Let’s face it, no one wants to change blogging software after you start sharing your thoughts and ideas across the internet. It is a gruesome process that involves database conversion and a whole lot of messy coding. There are currently some big names out there that can help you meet your web site blogging needs. Before you go any further, ensure that your cheap web hosting package supports MySQL databases (and you have a database free to use) as well as PHP. Any blogging software will require these items to be present on your server.
There are a few items to evaluate before you choose a blogging tool that is right for you. Many blogging software platforms are currently available. The most popular ones are: WordPress, Movable Type, and B2Evolution. See if your cheap web hosting package has Fantastico available. If your host has Fantastico, installation of these blogging tools will be seamless and can be completed in 1 or 2 clicks.
Here are some points to consider when choosing your blogging software:
- Editing. What kind of posting tool do you feel comfortable with? Most editors currently used by popular blogging tools are WYSIWYG editors. This long acronym stands for What You See Is What You Get. Some common visual (or WYSIWYG) editors used in the popular blogging software include FCKEditor and TinyMCE. These editors are extremely easy to use and adaptable. Feel free to search for them to find a demo of each to see what you are more comfortable with. When you finally choose a blogging tool, these editors will be your primary way of entering in new information.
- Themes and Plugins. If you are installing a pre fabricated blogging tool, you will most likely want an extensive source for themes and plugins. Themes customize the look and feel of your blog site. Wordpress has an extensive list of themes one can select from. However, the other blogging software tools have many themes available for one to pick from. Plugins or widgets add certain functionality to your blog that it may not come with out of the box. All of the popular blogging tools have a wide variety of plugins or widgets, either designed by the creator or the community for your usage. Search these plugins to see if they add functionality that your site demands.
- Images. Do you want an editor that can handle your images (that is, the uploading, placement in line with the blog, etc.) or are you competent enough in basic HTML to insert your own images via a tag line and manual upload? For convenience and ease, a lot of users prefer a blog that can handle their images in a sophisticated manner. Check through the help and support files of some of the more popular blogging tools to see if the images are handled in a way that is acceptable to you
Feel free to contact your discount web hosting company to see if they offer any referrals or discounts with web designers who might be able to offer you a bit more assistance or customization with regards to your self hosted blogging software.
Right now, Wordpress seems to be the most popular self hosted blogging software. The greatest feature of this tool is that you can get a very detailed feel for how it works by signing up for a managed blog at WordPress.com. This blog is hosted by Wordpress and offers no theme or plug in customization. But, it gives you a great idea of what Wordpress will be like on your cheap web hosting package with regards to editing and actually blogging. Also, if you do not like it, you can find that out prior to actually going through the trouble of installing the blog on your server.
MoveableType is the next in line behind WordPress and it is quickly becoming main stream. MoveableType does not offer a commercial or free-for-use version of their software. However, their website, www.moveabletype.org , contains many screenshots and extensive documentation regarding their software. Though, if you do not have Fantastico installed on your cheap web hosting package, it can be a lot more tedious or difficult to install than WordPress.
B2Evolution is more optimized for building a community blog. It allows its users to host multiple blogs on there servers and requires very little technical knowledge. It is also built on a very stable PHP platform that is relatively bug free. It is the least popular and has the smallest selection of themes and plug ins, but it is constantly evolving and growing.
Choose carefully and only after you have considered all the contributing factors. If you pick a blogging tool that satisfies you and use your cheap web hosting package to the fullest, your blog will reflect that satisfaction in its number of hits.
