Introduction: WordPress is a blog software written in PHP, and there are now hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. This software can be used to create your own stand-along blog site. Since it is in PHP, it is rugged and resists attempts at hacking.



Thousands of programmers contribute to the refinement and development and new versions keep coming with increased functionally, ease of use, and speed of operation. Thousands of others develop add-ons or plugins and themes, all available free of cost. There are also many commercial plugins and themes. In summary, here is a blog software which offers so many choices that you can use it for setting up practically any kind of site with any facility. Sky is the limit if you search around.

Your Own Domain: You should have your own domain and server space before you set up your own stand-along blog. WordPress.Com offers what is known as "hosted" blogs. These are hosted by WordPress and though you can set up what you wish, the ownership of the facility belongs to those who host. If they ever delete your blog or revoke your right to post, you cannot do anything because you are using the property that belongs to someone else.

A stand-alone blog or website is your own property over which you have full rights and privileges. You will need to register a "domain name" and buy "server space" to host this website or blog. Registering a domain such as MedicalHelps.Com is not costly. And you can buy server-space cheap for hosting this blog. Together they should not cost more than $20 per year if you look for a good company. Once you own a domain name, and once you take server space on rent, you are ready to set up your blog for profit. If you can seek help from an enthusiast, he will teach you all the tricks in one go. If not, you will have to do it by yourself. This is not difficulty if you strictly follow the instructions in the following paragraphs.

Setting Up The Database: Your server will give you the facility to set up a database to be used by your wordpress blog. For this you should do the following things

Log into your server control panel. (Your server-space provider will give you the user-name and password to access your server control panel).

Go To MySQL or other database.

Create a "Database". Use a name here that you can remember easily, but which others cannot guess. Record this name somewhere.

After that, create a "User" and a "password". Chose names which are nearly impossible to guess. Record these names because there is no way to recover the password if lost and you will end up losing precious information.

There will be a facility on the same location to "connect" the user with the "database". Do it with "all privileges".

Now you are ready to set up your blog.

Setting Up WordPress: You should visit www.WordPress.org and download the latest issue. After that do the following

Unzip the software

Upload this software to your server in the correct folder. Your server-space provider will inform you the folder where files are to be loaded. (You will need an FTP software for this upload).

Once all the files are uploaded, you are ready for the install. Just log on to your domain. WordPress will automatically ask many questions. As you answer them, it will use that information to set up the software.

Once the software gives you the user-name "admin" and the password, carefully store this password BEFORE you log into your blog. If you use this password, you will find it almost impossible to log into your blog.

At times the setup process is halted and it says that certain files are not "writable". In such rare cases you will have to go to that file through control panel (or through an FTP software) and change the file "attributes" till you get the value as 666.

Using The WordPress Blog: You are ready to use your WordPress blog as soon as it is set up. I suggest that you log into the Blog Control Panel and make necessary changes in the title, subtitle etc and start posting. Proper themes and plugins can be selected in a day or two. Start blogging immediately and submit your blog to search engines immediately. Let the spider start visiting your site before you do other things.

Persist and the day will be yours!!