Setting Up WordPress: Step 2 – Hosting

Posted by SoMe Guru on Jan 31, 2011 in Featured, Wordpress | 0 comments

Setting Up WordPress: Step 2 – Hosting | How to Host a wordpress website

Ok so if you made it this far, GoDaddy probably wasn’t blowing you away in terms of learning how to register a domain name. However, after registering a domain name, most business owners are lost. This video will walk you through setting up your hosting account (aff link). You don’t have to use HostGator you can use other hosting companies and many of them are very similar, but I’ve found that the speed with Hostgator as well as some other benefits (from a management side) that it’s just the best fit.

First off, when you got to HostGator you’ll notice the pricing models. I tend to recommend the one in the middle. Their budget model won’t offer you enough features, size and bandwith unless you’re planning a family only blog. This is also true of most $8.95 hosting companies. The hosting that is provided at that level will work just fine for non-commercial endeavors such as hosting a photo blog for the family or maintaining a Home Owners Association site. You could opt for the baby plan at $7.95 then upgrade to the business plan at $12 or $13 a month. When you start getting leads and real traffic, it’s time for a VPS or a dedicated server which just means more stability during peak surfing hours and MORE SPEED.

Basically if you are a business owner you need to look at your budget and the “why” of your website. If it’s to generate sales, then go with the business plan to start off with. If you have over 1000 customers, then you will need a VPS (Virtual Private Server) or a dedicated server. It’s not important to know what these are, but here’s a computer analogy that works well.

Imagine you needed to take shower at your home. Most days you hop in and get hot water. However, now imagine if you had everyone over after a long day and they all wanted hot showers at once. Chances are hot water would be gone and it’d take a while to come back. That’s like hosting. At the non “PRIVATE” or “DEDICATED” plans, you are sharing the hot water so to speak. When you jump to a VPS or dedicate server it’s like having you’re own personal shower with your own reserve of hot water.

Enough about that, now you have your account but hosting does not work without a domain. Good thing you have already gotten a domain. Once you’re done signing up they will tell you some information about your service. One of those is about the “nameserver.” Don’t stress yourself out about what this is, but really it’s just like the phone number for your domain if you will. Once signed up, you simply need to go back to your domain provider and click on “domain manager” (you might have to sign in) and put the nameserver in where it says.

Just a note about these companies. You can call Hostgator or Godaddy and get person to person, help and walkthrough. GoDaddy will actually help you even if you aren’t a customer of their hosting (which I am not).

Where Have You Been?

Posted by SoMe Guru on Jan 28, 2011 in blog, Featured, Tutorials | 0 comments

If you know me then you might be wondering what is going on with us right now. If you landed here this just looks like a blog that doesn’t get updated. I’m pleased to say we were not in hibernation but rather working some great new things and some posts that will be coming out soon to help you get better on the net and with technology for FREE!

First off we’re please to say that we have a Everything You Need To Know About WordPress Course that is free (we do want your e-mail) but it will give you access to our video library and a place to post private comments, etc.

The next 10 people that join the newsletter (to the right!) will immediately be given access to the beta (Installing WordPress) launch of this training program. Some of the videos will be free and posted on this site while others will be only for subscribers.

Check back soon!

Setting Up WordPress From Start to Finish: Step 1 – Domain Name Registration

Posted by SoMe Guru on Jan 7, 2011 in Featured, Marketing, Tutorials | 1 comment

Setting Up WordPress From Start to Finish: Step 1 – Domain Name Registration

It’s most common question and the most often over-charged for item by “gurus” and web guys alike. The truth is, setting up worpress takes less than 15 minutes and it’s not all that technical. The goal is to teach you how to do this on your own.

First things first, Domain Name

If you read our post about finding niche markets then you have some idea of where you are in the process. Now it’s time to step up and name your product, service and make it a site. Get a domain name. Your first step is to head over to GoDaddy (aff – $7.49 Special) and get your domain. There’s a lot to “buy” here but no need to sign up for anything but the domain name.

