FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a means for you to transfer your files to your website. Most hosts will provide free FTP software client for you to do that. Without a client, it can be done through the Windows XP FTP feature..

To use the Windows XP FTP feature, simply click on My Computer > My Network Places (at the left sidebar) > Add a network place (at the left sidebar) and follow the Add Network Place Wizard to complete the FTP setup.

On successful FTP setup, a folder representing your website should appear in the My Network Places directory. Your website then basically behaves like a folder on your computer and you can transfer files to & from your website just like any other folders on your computer, except that you need to log on with your user name and password.

Depending on how you want to access your site and where you want to store your files, here are 3 options:

1.  Access site through the sub folder

To access it through a subfolder, simply create a folder, eg. blog, at the root directory and throw all the WordPress files there. Then proceed to complete the installation by following the subsequent steps. To access the blog, simply type: www.domainname.com/blog as the url.

2.  Access site through the main domain, WP files in root directory

Accessing your blog through the main domain gives it more prominence and easier recall of its address. The easiest way to setup your blog to allow access from the main domain, ie. www.domainname.com, is to put the entire WordPress files to the root directory of your domain. I would not recommend this as the WP files may get mixed up with all other files that you have in the root directory and makes it look cluttered.

3.  Access site through the main domain, WP files in a sub directory

This is the option I adopted and I would recommend it. It offers a better housekeeping of files on your web server and allows you to access your site direct from the main domain, ie. www.domainname.com.

First setup your WordPress files as if you would have done it with option 1. After WordPress is properly installed and tested to work, go to WordPress Options menu:

a.  under WordPress address (URL), type in www.domainname.com/blog
b.  under Blog address (URL), type in www.domainname.com. 

Next open up the index.php file as a text file and change the line that says:

require('./wp-blog-header.php');

to the following, using your sub directory name, “blog”, for the WordPress core files:

require('./blog/wp-blog-header.php');

Then save your index.php file to the root directory.

Note that you may not be able to change the contents of a file direct from the web server. You need to copy the file into your computer desk top, modify it and save save it back to the web server.

The entire instructions for option 3 can be accessed from here … http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory

Note that if your site is a new setup, you need not worry about the .htaccess file talked about in the instruction, because you won’t be able to find it. It will only be automatically created when you start using WordPress.

That’s it, we’re almost there but not quite. Be Patient and Persevere.

Next … complete the installation & registration.

Just dumped GoDaddy host and was having a pretty busy time over the last few days migrating my host from GoDaddy to Bluehost.

Some of the problems I had with GoDaddy include:

1.  Needing a few refresh before I can get my site on the screen. I suspect this is due to the low band width provided by GoDaddy. It is more prominent at certain time of the day, usually evening, when members of the shared server decides to log in.

2.  Sometimes results in error when saving my posts and I have to retype the contents all over again. May be the band width problem again.

3.  They do not support php, which runs WordPress, on Windows server which I initially signed up for. I had to migrate to a linux server. I migrated anyway.

4.  They do not support CGI on basic plan. I had problem installing my autoresponder without CGI. They need me to upgrade to Deluxe which I am reluctant to pay a higher recurring cost every month. That was the last straw! Off I go looking for new host.

Not only did I dump GoDaddy host, I cut out Traffic Facts & Business Registration as well. Wanted to cut out Traffic Blazer, but it did not allow, need to hold it till expiry, which is about 10 months down the road. These are stuff which I signed up but had not made use of.

Lesson learned: Do not sign up for stuff unless you are ready to use it, no matter what the offer was.

My choice of host providers was narrowed down to 3: Bluehost, Hostgator & Dreamhost. They had more or less the same features. Bluehost’s lower cost swung me over.

It took me some time to figure out some basic requirements and processes in migrating WordPress to another host, the most important being backing the database. Database backup can be done from the WordPress menu at Manage>Backup.

I am glad that everything was as they were in my blog after the migration.

Moving around the Bluehost platform was a whole new experience for me. I begin to realize what I was missing all this while. Bluehost is so much more user friendly and had tons of software to help you do stuff. On the contrary, what I got from GoDaddy is basically just a space for you to put your files & folders, that’s it.

Yes! I am back in business!

The self-hosted WordPress package comes with a wp-config-sample.php file. It need to be configured with a text editor and save as wp-config.php.

