’t believe in or use myself. They are also excellent choices for hosting your blog.
Webhosts that are not recommended will incur additional costs. These are companies whose hosting packages requires lots of extra time and cause a great deal of NSFW muttering. GoDaddy, unfortunately, is not on my list of recommended vendors. Yahoo webhosting will not support the current release of WordPress and is not supported at all.
Affiliate money – yes, I get paid from the web hosting companies when you click on my links. That’s not evil, that’s just good sense: the web hosting company is subsidizing your website with a one time payment. I could forgo the affiliate money, but I’d have to raise my prices.
Already have hosting? I’ll need to review your current host’s capabilities. If they meet my requirements, easy peasy, but the price of the setup will increase by $65. If not, you’ll either need to change web hosting companies or find another web designer. Harsh, I know, but I’m trying to keep our prices low.
Domain Names
That’s the stuff that comes after the www. Before you rush out and reserve your domain name, keep in mind that the web hosting companies I recommend offer the first year of domain name for free and they will take care or renewing your domain name every year.
Theme
“What in the blue blazes is a theme?”, you ask. Let’s head back to our automobile analogy. If WordPress is the engine, the theme is the body style and paint color. Themes range in price from free to $100 or so with most of the paid themes being in the $30 – $50 range.
Who designs themes? Graphic designers, that’s who. I guess it’s what they do when they’re sitting around bored and are tired of watching re-runs. There’s no denying that there are some beautiful, powerful themes available for a very reasonable amount of money.
Again, I have theme marketplaces that I recommend. Yes, I get affiliate money from some of them. The reason I use these marketplaces is because the themes available have been thoroughly checked out and are virus/malware/spamware free. It’s your reputation on the line here and you don’t want to be spreading viruses, do you?
Why I want you to buy the hosting, domain names, and themes
I believe that web hosting is best left to the experts, not some guy with a server in his spare bedroom.
These items are crucial to your business and you should retain the rights to them. You’ll be able to hire a different web designer if you choose, or change themes if you get tired of the one you picked.
I believe in empowering you.
So Let’s Get Your Blog on the Web
* Price does not include costs of hosting, domain name, or theme. Hey, for this price, you didn’t expect it to, did you?