Step One – Internet Basics 101
You might need to know how to speak Nerd…. just a little bit. Enough to get by when you’re talking to tech support.
Step Two – Fetch Your Credit Card
Setting up things like domain names, website hosting and email addresses can be expensive.
Step Three – WordPress
WordPress – It’s what is known as a Content Management System or CMS. It helps you maintain the stuff on your website without worrying about the code and craziness behind your website (that’s my job).
Step Four – WordPress Plugins
Add functionality and special features to your WordPress website. You may need help setting these up.
Step Five – Website Content
Every good website needs good content. There are a few online tools to make generating content easier.
Step Six – Google & Bing
It’s an annoying fact of life, you’ll need a google account to use a lot of services only they provide. And a Microsoft account. SEO sucks, but you actually want people to find your website.
Step Seven – Social Media
More people will read your blog if you tell them that it exists.
Step Eight – SSL
Having that little green/grey padlock means jack shit. The https protocol is a joke. Websites MUST use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) because otherwise potential visitors get warnings to stay away: “This site is insecure! Go back to safety before the world ends!”
Step Nine – Lock it down
It’s impossible to make a webserver completely secure. If someone is determined to hack into your webserver – nothing is going to stop them.
Step Ten – Backup Everything
Repeat this mantra: “I will back up my stuff. I will backup my stuff. I will backup my stuff.” Any IT expert will ask you, when you go begging for help: “Where are your backups?”