These are the 4 lines in the file that need to be configured:

define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘putyourdbnamehere’);    // The name of the database
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘usernamehere’);     // Your MySQL username
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘yourpasswordhere’); // …and password
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);    // 99% chance you won’t need to change this value

Don’t be fooled by the comment “99% chance …”. I had a hell of a time getting WordPress running by leaving the “DB_Host” as “localhost”. Ascertain it.

In my previous post in step 4, I mentioned you need to take note of, database name, user name, password and host name. Insert them into the file. The final wp-config.php file should look something like this:

define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘blogname’);    // The name of the database
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘blogname’);     // Your MySQL username
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘yourpasswordhere’); // …and password
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘h40mysql52.secureserver.net’);    // 99% chance you won’t need to change this value

Next … FTP the entire files to the web server.

I came across something interesting today. Took a test to see how much is my blog worth. Here’s the link … http://www.business-opportunities.biz/

Guess what’s the outcome. My blog is worth … $1,129.08

Waah ha hahahaha!

Did you had a good laugh.

As the saying goes … when you’re down at the bottom, the only way is up.

I shall run this again next month and see if there’s any changes.

I have put a tag for this stat at the side bar.

The Database is the server that stores all your WordPress data in tabulated format. This makes it easy for WordPress to retrieve them whenever the information is requested when someone surf your site.

Setting up the database can be tricky. However you need not get into the intricacies of what and how the database server does its job. I figure that the database stuff is going to be very alien for many people. Even if you log on your database after setting it up, you may not understand what is shown unless you are a programmer. Not to worry because you don’t have to even look at it.

You just need to follow some simple procedures of setting it up and take note of 4 items, which is needed for the next step:

1.  The Host Name
2.  The Database Name
3.  User Name
4.  Your password to your database

Setting up the WordPress database may be different for different host providers. If you are using GoDaddy host, here’s the procedure:

Log in to GoDaddy and select MyAccount > Hosting & Email > Web hosting & Databases > Open (Control Panel) > Databases > MySQL > Create Database > Create User name & Password > OK

Your WordPress database is now created.

At the Hosting Control Center page, select Databases > MySQL. Under Action, select the pencil icon “Edit/View Details”. You should see the following display: 

MySQL Database Information
Status: Setup
Host Name: h40mysql52.secureserver.net
Database Name: blogname
Database Version: 4.1
Description: My WordPress database
User Name: blogname

Important: Take note of the host name, database name, user name and password. They are required for the next step.

Next … set up the wp-config.php file.

Just joined Technorati and this is the post to claim my blog.

Joining Technorati is one way to increase traffic and this is a must-join website for bloggers. 

Technorati Profile

Just upgraded to WordPress 2.3, but encountered a couple of problems even after running the upgrade.php file from my browser:

1.  Database Error 

When I tried to save my post the following error appears:

WordPress database error: [Table ‘blog.wp_post2cat’ doesn’t exist]
SELECT cat_ID AS ID, MAX(post_modified) AS last_mod FROM `wp_posts` p LEFT JOIN `wp_post2cat` pc ON p.ID = pc.post_id LEFT JOIN `wp_categories` c ON pc.category_id = c.cat_ID WHERE post_status = 'publish' GROUP BY cat_ID
Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output started at /home/content/m/a/r/markteh/html/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:160) in /home/content/m/a/r/milo/html/blog/wp-includes/pluggable.php on line 390

However, the post did saved normally.

2.  Adsense Deluxe plugin error

Adsense deluxe plugin is supposed to limit the number of Adsense Ads in a page to 3 as in the TOS of Googles Adsense. However, since upgrading, the 4th Ad doesn’t disappear smoothly but shows up as an error, “The page could not be found”. Although the 5th Ad does disappear correctly. Wonder if this is a compatability problem.

Inspite of all these I did not experience any lost of data.

I must admit I am a bit too gungho as I upgraded without any backups. I wonder if its the first problem that causes the second. If I can’t solve the problems over the next few days, I might just reinstall WordPress all over again.

Wish me luck.

13th October 2007

Problems solved. Instead of putting in a separate post I thought it would be better to edit this post and insert the conclusion here.

