Free Blog Setup

I’ve got a great offer for you if you’re looking to get started with blogging. Or if you’re already running a blogspot blog and now want to step up your operation, or avoid the swift hand of Google — I can help you do that.

I’ll get you started with a WordPress blog hosted on your own domain and even import your Blogger blog to WordPress for the very special price of zero dollars. I won’t be offering this service for free forever, so now is the time to act.

To qualify, all you need to do is sign up for web hosting at a reputable and affordable host via the affiliate link I email you. Purchasing your hosting via that link will get me a little dough for my time. And web hosting is something you need to run a site on your own domain anyway so there’s no additional cost for you.

So we have a win-win-win situation. A free blog set up for you. Some scrilla for me. And a new customer for my web host to serve. If you’d like to research them yourself, the name is HostGator but don’t buy the service through them without my link if you want the free WordPress setup.

What you’ll get

WordPress is the most popular self-hosted blogging tool in the world for good reason. It offers the perfect mix of simplicity and power and, as an open source product with an enormous and active developer community, WordPress gets better all the time. I’ll install and configure the blogging software on your new hosting plan and give you access to the admin area where you can create and manage your posts.

A free theme of your choice installed so that your blog has some style and a look that is to your liking. You can pick from a huge collection of themes at the WordPress site or check out some curated lists courtesy of Smashing Magazine and Best WordPress Themes. Update: To help you choose, I’ve written a post listing 22 different WordPress themes that have been put to use by Hip-Hop blogs you might know.

What if I want to use a premium theme like Thesis that you’re using on OhWord and InternetsCelebrities.com?
Oh hey, italicized reader voice! Sure, that’s doable if you buy Thesis from my link and your install plans are simple. If your Thesis plans are complex or you are buying a pay theme elsewhere and setting it up requires some extra work, then there may be some additional charge. We can discuss.

What if I want you to customize a theme so it looks more unique or do some graphics / design work?
Again, it’s doable but there may be an additional charge. Contact me to discuss.

Same deal for Plugins?
I’m going to install some of the essentials to boost your search engine rankings and protect you from spam comments. Beyond that we’ll have to talk.

Web hosting at a domain you own. A domain usually costs about $10 to $15 per year and that’s an extreme bargain for the amount of respect it buys you. Running a blog on your own domain instead of on a hosted service like blogspot or wordpress.com buys you respect from search engines, readers, peers and advertisers. Self-hosting also buys you a level of protection and customer service that you don’t get when you’re freeloading your hosting.

Do I need to already own a domain?
Nope. If you don’t own one you can buy one during the hostgator sign up. Or you can even buy one for a few dollars cheaper at GoDaddy or some other registrar. Either way is fine.

What if I already own a domain but I’m not paying for web hosting?
No problem. You or I will just configure the domain to point to your new host’s name servers. No additional charge for that.

What if I already have hosting and I don’t want to switch hosts or I’m already signed up to HostGator?
That’s going to be a problem in terms of the free offer. I can still help you out but there will have to be a charge because it’s the HostGator sign up that gets me paid for setting up your blog.

Migrating your current blog content if it’s hosted on WordPress or Blogger. I wasn’t going to offer this originally but I can’t stand to see these music blogs getting shut down. I will copy over your posts, comments and authors. If your setup is very complex let me know ahead of time so I can confirm if this will be covered for free or will require custom work. Adding widgets or advertising may require a small fee.

I’m on Blogger. Is there any way I can prevent myself from losing my current Google rankings?
If you don’t have your own domain, I won’t be able to preserve your same url’s. But we can create a redirect from your blogspot to your new domain and going forward search engines will like you better for having a domain. If you are using Blogger but have your own domain in the address of every page of your site, yes I can preserve those exact url’s but it will take some extra work and we will have to discuss cost because you likely already have your own hosting.

What you won’t get

Training, significant customization and tech support are not included. I’m easy to reach and I’m usually glad to help with a quick question as many bloggers know. But don’t depend on it – especially not if it involves any real time…. Not for free.

What happens next

Simply email me to get started. Say whether this is a new blog setup or if it’s an existing one that you’re looking to move to a self-hosted setup. If the latter, please provide the url. Let me know any concerns or issues you may have. If you have a theme in mind at this point that would be great. If you want to discuss themes that’s fine too.

I’ll reply with the hosting link and reply to any issues you have.

When you sign up for the hosting you should pick a password that is something you don’t use anywhere else. Not that I have plans to do anything with it but where computer security is concerned, paranoia is always your best option.

After you sign up, send me the relevant info that the host sends you. I can’t see anything too personal with this login and you can try it out to confirm that first if you like.

Sometime during the following week I’ll get your WordPress installation all set up on your new hosting plan.

After that you change your hosting password, again because paranoia is the golden rule.

We give each other a virtual high five and go about our respective merry ways.

Act now. Operators are standing by.