Tune in next time when we get to hosting!

9 Free Keyword Suggestions Tools To Help You Nail Your Niche (Basic)

Posted by SoMe Guru on Dec 6, 2010 in blog, Featured, Google, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Tools, Twitter, YouTube | 0 comments

As social media and search engine marketers we often take for granted the free tools that we have at our disposal to come up with excellent keywords. You don’t have to be an SEO guru, because this information is free everyone (at least for the most part) and it’s simply takes time to use. We’ll cover the 9 ways (in two posts one for basic and one for advanced) to find keywords to use for your product or service. Whatever niche’ you pick, you should be passionate about it. No keyword, SEO, backlinkingg, etc will help you dominate and make the living you want unless you are passionate. The most powerful marketing is one where you are authentically coming from a place of value.

The fact is that hugely successful organizations think passion first, then profits.

Crush It – Gary Vaynerchuk’s book called Crush It is required reading for any do-it-yourself marketer. Sure, there are several other books out there and yes, his book has little to do with keywords. However, his book does delve into how to find your niche and how to completely own it. It’s part of the foundation of our consulting program (not his book but the same principals). If you are a loss for where to start, this book should help you develop the mindset on owning your niche market.
Google – You experienced folks may think I’m talking about the adwords keyword suggestion tool, and you’d be right (in one second). I often discover keywords simply by searching. The suggestions that google gives you are based on their searches so their pretty good. In addition, you can see the results right way and see how competitive a keyword niche is, but that’s another video and another post.
Google Adwords Suggestion Tool – This is the first real tool. We’ve linked it here for you, but you simply put your keywords in there and out spits a bunch of suggestions. Of course, google wants you to use this information to target people searching and you can do that for sure, but if you haven’t nailed down which niche’ you are targeting then this is just research. A few things to notice are…
- * how one letter can effect results
- * the competition bar
- * average cost per click (you have to click on the column to add that piece) – this can tell you not only how expensive it is to market but usually means that the consumers searching this word are more likely making a buying decision.
Twitter – OK, I know what you might be thinking but the new twitter.com has a search bar. Type in you word and see what people are talking about. This “tool” is more hit or miss but I’ve found some real gems and there’s an opportunity to be timely. FREE IDEA: Take note of the tweeters about your niche and then message them about your post!
Youtube Ad Keyword Suggestion Tool – Not too many people use this one but it’s every bit as relevant, especially if you are thinking of doing video marketing. Consumers don’t vary too much from the words they search for. If you consider for a moment that YouTube visitors want to be entertained or educated, this concept isn’t much different than what someone wants when they search on Google. They just want information. The tool works like a very primitive version of the google tool. The columns are not sortable, but you still get some great data and suggestions.

Pick One

Posted by SoMe Guru on Nov 11, 2010 in Facebook, LinkedIn, Marketing, Social Media | 0 comments

As a business owner (you are a business owner whether you believe it or not), you have many options to market yourself. You have the entire world of print, direct mail, you can telemarket, network in person, network over the phone, network on the internet, you can put ads on google, ads on facebook, craigslist ads, the list can go on and on.

The key to success in marketing is actually very simple. Business owners complicate the matter because they are already usually doing several people’s job so they must master all of these “tools” as well. In truth, it’s the business owner with focus that will ultimately win, this is especially true of our service industry and consultants. The key?

PICK ONE.

Pick one “tool” and master that.

If you have a clear message and an easy way to do business with you (do you have a call to action?), then pick one of these and learn it inside and out. Don’t stress out about foursquare or twitter or linkedin if you and your business has decided to be on facebook first. One thing at a time. Even if you hire a consultant like us, we’ll want to walk through each of the tools. Each tool, has a different use and a slightly different audience. You don’t communicate the same way on linkedin that you do on facebook or myspace.

Learn to let go of needing to be it all, and just master one, then you can move on to the next one.