Problem no. 1 resolved – I deactivated all plugins and then reactivate them one at a time and test out each one by editing and saving a post. The culprit was found to be related to the Google Sitemap plugin. The wp_post2cat database table is no longer needed in WP2.3, therefore was automatically removed during upgrade. Problem solved after it was deactivated. A WP2.3 compatible version is available for download.

Problem no. 2 resolved – The erratic Ad was removed and repositioned somewhere else. Wala … problem somehow disappeared.

 I’m back in business.

This step is a no brainer.  Download the latest stable release of WordPress Version 2.3 and unzip the files into your PC. This version is only a few days old.

You may like to note that a lot of WordPress plugins and themes are design based on Version 2.2. Whether they will work well with the latest WordPress release is still too early to know.

I would like to address 2 issues here:

1.  Why Blog?

The Magic Formula explains it all:

Content + Traffic + Avenues = Revenues

A blog is the easiest way to set up a web site. The articles and contents you put in your blog is the vehicle which pulls in the readers (traffic). You want to have interesting contents so that your niche specific targeted readers will visit your blogs more often. The idea here is that contents build traffic and you want to increase traffic as much as you possibly can.

The success of a website is measured by the amount of traffic that it attracts. Think about MySpace, sold to News Corp. for USD580 million, and YouTube, sold to Google for USD1.65 billion. Who wants to be the next billionaire?

Note that blogs are very search engine friendly as search engines like new contents.

If you have frequent fresh contents, search engines will put your site in higher ranking and you get to be featured right up front in any related search. Having said that, if you have a website that could bring in loads of traffic then a blog may not be necessary. Yes, traffic is everything.

So what happen when traffic come knocking at your site?

You need to have avenues to capitalise on the traffic so as to increase your revenues. You can see some of these avenues in this site and I am still working to put up more. Avenues for revenues can be any of these, the list is by no means exhaustive:

• Googles Adsense – Most common pay-per-click (PPC). Can you spot the Googles Ads in this page?
• Sell Affiliate Products – Check out the links at the side bar under “Affiliates”
• Text Link Ads
• AuctionAds
• Sell Advertsement Space – high traffic commands higher price

A blogger is therefore constantly thinking about and working on Content, Traffic & Avenues day in and day out. I will write more about these 3 elements in other posts.

2.  Why WordPress

There are basically 2 types of blogs by way of how they are hosted:

• Free-hosted blogs – with a common domain name such as .blogspot.com or .wordpress.com.
• Self-hosted blogs – with your own domain name.

Self-hosted blogs are perceived to be more professional, has the tendency to attract more traffics and advertisers. Also all your writeups are saved in your own server and only you can screw it up. For free hosted blogs, if one day the site decides to close down, there goes all your content. If you’re in it for the money, then go for self-hosted blogs.

There is also another type, free-self-hosted blogs, but it is very rare. For this type you buy a domain name but you don’t buy a host. The domain name registrar offer to host your site free but they will put an advertising banner at the top of your webpages. GoDaddy has it. Totally unprofessional and conflict of interest.

WordPress is an open-source free weblog (blog) software and is currently the defacto self-hosted blog software used by the majority of the blogger community I know of, in fact I don’t know of any self-hosted blogs that don’t use WordPress. Reason being there are a lot of features and plugins, you can capitalize on to increase traffic and revenues. That’s why it is so powerful and popular.

Next … setup the WordPress database.

While the Domain name is the address that leads people to your website, the Host is basically a disk space that stores all your files to be accessed on the internet 24 hrs per day and 7 days per week.  You can actually host your website in your own computer if you turn it on 24/7. But then you will be compromising on the privacy and security of the contents in your PC.

There are basically 2 kinds of hosting: Shared hosting and Dedicated Hosting.

For shared hosting, you are actually sharing a common disk space with other domains. This allows the host provider to maimize on their disk space and therefore you pay a lower price. For dedicated hosting, you are allocated a certain disk space all to yourself and it is supposed to be more secured but your pay through your nose. It can costs more than 15 times that of shared hosting. Dedicated hosting is more for big enterprise.

For a start a shared hosting plan will suffice.

You can also choose between hosting your files in Windows server or Linux server. Whichever server you choose, make sure that it supports php files because WordPress runs on php files. I had a hell of a time setting up WordPress on GoDaddy Windows server because GoDaddy does not support php files on Windows server, they are supported only in Linux server.

