Working at Home on the Internet

7 Necessary Steps When Launching a New Blog

Did you know it is a lot of work to launch a Blog? Of course you did, and so did I. But I almost forgot How Much Work it really is to set things up the way I want them.

Why am I telling you this? Because FINALLY after two years of waiting and trying to secure the URL I have wanted is now Mine, all mine… mcbsconsulting.com will be the Main Site for My Computer Back in Service. That, if you don’t already know, is my actual business. Helping people when they are having problems with their computer, Website or Blog. But I won’t bore you with that right now, I’ll bore you with some of the steps I will be taking this time around.

• The easy part is done, I installed WP 2.2.1. This was never a question as I have found WordPress to be the best platform for my Bogging.
• Picking a Theme is not quite as easy. The first one I tried would not render anywhere close to Internet Explorer using FireFox. The next choice was a little better, but no final decision yet.
• Then there is the matter of Plugins. Luckily, I have tested quite a few and have a good idea of what I want to do with the presentation and usage features they provide.
• Meta Data is something I really have to work on. The Blog Info and Tag line are set, but Keywords are important to get right in the beginning. Content will help with that later, but I want to get a head start with SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
• Setting the Options the right way now will help later. I set the Permalink structure without the date, just the Title/post will show for entries. I always wanted to do that here, but it would cause problems with ALL the links, internal and external.
• Another important thing to do is to register with all of the pinging services and sites like Technorati and FeedBurner. I still have to set up with Google for a Sitemap and get the code for StatCounter.
• I also want to have some posts written and ready to go Before the launch. That way, I should have a head start on posting and it should be easier to maintain a consistant schedule.

Even with the experience of Blogging and being part of such a great community, it is still a lot of work to get a Blog off the ground. I have no doubt that I have left things out but this little list will keep me busy for quite a while. Not to worry, I will let you know when I Do launch My Computer Back in Service.

Let me know if you come up with any suggestions for missing steps in comments, Please.

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August 8th, 2007 at 11:24am | Posted by Joe | Basics, Blogging, Management, Organization, Resources, Tips | 4 reader remarks | Print This Post

I Know It’s Been Said Before, but Back-Up Everything

Just in case you were wondering…

Yesterday morning, I had a Major Computer Crash.  I mean crash and burn… Nothing but a black screen that kept looping and looping trying to boot. Windows wouldn’t even get as far as the Logo before it started all over again.

I tried everything short of reinstalling XP to no avail. I did try the recover from the last known good version, nothing. I tried to boot from the “Safe” screen, nothing. I tried booting from DOS (yes, I can still access it), nothing. I was getting a message that the Hard Drive was Corrupted.

There was a file in the latest Windows update download that seems to have cause this whole problem, so I finally tried reinstalling XP, even though I really don’t like doing that, I lose too much information that has accumulated over time.

Luckily, I did have my Back-up CD’s of all (well, most) of my current Windows options. I still have all of my Pics, Favorites, options, settings etc. However, I did lose my DSL connection. XP doesn’t have the drivers for the Actiontec Modem, and I stupidly, left the CD containing them at friends house when I was helping him install his DSL.

Even more luckily, I had written a post months ago to help some readers requesting a download of those very same drivers! So, the only thing I had to do was access the internet on K’s computer, download the drivers to a CD and reinstall them on My computer. Talk about fate working in mysterious ways.

Now, the only thing left is to find what I have missed and redo whatever it happens to be, but at least I am back online and functioning.

Tip of the Day… Back-up EVERYTHING.

July 11th, 2007 at 02:25pm | Posted by Joe | Attitude, Basics, Organization, Tips | 2 reader remarks | Print This Post

Don’t Be Like Me…

Procrastinate

(pro-kras-tin-ate)

 1. v.i. delay or defer action; be dilatory. -tor n. -tive -tory adj.

2. n. Joe Hauckes

You know it’s bad when your name and picture shows in a definition for a term like this. But I deserve it. I even wrote a post, Procrastination Doesn’t Work at Home way back in February ‘06. It seems I still haven’t completely learned the lesson about just getting down to doing what needs to be done.

I did Sign-up for SOBCon07 when the invitations were first sent out. I have even written about it and asked others to register and join in. I took the first step.

BUT, I never took the second step, Making travel and sleeping arrangements. Sure, I called about pricing, but never committed to getting tickets or reservations.

I Procrastinated for so long there are only eight (8) days left (7 for me because it’s an overnight train trip) until the actual event. So, Liz, I’ll be calling You, Amtrack and probably 2-3 Hotels TODAY to finalize arrangements.

So, Don’t be like me and be part of the Definition of Procrastinate, SIGN-UP Today for SOBCon07. I’ll see you there.  

source: Dictionary of Difficult Words-Gramercy Publishing

Technorati Tags: SOBCon

May 3rd, 2007 at 12:25pm | Posted by Joe | Attitude, Community, Fun, Organization | reader remarks | Print This Post