Changing Hosts? Step by Step How to.. Step 2 of 4

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“Changing Hosts?  Step by Step How to.. Step Two”

This article is part two in a four part series. In part one we discussed choosing a host. Not an easy task. You can get just as many recommendations in favor of a host as you can get warnings against a host.  Really, it turns out to be more of a trial and error experience than a skill in choosing a host.  However, there are some technicalities to consider so make sure you check out the first post.

First and most important is the database backup. These are all your posts that you have poured hours and hours into.

Introducing – phpMyAdmin.

PhpMyAdmin is web based software used for managing MySQL databases.  PHP was at first created as a simple scripting platform called “Personal Home Page”.  It is an open source server-side language, which is used for creating dynamic web pages, which will be embedded in HTML.  PHP is usually used in conjunction with a MySQL database on Linux/UNIX web servers. It is one of the most popular scripting languages among today’s web developers.  MySQL – Structured Query Language (SQL).  SQL is the most popular language for adding, accessing, and processing data in a database, and is most noted for its rapid processing, proven reliability, and ease and flexibility of use.  Not the easiest software to learn but not the hardest. It took me a little bit to figure it out but eventually I got it. I manage my database with phpMyAdmin through cPanel.  I am not that familiar with any other method but it looks like this:

This is part of the menu options in cPanel that comes with my webhost company.

As you can see towards the bottom of the menu, there is a database section where we can choose phpMyAdmin. Once I click on phpMyAdmin, I am taken to the list of files in the database.

You cam see the most important file (to me) – wp_posts.  These are the files that are extremely difficult to replace if not impossible.  At the very bottom of this list is the “check all” option.  You need to click this option to select all the files to get them ready for backup or as the program describes “export”.

After you have selected the files and have chosen the export option, you will be taken to the following screen:

You will notice the database files are highlighted in the top left corner.  There is a scroll bar to the right to verify all files are selected.  The option under the selected files defaults to SQL.  The rest of the options are also default and if you are not sure of the choices, leave the defaults.  The next step was a secret. It was difficult to notice the “save as file” option that has to be clicked before you choose GO!  Once you click “save as file”, then click GO you will be brought to another screen asking you to choose where to save the file, much like any other “save as” request.

The phyMyAdmin database backup process is vital to restoring your post data as well as comment data and other things.

Don’t forget about blog data backup! The very next first rule of any change on any blog or website – backup  – please, just backup.  If you somehow make a mistake or crash or just don’t like the changes you have made you can always restore a good backup.  It is the only plan for disaster recovery.   I have such good advice.  I totally should take listen to me.  I do backup at least every week if not more but when I get into “tweakin” I get to focused on the changes and forget the backup!

So how do you backup your goods?  There are two different types of data to backup. There are two different programs to use to protect your data.

More initials – FTP.  What is it with every industry that they have to have their own language in abbreviations?  FTP – File Transfer Protocol.   This is the software which is the manner you will transfer your files from your host server to your hard drive or from your hard drive to your server.  And guess what the good news is?  The software is free from FileZilla.

Some say you may need the beginners guide to FTP but in all the blogging terms or tasks, the file transfer via FTP is by far the easiest as long as you understand the file and folder structure of a computer.

Please take note of the screen shot below:

1. Host: This is part of your login information – “ftp.blogname.com”
2. Username: Given to you by your host company.
3. Password: Chosen by you when you set up your new host.
4. Local site: This is your hard drive directory.
5. Host site: This is the directory of your host server.
6. Filename – local site: These are the folders under the directory listed on your local site.
7. Filename – host site: These are the folders under the directory listed on your host site.

What ever file or files you want to copy from your local site to your host site (or vice versa) is simply dragged to the directory or folder where you want to place the files.

The bottom “window”  (which I did not number) will show the transfer as it is happening.  It is really so easy.

So there we have it!   Our first step in changing hosts is to actually choose a host. Sounds so simple but oh, not so.  Before you go any further, step number two, you need to safeguard your data.  What is a blog without data?  Next week we will go through getting acquainted with your new host.

Any questions?  Need clarification?  Have something to add?

Toodles – Blog Happy!

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“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one…”
~ Albert Einstein
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Popularity: 24% [?]

5 Tips To Increase Blog Traffic

“5 Tips To Increase Blog Traffic”

Oh No! Not another blogger posting about how comments will increase blog traffic! That has been beaten to death. We all know commenting is somewhat an effective approach to increase blog traffic.  Having said that,  I am not going to include commenting as a way to increase your blog traffic in the “Five Tips” for this post.  This post is a little different from the other assortment of posts in the blogosphere about increasing blog traffic!  Actually, commenting should be part  of any method to increase blog traffic.  It “goes without saying”, so I’m not going to say it.

As part of my research for tips I discovered what track-backs are and how they work.  I know -  hello!  Where have I been?  Well, I just called them something else.

Obviously, there are more than 5 tips to increase blog traffic and these tips might not bring in an onslaught of hundreds of thousands of visitors but… but I would like to discuss the following 5 tips.

