Blogging Tips, Tricks

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New bloggers will find a wealth of information on how to get started. From setting up web hosting to installing WordPress, from creating content to basic SEO, there are reams and reams of information on just about every subject that a beginning blogger could need. Even still, there is some basic advice that slips through the cracks. I’d like to share, from personal experience, some tips I wish someone had told me when I started out blogging.

One under reported aspect of running a blog is dealing with a web host. Find the right host and deal with them in a professional manner and you will have easy times ahead. Pick the wrong host or cause a good host trouble, and you’ll find support less forthcoming. Here’s some advice that any new blogger should consider.

1. Choose your host with proper care & research

It might not seem like a big deal at first. You’re just a small blog with few traffic concerns. A basic shared hosting package will work just fine, and likely will provide you with the same uptime guarantees as more expensive packages. That’s all fine and good at the start, but the goal of any blog is to grow. Once you grow past a certain level you’ll need to upgrade your hosting package. That’s where the differences between hosts come into play.

Transferring hosts is no simple task. If you don’t know much about MySQL and web hosting, you might not be able to do it alone. That means paying someone else to do it, which is money out of your pocket. The solution is to choose the right host from the get-go. Research not only the starter packages, but the more advanced ones as well. Do homework on bandwidth costs and limits. Read as many user reviews as possible.

Once you do all of this, you’ll be ready to purchase web hosting services. The and effort you spend here will save you money in the future.

2. Get to know your hosts

Data centers host blogs, and people operate data centers. If you’re going to get the most out of your hosting package, it’s advisable to familiarize yourself with your hosts. Think about it this way: we use the word hosts for a reason. They’re hosting your website on their servers, in their data centers. Treat them as you would a host of a dinner party. While you do pay your web host, the courtesy will go a long way.

How can you get to know your web host?

• Always introduce yourself, and always ask their names. If you need to call frequently enough, you’ll probably get some repeat support people. Introducing yourself and asking their names is a quick way to build rapport.
• Excuse yourself before asking a question. The support people at your web host are full of knowledge. They love showing off that knowledge. Instead of pretending you know what you’re talking about, excuse your lack of knowledge on the subject and ask them a simple question. You not only build rapport, but you also gain knowledge.
• Keep your cool. Yes, you’re paying them for a service. They should provide it as promised. But in the world of web hosting plenty can go wrong at a moment’s notice. Remain understanding, and never, ever lose your temper with them. They keep tabs on your account, and you never want the words irate or perturbed on it. That will only hinder future service issues.

If you have a friend who works as an IT rep at a data center, it’s highly advisable that you host there. The quick and informal access to a representative can be your best friend.

3. Keep all basic information at hand

When you call for support, the representative will need to know certain bits of information. Your support call will only last longer, and the representative will only grow more frustrated, if you don’t have this information quickly at hand. Here’s some information you might need right away.

1. Account number and user name/email address
2. Site’s IP address
3. An exact description of the problem
4. Date of the last time you experienced this issue
5. The solution enacted last time you had the issue

The first three issues you can keep in an easy-to-find file on your computer. Make sure you open it before calling. You can also log your site issues in this file, noting the last date you called about each specific issue. That brings us to an exact description of the problem. Be as exact as possible: e.g., the site times out when loading, it’s taking long to load, the front end loads but the back end does not, etc. The more information you supply, the more easily the representative will find the solution to your problem.

Before you finish the call, ask what they did to solve the problem. (Chances are they reset your web server.) Write that down next to the problem. The next time you call with the same issue, you can tell the representative what the previous representative — whose name you already know — did to solve the issue. This method will also help you identify any chronic issues that might need a bit more attention.

4. Learn basic MySQL

While you’re paying people to do this for you, it’s still useful to learn the basics. You don’t need to take a community college class on MySQL and databases, but skimming a few basic documents might help. It actually harkens back to the previous tip about knowing basic information. The more you know, the better you can describe. The better you describe, the easier it becomes to solve your issues.

Basic MySQL information is accessible to anyone. All you need to know is the basics of how tables are created and how they store information. You needn’t concern yourself with querying the tables; you won’t have access to that through your control panel. You just need to know why they’re created, what kind of information they store, and how they arrange the information. Once you know that, you should be competent enough to handle questions from your host’s representative.

Bottom Line: Things will go wrong

At the start things might go smoothly. You’re a small site and take up very little room on a shared server. But as your blog grows you’ll need more and more space. Your databases will grow and your bandwidth consumption will increase. That opens up the possibility for malfunctions. Follow these tips, and these malfunctions will be but blips on the radar. They won’t hurt you in the long-term, because you’ve taken care of them beforehand. Neglect them and there’s no knowing how many issues you could face.

Author Bio

Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of BBGeeks, a site dedicated to helping BlackBerry users get the most out of their devices.

Other posts by Mahesh Kukreja

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