FAQ

…Frequently Asked Questions about WordPress Blogging and WordPress Blog Setup

Here you will find answers to the most commonly asked blog setup questions.
Be sure to read through the whole list of questions as you will likely find exactly what you are looking for.
Click on the question to be taken directly to the answer.

How do I know which Level/Setup Package to pick?
What do I need to do to get started?
What if I don’t know how to answer the questions on the Blog Setup Worksheet?
What is a theme?
How do I pick a theme?
Where do I get a domain name?
What if I already have a domain name?
Where do I sign up for hosting?
How do I know what size banner/header I need?
How do I get a cool header, or one with my own logo?

How do I know which Level/Setup Package to pick?
It simply depends on how much help you want, and how much you want to do on your own.
With Level 1, you get all the basics you’ll need to get started. If you want to change the banner/header or use advanced SEO tools, you’ll want to use Level 2.

What do I need to do to get started?
First, register for the Blog Setup Package you want – either Level 1 or Level 2.
Then, send me the completed Blog Setup Worksheet. This will have all the information I need to get started.

What if I don’t know how to answer the questions on the Blog Setup Worksheet?
The questions have to do with the login information for your site/domain, and then your preferences.

You can contact your domain registrar or hosting company to get your username and passwords if you don’t remember them. They will ask for some proof that you are the owner of the account – often they ask for the last 4 or 6 digits of the credit card you used when you ordered the service.
(If you don’t already have hosting, I recommend Hostgator.)
You could also try checking through your email inbox for the email they sent when you registered.

Your personal preferences are, well, your personal preferences. I can’t really help you there, other than to ask you how you want to use your site and what you want it to look like.

What is a theme?
A theme is like a skin or a template for your site. It controls the design, look, and presentation of your site.

How do I pick a theme?
There are thousands of themes available. Depending on your personality, it can either be a bit overwhelming when you start looking at them, or really exciting. Some are free, some are professionally designed and you have to purchase them. For WordPress compatible themes, the best place to start looking is http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/.

I strongly recommend the themes available at iThemes and Studio Press. Both of these companies design very professional themes and stand behind their work. Some are easier to use than others, and they have different functions.

There are 3 main things to consider when picking a theme.
1. Your personal taste. Consider colors, layout, width, number of sidebars, overall impression, etc.
2. How you want to use the site. What are your goals and objectives with the site? Do you want to use it like a traditional website, or just a blog, or a combination?
3. What kind of content do you want to display? Is it mostly text? photos? blog posts? resource pages?

Where do I get a domain name?
Goodness. There are many, many places to get a domain name. If you don’t have one already, the easiest way is to register one when you sign up for a hosting account. That way it is all together and you don’t have to worry about changing any settings.
Or, you can use one of the many domain registrars available on the internet. I personally have all my domains registered with Go-Daddy.com.

What if I already have a domain name?
No problem. On the Blog Setup Worksheet there is a place to list the domain name and the log in information for it. I will have to have this in order to change the DNS settings so that your site can be found on the internet.

Where do I sign up for hosting?
Just as with domain names, there are many places you can host your website.
BUT, with WordPress blogs, not all hosting companies are the same.
I strongly recommend Hostgator. Why? Many reasons. It is one of the easiest hosting companies to work with, it’s easy for you to learn how to work with your files, you don’t have to know or have any fancy FTP software, and they GET WordPress blogs.

At an absolute minimum, to register for one of the Blog Setup Packages, you MUST host your site with a hosting company that uses Fantastico. If you don’t know, contact your hosting company and ask them. Chances are that, if they do, it will be featured on their website somewhere.

How do I know what size banner/header I need?
Once I install the theme you have selected, I can send you the exact pixel size for your banner/header. Please note that changing the banner is not always simple. If you don’t want to have to learn how to do this yourself, you’ll want to sign up for the Level 2 package.
(Please note, invery  rare occurrences, the theme you select may not allow for customizing the header. It’s hard to believe any theme designer would limit this these days, but occasionally you’ll run across an older theme that has liitations.)

How do I get a cool header, or one with my own logo?
In most cases you’ll need to have one designed, or you can design it yourself. I have designed a few banners, but it is definitely not my strength. Depending on the theme, I may be able to add it to the header, or may have to put it in the sidebar. But, you don’t always have to have a fancy header to make an impact. Check out the Become A Blogging Maniac site, or Bea Field’s leadership site.  Simple, yet powerful. So don’t feel like you have to spend a lot of money to get fancy.