In case you’re wondering what’s happening here, I’ve decided to reboot this blog. I’ve lost interest in the previous direction that I was taking with this blog, so I decided to reboot it.
Since I’m rebooting, I figured I should take a minute to explain what I’m doing in the form of this “how to” post.
Here’s a step by step how to reboot, as it pertains to a WordPress based, self hosted blog.
I should mention, that I’m wanting to go from a single site installation to a multisite installation. Going multi-site, means that I need to do a couple of extra steps: I changed my mind about the whole multisite or network thing. It didn’t give me all the flexibility that I was looking for. If, you are still wanting to do a multisite or network, here are the steps that you need to take:
- Back up the existing database and the associated files.
- I’m using WordPress, so after backing up my database, I also exported the blog using the Tools>Export menu.
- Delete the old blog. - I deleted it because you can’t convert to multisite with subdomains if the blog is older than 30 days.
- Reinstall WordPress into the root directory of my hosting domain.
- Create the wild card sub domain in my hosting provider’s cPanel. You may need to contact your hosting provider for help with this.
- Enable multi-site using the WordPress multi-site plugin.
- Create the new network of sites using subdomains rather than subdirectories.
- Import the old blog into a new subdomain blog, or back into the main blog if you so choose.
- Re-upload the files that you previously backed up.
- Voila, you’re done. Start blogging on one of your new sites.
- If you installed the old content into a new subdomain, don’t forget to add a link to the old content on your new blog. This is optional, but a nice touch nonetheless.
As far as the philosophy behind changing directions, I thought I’d share a little list about that too:
- You need to decide what you’re going to do with the rebooted site. I’m going to blog about what I’m doing to make money online. Yes, I’m creating yet another one of those blogs.
- Be passionate about what you’re switching to. This is easy for me. I need money, and I have a bunch of websites that aren’t making me any. I’m passionate about changing that. However, making money, is not what’s driving me forward.
- Don’t be lazy. Seriously, it’s going to take time, like that George Harrison song says. It’ll probably also take money to do it right. How much money? I’d say about $250 or so to do it right. Your mileage may vary.
- Be accountable to someone. Who else better than all of y’all, right?
- Have clear goals. I have clear goals for my endeavor. My goal is to earn $1000 a month from passive, online income. I’m going to document what I do to reach that goal on this site.
- Be truthful, always. If you’re selling something as an affiliate, disclose that. Also, if you’re promoting a product and just copying and pasting from the product owner’s swap file, you’re not only being lazy, you’re also being untruthful.
In reading this post again, I’d say items 1, 2, 3, and 4 are the most relevant to the how to reboot a blog question. Regardless, *your mileage may vary.
*Your mileage may vary Is a computer nerd euphemism meaning, that you may or may not see different results than the ones expressed here.
