219: Start - Blogging Misconceptions, How to Choose a Host, and Why WordPress
Sep 10, 2019
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Starting a blog involves addressing common misconceptions, choosing a reliable web host, and utilizing WordPress and plugins. They discuss the importance of focusing on a niche, creating consistent content, and enjoying the work. Tips are given on choosing a host, the benefits of WordPress, and the differences between free and premium plugins.
Starting a blog doesn't require a fully built-out site or a massive content queue; focus on becoming a content creator and consistently publishing new content.
Choosing a reliable hosting provider is crucial for a successful blog; research and gather feedback from others in your niche to determine the best option for you.
WordPress is a powerful platform for bloggers due to its thriving community, extensive plugin ecosystem, and open-source nature, making it an excellent choice for bloggers of all levels.
Deep dives
Misconceptions About Starting a Blog
One common misconception about starting a blog is the belief that you need to have a fully built-out site with a ton of content before launching. However, the most important thing in the early stages is to figure out your content creation rhythm and consistently publish new content. You don't need a complete site or a massive content queue to start. Instead, focus on becoming a content creator and learn along the way. Another misconception is the automatic belief that your blog will be an instant money-maker. While it's true that a successful blog can generate income, it's important to be attracted to the work of content creation rather than just the benefits. Building a blog requires consistent effort and a genuine passion for the work. Lastly, some people feel discouraged by the perception that there are already too many blogs out there, making it impossible to find success. However, the idea of serving a niche and finding your 1000 true fans can be a game-changer. By creating valuable content for a specific group of people, you can build a dedicated following and find success within that niche.
The Importance of Reliable Hosting
One key component of running a successful blog is reliable hosting. A reliable host ensures that your website is always online and accessible to visitors, irrespective of the time of day. While uptime guarantees are helpful, it is essential to research and gather feedback from others in your niche to determine which hosting providers are truly dependable. Monitoring your site's uptime with tools like Uptime Robot or Status Cake can also help you stay aware of any micro outages or patterns of reliability issues. Depending on your technical expertise and budget, different hosting options may suit your needs. Cloudways offers affordable hosting plans with good performance, while Big Scoots provides more hand-holding and specialized support. Understanding your specific requirements and seeking recommendations from the community can lead you to the right hosting solution.
Embracing WordPress for Blogging
WordPress is a powerful platform for bloggers due to its thriving community, extensive plugin ecosystem, and open-source nature. The community surrounding WordPress is vast and offers support, guidance, and solutions to common challenges. The open-source nature of WordPress means that many tools, plugins, and resources are available for free or at affordable prices. Additionally, WordPress powers over 30% of the internet, making it easier to find answers, tutorials, and assistance from other WordPress users. Its flexibility and scalability allow bloggers to find solutions to their specific needs and grow their sites over time. While there may be faster or more advanced platforms out there, WordPress' community and abundance of resources make it an excellent choice for bloggers of all levels.
Choosing the Right Hosting Provider
When selecting a hosting provider, it is essential to consider factors like the type of hosting, scalability options, and management services. The speaker shares their experience with different hosting providers. They started with Bluehost, a shared hosting company, but faced issues with performance and limited upgrade options. They then switched to Media Temple, which offered virtual private server (VPS) hosting. Eventually, they opted for WP Engine, a managed hosting company specialized in WordPress, providing reliable performance and server management. The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering factors like reliability, speed, support, reputation, and pricing when choosing a hosting provider.
The Benefits of Changing Hosting Providers
Despite finding a good hosting provider, it is recommended to change hosts every three to five years due to technology advancements. Hosts often delay upgrading software to avoid breaking existing sites. By switching hosts, one can benefit from newer software, hardware, and improved performance. The speaker suggests that changing hosts should not cause any issues if done properly, with no downtime or negative impact on SEO. They highlight the importance of finding a reputable host focused on maintaining customer service standards. Additionally, the speaker shares their recommendation for hosting providers, including SiteGround as a reliable shared hosting option and Big Scoots as a managed WordPress host with faster servers and excellent customer support.
Why there's still a place for your blog, how to choose a good WordPress host, and why we recommend WordPress for food bloggers.
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Welcome to episode 219 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we’re focusing on things you might believe when you first start your blog, how to choose a solid host, and why we recommend WordPress for food bloggers.
Start
We’re going back to basics today and focusing on starting. If you have an idea for a blog, business, series, post, or product, we hope this episode will help give you a bit of a push to actually start.
First, we’ll hear from Bjork. He covers three of the most common blogging misconceptions we hear from new bloggers and how you can switch your thought processes around them.
Next up: Andrew, our Site Speed Expert here at Food Blogger Pro. In his section, he’s talking all about hosting. For instance, did you know he recommends changing hosts every few years?!
Last, WP Tasty Lead, Raquel. She’s talking all about WordPress and why it’s the CMS we recommend for food bloggers.
We think you’ll have a lot of great takeaways from this episode, regardless of whether your blog is brand new or if you’ve been blogging for years. Enjoy!
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why you don’t need to have a ton of content to launch