Expression Web Blog

Pat Geary and I have written a Free Launching a WordPress Ebook which is suitable for those using their own domains and subdomains. We cover how to set up WordPress on your server and what settings and preferences are needed. Not only that we make sure SEO features are implemented so your blogging experiance starts off the right way.

Free Launching a WordPress Blog Ebook

1. Getting started with a WordPress Blog
2. Requirements for Installing WordPress – Before you get started make sure your host gives you the tools you need. One host that we know of who does not is 1and1 UK Home packages. Did you read to the bottom of the page?
3. Installing Database -
4. Download WordPress
5. Configure wp-config-sample file – Did you read the instructions all of the way through? Did you rename the file?
6. Configure a FTP Client – If you are already using an ftp client that works, it is not necessary to download FileZilla. Use the one you are comfortable with, but make sure if you’re using another ftp client to set it to ASCII.
7. Installing WordPress –
8. Setting up WordPress – Did you read to the bottom of the page? Do not try and install a new theme yet. Work with the default one until you have finished setting up.
   Options Permalinks – If your url looks like http://your-domain.com/hello-world.php rather than http://your-domain.com/?p123 you followed the instructions. Ready for the next step?
9. Configure WordPress Categories – Did you follow all of the instructions to the bottom of the page? Don’t worry; you can add more categories later.
10. Setting WordPress Preferences – Read it all!
11. Installing WordPress Themes – Now you are finally here. Read it all to the very bottom. It will take you longer to decide on choosing a theme than anything else. Once you have installed the theme, take the time to check how it looks in the various browsers, does it have a horizontal scroll? Does it validate? Do you know enough to tweak it until it works like it is supposed to or would you be better off choosing another one?
12. Creating SEO Titles in WordPress – Did you follow all of the steps? Did you read to the BOTTOM of the page? Does your page title look like it is supposed to?
13. Disable NoFollow Attribute in WordPress – If you don’t read to the very bottom, you will miss the bit about writing posts. After all, that is what your blog is for.

1. WordPress Essentials
   1. WordPress Plugins
      1. Akismet Plugin – If you don’t want to be plagued by spam, read and configure this plugin.
      2. Sitemap Plugin – Read all the way to the bottom or you will end up with the word category beside all of your categories.
      3. WordPress Database Backup – An easy way to backup your database.
      4. WordPress Ready Contact Form – Do you want your readers to be able to contact you? Then you need a form for them to use. Don’t skip this part.
      5. How Trackback and Pingback works in WordPress Learn how they work, how to use them and when to use them.
      6. Moving a WordPress Blog – More advanced but someday you may want to move from a sub-domain to a domain all its own.
      7. Upgrading WordPress Program – Read and implement carefully, WordPress regularly updates and improves the program, so be ready with the instructions at hand.
      8. WordPress API – You will need this for configuring your Akismet Spam Plugin.
      9. WordPress Tips
2. Desktop Blogging Clients - These are more advanced topics for you to explore, if you find you don’t like the WordPress interface to post your blogs, these desktop blogging clients are a safe alternative.
3. Windows Live Writer
   1. Setting Up Windows Live Writer
4. BlogDesk
   1. Installing BlogDesk
   2. BlogDesk Configuration
   3. Creating Posts in BlogDesk
   4. Inserting Images in Posts
   5. Publishing with BlogDesk
   6. BlogDesk Options
   7. BlogDesk Extras

Enhance your business and start blogging The Right Way.

Tina Clarke, Microsoft MVP - FrontPage & Pat Geary, Microsoft MVP - FrontPage Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved

The latest interview in our series is with Tom Brunt, Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

Tom runs the highly successful Outfront Forums and provides second to none FrontPage and Expression Web Hosting.

TimeforWeb Forums which feature Expression Web and FrontPage forums will shortly be locking their forums though they will still be open for referencing.

This is because they are starting a new forum on it’s own domain. This forum will deal with both Expression Web as well as FrontPage. Unfortunately they are not able to transfer any of the posts or member records from the old forum to the new. Therefore if you wish to use the new forum, then you must register when you go there. The new forum is http://expression-frontpage.com/forums/

Basic ASP.NET AJAX in Visual Web Developer 2008

Jim Cheshire’s latest video tutorial shows you how to use the UpdatePanel control in Visual Web Developer 2008 to create an ASP.NET AJAX-enabled web page.

The latest Expression Web Interview with Joe Rohn, Microsoft MVP - FrontPage was published recently.

Joe is the webmaster of TimeforWeb Forums which incorporate both FrontPage and Expression Web

One main moan about EW is that people coming from shared borders and the navigation bot, find making menus somewhat of a problem, this really is easily fixed by taking control and using Design Time Includes along side unordered (bulleted) lists with CSS for the formatting. and even using them within DWTs. It just makes maintenance, user experience and accessibility that much easier. Once users grasp the fact this can be done, it becomes a lot easier to move from bot usage.

Pat Geary wrote about a nifty navigation which uses CSS, make a start getting free of thos bots and learn more about how you can have nifty navigation too.

Expression Web Interview with Paul Colligan, Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

Paul maintains the Expression Web Talk Forum and is a Microsoft MVP - FrontPage.