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How to create a blog for your cycletrippin

by bernt & torsten

Today’s topic is about how to create a blog for your cycle trip, the first you need to do is to pick a title for your blog. You should think of something that relates to your subject. It should be original, catchy and easy to remember. When you got your name, it is time too:

Buy a domain name.

Try to pick a domain name that matches your blog’s title. If it’s already taken, try to find something similar or think about changing your title to a domain name that’s available. If you are unsure about how to pick a domain, there is a free guide on how to choose the right domain name for a website.

Decide which platform you want for your blog.

WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, and crazyguyonabike are just a few of the options out there. Depending on how much you know about the web, building websites, and adding/modifying content on those websites, you can find one that will suit your needs. At the very least you can create a Facebook page for your ride.

Choose what type of web hosting you need.

There are two ways to host your content: third party hosting and self-hosting. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and you’ll need to figure out how much content and what kind of content you’ll be adding to your site. Some give you more control over your content but lack download speeds and file space, and some give you little control but allow for more content space and faster downloading times.

Find a blog theme for your site.

Your theme is the first thing people are going to see when they come and visit your page. Pick one that complements the subject of your blog. Keep it clean and simple, while fun and interesting at the same time. Choosing a busy theme can compete with the content and be too distracting for your readers. Most importantly, pick a theme that you can easily customize/edit to make your own.

Add web analytics and social networking.

Web analytics are great for tracking what people are and aren’t reading. I suggest that you go with Google Analytics

For social networking start a Facebook/Twitter/Google+ pages. Including addthis social network plugin on your blog will help get the word out as well.

The visuals are great!

People like to see pictures, use a mobile camera along on your trip! Set up your mobile camera with a cloud provider Google+ or dropbox to have your picture automatically uploaded. Photos break up the text nicely and they can really complement your writing if used effectively. Get a flat tire? Passing an amazing place? WE WANT TO SEE IT! And if you’ve got a video option on your mobile phone, then post a quick clip to YouTube and share.

Add a map!

Add a map, people following your blog like to see where you are at, I added my maps from MapMyRide – you could use Google Map or openstreetmap

Publish a post before you leave!

Announce to your friends and family that you are going on this big adventure so they can tell you how insane you are. Get people following you BEFORE you actually take off on your life-changing tour. You could blog about the preparations/thoughts and feelings you’re going through, for instance.

Bike, blog, and keep it light!

While writing your blog, make sure to always be yourself. This is YOUR journey and YOUR place to share it with others. Therefore, keep it personal and not too professional. Your blog should look, sound and feel like you. Most importantly, have fun with it!

If you are interested in learning more about web hosting, there is an excellent guide available that explains web beginners to easily understand the process and technology behind web hosting – you can take a look at it here: http://firstsiteguide.com/web-hosting/