So you have been hearing a lot about Wordpress, and you want to know what all the fuss is all about.

WordPress is a blog publishing application and content management system.

As of September 2009, Wordpress is used by 62.8 million websites in the US and 202 million websites worldwide.—Wikipedia

What Is A Blog?

This is a Blog!

A Blog is just a type of website that is frequently updated with articles (“posts”) on topics that the Blogger wants to write about.

Wordpress is one of the most popular Blogging applications, and it is available in two different versions:

• The Wordpress.com version
• The Wordpress.org version

Both versions use the same FREE Blogging Software.

Wordpress.com

Wordpress.com is the version I call the “newbie” version.

If you are an absolute Beginner Blogger, this would be the version I would recommend to you because it is so easy to set-up and use.

Additionally your Blog is hosted for free by Wordpress.

Free and Free. What’s not to love?

The major drawbacks of this version?  You will not be able to monetize your Blog directly with advertisements and Banners, and customization of your Blog is extremely limited.

But if your goal is to set up a quick hobby, family, or even a simple business Blog – you can do it easily with Wordpress.com

There is nothing for you to buy – just set up an account and BLOG!

Wordpress.org

Wordpress.org is the version I call the “professional” Wordpress.

It is referred to as the “self-hosted” version – because you will need to find a Web Host for your Blog.

You will also need to register your own Domain Name.

However, you will also have much more control over your Blog!

With the .org version you will be able to:

• Upload & Customize Various Blog Themes
• Add Plug-Ins and Custom Widgets
• Monetize your Blog with Advertisements
• Alter your Blog in any way imaginable!

If you will be using your Blog as a way for you to make money online with Google Adsense or other forms of advertising – you will need the self-hosted version of Wordpress (the .org version).

Then you will need to set-up your Hosting account and install the software on your Host Server.

I’ll show you how to do this in later posts.

For tips on making money with your Blog, visit ProBlogger.net.

Afterwards, you can get ideas for your Blog by browsing tons of them at BlogCatalog.com.

What Is A Blog?

Well…this is a Blog.

It’s a type of website that is frequently updated with articles (“posts”) on topics that the Blogger (you and me) wants to write about.

It is so very simple to set-up, manage and update a Blog, that I can’t imagine anyone not taking advantage of it!

What Part Of Free Is Not Good? 

No web master or web designer is needed to start a Blog.

All you need is something to write about.

What is your business, hobby, or passion?

If you know how to use a word processor, then you have everything you need to start Blogging.

Didn’t I Say Something About Free?

If you have been looking for a cost-effective way to keep in touch with your clients & customers  -  it doesn’t get much easier than setting up a free Blog.

Simply visit: Wordpress.com or Blogger.com and set up an account.

Then when you are ready to get serious, you can move up to your own self-hosted and full featured Blog from Wordpress.

(There are 2 versions of Wordpress: Wordpress.com is free with hosting included. Wordpress.org is free but will require you to register your own domain name and pay for Web Hosting).

For now you probably will want to stick with the free hosted version at  Wordpress.com -  just until you get comfortable with Blogging.

Don’t Forget RSS

One of the great features of Blogs is that no matter how often you post (daily or weekly) your site visitors have an option to subscribe.

Each article you write (and video or photo you shoot) can be delivered by RSS to your subscribers automatically.

Is Blogging For You?

We think so at Studio Logic, but we don’t know everything, do we?

Start a discussion below by leaving your comments – and don’t forget to subscribe to our Blog  if you haven’t already.

Let me know when your Blog is live!

It’s time for an honest assessment of something that is near and dear to you.

This may not be easy, so grab yourself a drink and settle into the nearest chair.

You’re going to need some quiet time, and you’re going to need to be real with yourself.

So turn off your cell phone, shut the door, and assure yourself that you can handle the truth.

I’m going to ask you an  important question.

Ready?

How many times since you first launched your Website have you refreshed the look of it?

If your answer is “Maybe Once or Twice”, or “Didn’t Know I Needed To” – take a big fat gulp of that drink.

In fact, maybe you should just finish that one – and pour yourself another.

You’re going to need it, because here it is:

The World Wide Web is not just sitting there while you ignore the most important part of your marketing arsenal. The Internet is continuously evolving.

It is constantly moving forward, and if you aren’t moving forward with it – then you and your Business are getting further and further behind.

Internet-savvy customers expect websites to be fresh, simple to navigate, easy to read, and full of informative, interactive content for them to engage with.

If your website is none of these things, people will likely just move on to one that is.

So, if your “website” looks like a relic from the Internet’s Stone Age – then it is a relic from the Stone Age – a dinosaur.

An outdated few pages on the Web is a “website” in as much as Fred Flintstone’s feet are the “engine” of his car.

Sites with bizarre color schemes, cheesy music, and blinking smilies are an indication of neglect – with the potential to scare your visitors away.

Thanks to Google, Yahoo, MSN and countless other search engines – imagine how many people everyday can simply stumble upon your website needing exactly the products or services you offer.

What will your website say about you and your business when they arrive there?

That you don’t know how to use a spell-checker? That a microscope will be required to read it? That “news” to you means everything that happened up until 2003?

Do you really want to start a conversation with web visitors by inferring that you are careless, indifferent and maybe not even in business anymore?

Probably not.

So, turn on your cell phone now and call an EMT (Emergency Make-Over Team).

The Secret That Can Sabotage Your Marketing Game?

If you’re not frequently maintaining and updating your web presence -  you are not helping your Business, you are hurting it.

Open your window to the 21st Century, and get a Website facelift ASAP.

I know what you’re thinking:

Websites and Web Designers cost money.

That’s the bad news, isn’t it?

But most everything worth anything costs money. Nothing new there.

The good news is that websites are only a fraction of what they could have cost you back in the day.

Even better news is that there are plenty of online website tools and web consultants that will help you update or set-up a great looking website by yourself, for very little money.

No expensive Web Designer or Web Master is required.

In fact, you can set up a Blog for FREE.

So, try out one of the online tools below, and embrace the new Web – by updating your Web Presence as soon as possible.

I promise, you’ll be glad you did.

Blogger

From Google – Blogger is a totally free Blogging Platform, with Hosting included.

Sign up for a Blogger.com account today, and start Blogging today. How much easier does it need to be?

Godaddy

Click and build your very own Web site online!

Easy to use template website system with their Website Tonight product. Easy to customize your own 5 to 10 page website. Comes with your own business email account. Add images, flash, RSS, and more.

Wordpress

Wordpress is by far the most popular Blogging Platform around. Wordpress.com is totally free, with hosting included.

Wordpress.org is also free, but is much more full featured than the dotcom version. However, this is the version which will require a separate Web Hosting Plan.

Hostgator

Hostgator is one of my favorite Web Hosts. You get reliable web hosting with excellent customer service.

Build Your Site Online With Site Studio Template System! Easy to Use!

Each Hostgator Plan includes an easy to use CPanel, and a free Website Builder with professional, user-friendly templates.