If your website is on the WordPress platform, you already have a built-in blog component. Recently, many other website providers have seen the benefit of adding a blog component to their platform as well. However, if you find yourself needing a self-hosted blog site, consider the following important tips:
- Choose Your Theme – First and foremost, your theme needs to be mobile-responsive. This will ensure that your site is formatted appropriately for any mobile device it’s being viewed on.
- Themes are not Like Socks – Choose your theme carefully. You don’t want to be changing it too often. Consider your industry, the message of your blog and your brand. Knowing the purpose of your blog will help you choose a theme that will work for you for a very long time.
- Make Sure Your Blog has the Features You Need – Do you need to be able to upload PDFs? Do you want to add widgets? What about plugins? Feeds? Your blog theme should have everything you need to make the impact you want to make.
- Beware of Using Free Themes – It’s tempting to try to save a little money by using free WordPress themes. Most are reputable and offer features that will enhance the blog experience. Be mindful, however, of the things you can’t see. You could be downloading a bug or malware.
- KISS – Keep it Simple, Silly. Unlike your main website, a self-hosted (or stand alone) blog site doesn’t need all the bells whistles. You’ll want to create links back to your main site but a separate IDX feed isn’t necessary. If, however, you decide to include a feed, be sure the theme you choose will accommodate it.
- Don’t Let Your Blog Bog Your Down – Your blog should be easy to use and easy to update. Consider using a templated theme for your blog as opposed to one that requires special CSS coding. Coding may be helpful for your main website; but it’s not necessary for your blog. Coding can also add considerable cost to your site’s design.
By taking a few extra minutes to consider what you want your blog to look like, how you want it to function, your budget and how a particular theme is rated, you’ll be able to have a blog that represents your brand and will be easy to use. You also won’t be tempted to change it too often.
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