How to Choose Your First Blog Platform

There is more than one way to start your ownsupport (scripting languages) in the web server.
blog. In fact, with so many blog solutions outMost standard hosts already have support for
there, you can easily get lost. That's why it'sthose features out of the box.What makes this
important to pick the right solution for eachtype of platform so popular among businesses is
business. There is nothing more annoying thanthe flexibility and control you get from owning
having to handle countless of problems andone. You can host the blog on your own domain
decisions when you suddenly find you need towith your existing web site; customize the
switch blog platforms after you already have atemplate to inherit the color and navigation (look
blog up and running.Of the various blog hosting andand feel) from the rest of your website, and so
services, they all have their own particularon.Additionally you can have the blog software
benefits and drawbacks. All of them share somemodified to suit your needs, and maybe even
basic characteristics that make blogging easy andinstall some plug-ins to expand functionalities that
fun, although some platforms may require moreare not available on standard package. If the blog
technical knowledge than others. That should notsoftware includes source code and the term of
be the barrier though, because it actually is not asuse lets you modify it, you can even let a
difficult as you may imagine.There are basicallyprogrammer fix something if you find a bug - and
three common blog platforms.1) Hosted weblogif you release the bug fix into the community,
platformThis type of blog is the easiest way toyou have made a meaningful contribution
start. It's actually similar to creating a free serviceback.Obviously, this option involves more work
account online, where you only need to enterthan using a hosted solution. And unlike the first
your information into the sign up form and clicksolution, if you need to add features then you
submit. If you know how to create your ownhave to upgrade it your own or hire people who
web mail account such as Yahoo! Mail, Gmail orknow how to do it.Like a hosted blog, standalone
Hotmail account, you know more than enough toweblog software usually has a management
get started.This is the only blog solution thatscreen where you can conduct various
allows you to get up and running in a fewadministrative tasks using relatively easy
minutes.In this type of solution, you don't need tointerfaces.Examples: WordPress, Movable Type,
install any type of software or script to get going.GreyMatter, PMachine, ExpressionEngine,
Some providers even allow you to use theirB2Evolution.3) Remote hosted weblog
hosting service for free. All you need to do isplatformCurrent web and Internet technologies
select the options you want and start posting toallow certain blog platforms to expand flexibility,
your blog.The URL to your blog is usually in thecreating a hybrid of some of the features of
following format:1. 2. blogname.example.orgstandalone weblog software and hosted weblog
3. example.com/blognameAs you have probablyprovider. It takes the best of two worlds and
noticed, the biggest benefit of using this type ofbundle them into an elegant solution.This is
blog platform is you don't have to takegenerally how it works: you create an account,
responsibility for anything more than writing andpost and manage your entries through the blog
managing your posts. The host providers willsolution website, but the results are transferred
organize everything so that no technical skills areto your own chosen domain.You have to enter
required for it to operate properly.Of course, toyour web hosting (or a separate FTP account)
fully use one of these blogs, you still have tologin details for it to work properly, i.e. uploading
understand what to do to accomplish certaincontent pages to your hosting server.Example:
tasks from the back-end of the blog, orBlogger.Finally, if you are still confused, I would
sometimes also called administration area orrecommend going with either the second or third
dashboard.Still, these types of platform hosts willoption. Having your own domain not only means
make sure their servers run smoothly andyou own it, but it also gives you more control,
securely. And if they are proactive and customerflexibility and credibility. Those are critical to your
centered, they will add features, upgrade newbusiness that you don't want to give
software and support you if you haveaway.Copyright 2006 Hendry LeeHendry Lee
problems.Examples: Blogger, TypePad, Blogware,helps business owners integrate technology into
2) Standalone weblog softwareStandalone weblogtheir marketing. He actively blogs about Small
software platform requires you to install softwareBusiness Blogging. Subscribe to Blog Tips for
or script into your web hosting account. Usually,Business to receive short and practical tips to
these software need database and PHP or Perlstart and get the most out of your blog.