1. Use a signature. Subtle but effective. Put a link to your blog or even a post at the end of your email address. When you join forums, end each discussion with your link. When you join social groups, be sure to provide a detailed profile. Tell everyone all about you!
2. Create your reputation. Get people talking about your blog. Give your readers something to talk about. Do you have something unique to share? If your blog has a character of its own, people will talk. Does your blog maybe have a welcoming feeling? Do you encourage your readers to comment? Are your posts conducive to interaction? Maybe they will tell two friends and they will tell two friends and so on and so on.
3. Get discovered. Write.  Write well and write frequently. And write something people want to share and promote. When I first started blogging I would stumble every post I wrote. Bad idea. First of all, you are going to saturate your friends with what will feel like spam even if it is not your intention.  Sorry, every post is not “stumble worthy”, and visitors come in for days on posts that are shared. Think about your own usage of StumbleUpon.  You cannot possibly read and stumble everything sent your way effectively.
4. Collaborate with your peers. Join forces with your peers.  Offer to guest post on their blog or for your peers to post on your blog.  You will gain exposure to new readers and you will have fresh, different writing for your readers.  When you write, link to other relevant posts.  You will be sharing additional information for your readers as well as leaving trackbacks on the blog of the post you are linking to. Trackbacks, in turn will leave an excerpt on the post you are referring to.  Trackbacks and links continue the conversation and add many dimensions.
   
5. Craft your Titles. Let the search engines find you.  Write relevant titles that are timely.  Find out what people are searching for.  Go to Google and ask questions.  Find out how your topic is searched for then craft your title.
   

Comments – I know, I said I wasn’t going to use that as one of my tips to increase blog traffic, but it’s not what you think – read on.  If you are using commenting on other blogs as a way to generate traffic you may be disappointed.  Commenting to simply to leave your link will possibly generate some traffic but not the kind of traffic that you really want.  Leaving a comment should continue the conversation.  Ask questions, add your thoughts, contribute and advance the exchange of ideas.

What do you do to increase your traffic?  What has worked for you?  Do you have any fun or creative ways that you want to share with us?

Toodles – Blog Happy!

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“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going…
It’s as simple as that.”

— Earl Nightingale

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Popularity: 23% [?]

RSS Reader or Website?

“RSS Reader or Website?”

Where do you read your favorite blog posts?  No, I don’t mean on your laptop or your desktop and I’ve even heard posts are available on your phone!  Of course you have this blog and all your other favorites listed in your reader. But do you read the entire post in the reader or do you click through to the site? Some bloggers don’t give you that choice.  Some bloggers list just the title only while other bloggers list an excerpt of the post in the reader, still some others list the full post.

I would think you would have to have a great deal of confidence in your title to “hope” that people are going to click through to your post based solely on the title. For the blogs that list an excerpt only, you have to click through to the blog to continue reading the post. If, of course, the excerpt captures your interest enough to bother clicking through.  Then there are the bloggers that list the whole post in the reader.  You can still click through to the site of course.  Which do you prefer?

Title Only?

We recently discussed how and why Creative Titles Are Crucial. In the flurry of all your favorite blogs listed in your reader, even one as great as BloggerNewbie, posts can get lost in the shuffle. It happens.  If you list the title only in the reader your title darn well better be interesting enough to capture attention.  It has been my experience that titles aren’t necessarily the true sense of the post.  Readers might feel tricked or be resentful if they use their time to click through to your blog because of the title only to find out the title is not a true caption of the post.

Excerpt?

So after the creative title captures your attention, the excerpt or first paragraph needs to peak your curiosity so that you will want to click through to the website.  The excerpt is the “teaser” that makes your reader want to keep reading.  In order to keep reading, they need to click through to your site.

Full Post?

If you list your entire post in the reader, your visitors won’t need to click through to your site. Unless of course, they want to leave a comment!  Do you want them to click through?  Of course you want your readers to comment. The whole point of your blog is for people to read your post right?  Well most bloggers want their readers to comment and interact in the conversation.  Your content must be so compelling that your reader will have to click through to your blog so they can offer their opinion.

Reasons to click through

What reason would you want them to click through? There are plenty of other reasons you may want people to click through to your site.

• Being on the site creates community.  Community creates loyal readers.

• Your readers can easily see other comments from other readers.  They can interact with the author (you the blogger)  as well as the other readers.

• Often, there are areas of interest in the sidebars – links to contact you at various social networks, ads of course, products that you find helpful and recommend.
  

How do you list your posts in your reader? Do you list the title only, an excerpt or the whole post? What do you find are the advantages, the disadvantages?

Toodles – Blog Happy!

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“Strategic planning is worthless — unless there is first a strategic vision…”

- John Naisbitt

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Popularity: 25% [?]

You’ve Gotta Be Kidding Me!

“You’ve Gotta Be Kidding Me!”

Where Have You Been? Good question. I have been working on my server! I am in the process of changing web hosts. So easy a caveman an do it! This is totally ridiculous. I had so many different titles for this post, I couldn’t choose. There is no reason this process needs to be so difficult. Read more

Popularity: 34% [?]

What Are Bloggeries?

“What Are Bloggeries?”

“Bloggeries” = a synonym for the term blog posts or posts.

Rob of www.bloggeries.com has coined the word Bloggeries to replace the word posts! Simple as that. He was sponsoring a contest this week to win a Nano Ipod. I just found out about the contest today, so in a hurry to enter I missed a small detail. The contest ended on the 16th but I aaaassumed of course at midnight but 5pm was the deadline.
Read more

Popularity: 8% [?]

All in a day’s work!

All in a day’s work! In an earlier post I advised one to stay focused – keep on the task at hand – finish one mission before going on to the next…After a day like today, Read more

Popularity: 5% [?]

Whatever does that mean?

Whatever does that mean? You cannot read an article in blogosphere without coming across terminology that you are reading for the first time! It is difficult to decide Read more

Popularity: 6% [?]