HIRING A WEB DESIGNER FOR YOUR BLOG
Rates for contract Web designers vary regionally, but be sure to get quotes from at least three different designers. Go with the one that’s the best fit for your needs, and don’t equate a high price tag with high quality.
� Blogs are a hot technology area on the Web right now, and that means a lot of innovation is in the field. Audio, video, mobile, and photo blogs are only some of the interesting ways people are choosing to blog. If you want to use all the latest tools on your blog, and perhaps increase your traffic while doing so, independent blog software often keeps pace with developments better than a hosted solution.
Independent blog software developers are catering to a technically savvy, cutting-edge audience that knows and demands current technology. And even if they don’t extend their software regularly, many independent blog software companies encourage third-party developers to create plug-ins that can be used with their software. You can take advantage of newer technology or even contribute your own code to handle your specific need. A hosted blog solution simply can’t match the nimbleness of independent blog software — at least as long as innovation continues in
At the same time, all this additional functionality can come at the sacri¬fice of stability or compatibility. Nothing’s certain, but hosted solutions tend to be less buggy in regular use.
� Reputation: The blogosphere is a relatively small world and a tightly knit community to boot. Chances are that visitors who are also bloggers will take note of the software you create your blog with, and you’ll get just a little bit more blog credibility if you’re using independent blog software rather than a hosted solution. While this isn’t completely fair to the many excellent bloggers on hosted blog solutions, it is nonetheless a blogosphere reality.
If you want to test this theory, start looking at the blogs you read regularly. Many blogs indicate which software they’re using, even when they don’t need to. This is a bit of technical showmanship, or perhaps one upmanship — one blogger saying to another that he’s got the smarts and skills to go with the difficult solution. Waxy is one popular blog that displays a “Powered by Movable Type” graphic;
Because one of the best ways you can build buzz around your blog is to attract other bloggers, you may want to play this game yourself — if you go with an independent blog, add the logo to the final design of your blog.
� Existing Web sites: Perhaps you’re creating a blog that will actually live on your company’s Web site, as part of a larger package of information your company is providing to the public. You need a blog solution that permits you to publish your blog on your company server. Some hosted blog solutions permit you do to this, but an independent blog solution is likely the way you need to go.
Before you get too carried away: The server software in use with your current site may dictate what blog software you can use. Several different kinds of server platforms are in common use, and most independent blog software is only available for one or two of those platforms. When in doubt, look up the technical requirements of the blog software you want to use, and consult with your IT staff about whether the technologies are compatible.
Never underestimate the value of having someone close at hand who can help you figure out a new technology. Having someone who can help you who already knows and uses a blog technology is better than the best customer support out there. If the technology your friend or colleague uses suits your needs, stop agonizing over choosing the right solution you’ve already found it. Buy him or her lunch, and bring your notebook.
If you’re going to blog, you simply must get your own domain. Having your own domain gives you credibility and a permanent address that stays constant even if you decide to switch underlying services later. If you don’t register a name, you’re in danger of someone else coming along and registering the name — you don’t want that. If you choose to go with an independent blog software solution, and you don’t have a company Web server to install that software on, you definitely need to find some Web hosting as well.