Hosting plans varies widely in terms of price and features, so it is necessary to do a bit of research. Here’s a simple comparison for some of the most common host used by the internet community I know of:

Host                Capacity        Host Price               Domain price

GoDaddy          100GB         USD6.29/mth        USD9.99/yr       
Hostgator           50GB         USD6.95/mth        USD15.00/yr
Bluehost           300GB         USD7.95/mth         Free

You may like to note that Hostgator and Bluehost come with free softwares such as Fantastico to help you install or upgrade WordPress with just a few clicks whereas GoDaddy does not. There are a lot more features provided by each of these providers which you should go and check it out.

Out of the 3, my choice would be Bluehost and I am almost certainly going to switch to Bluehost pretty soon. Not only because it is value for money, user friendly but also one of the problems I had with GoDaddy is that sometimes I need a few refresh before I can get my site on the screen and sometimes my site appear as text only without the styles. This can be very frustrating not only for me but for any readers as well.

Next … download WordPress.

Getting a domain may not be as easy as first thought. It took me about one to two weeks coming up with StyloMilo.com. There are several considerations:

1.  Decide on your Niche
The first thing to do is to identify your niche. The niche should be a subject you are passionate about. Only when you are passionate about a certain topic then you are able to create good contents to attract readers to your website.

The niche that you decided will be reflected on the domain name that you pick. If its all about dogs, then the name dogsheaven.com, dogshub.com or such will be more suitable. If its all about Fengshui, then fengshui.com, geomancy.com or something like that. 

2.  Descriptive or Non-descriptive Name?
What was mentioned in pt 1 are examples of names that describe what your website is all about. In my search for a domain name, I discover that any names that consist of one or combination of 2 standard English words are likely not going to be available. You’ll be real lucky if you can find one. You will have better luck with a combination of 3 standard English words.

However there are many successful sites that are simply names that are branded as a particular niche. For example Google & Yahoo are well known as search engines and the names themselves do not describe what they do. That’s the reason how StyloMilo.com was concieved.

The advantage of having a brand name instead of a decriptive name is that if you were to later decide to switch your niche, you can use back the same domain name. Especially for newbies who are starting out and not knowing how the initially intended niche might turn out or whether there is sufficient content to support that niche.

In fact Stylomilo.com wasn’t a “eBiz Resource and Information Hub” at the beginning. It was an eShop selling flash memories. I have recently shifted it to another sub-folder when I decided to change my niche. You can still access it here … http://www.StyloMilo.com/eshop. Don’t get me wrong, the eshop is still fully functional and operational. Then I realised that the eShop concept is not really viable as I am competing against some of the bigger players in the market. Being relatively unknown and unless I can differentiate it with better price or unique products, the eshop will be going no where. I will probably be better off selling the products on eBay.

3.  Registering the Domain Name
There are many domain name registration providers around. It is necessary to do a bit of research if you want to get a good deal. Some are bundled with hosting and email package.

StyloMilo.com domain name is registered with GoDaddy and hosted by GoDaddy. The domain name registration provided by GoDaddy is one of the cheapest in the market and I would recommend it. However, I would not recommend hosting  through GoDaddy due to functionality issues. I’ll discuss more about this in my next post.

Next to consider would be the domain name extension, whether to take a .com, .org, .net, .biz, .info or .com.sg. I understand that the .com.sg extension is pretty expensive and you need to register a company with ACRA Singapore before you can register one.

In my opinion, a .com extension will do just fine whether you are doing business in Singapore or other countries. It is probably also more desired as it is easiest to remember and recall.

Some individuals may even take up the same name with all the different extensions in order to protect the name. It is OK if you have some extra cash to burn, however, in my opinion this is not necessary especially so if you are starting on a shoe string budget and do not want to incur huge cost during your startup. The take up rate for the other extensions, other than .com, are usually much lower. It will most likely still be available if you decide to take up the other extensions later on, when you start seeing profits .

One way to get a discount is to Google the domain name provider, eg. GoDaddy. You will normally see a discount from the provider in Adword from your search.

There you have it … think about your domain name early, when you eat, sleep, walk, on a bus, drive, shit, etc. This will buy you some time.

Next … get a host.