Questions....

[Mark]

I have a blog that is installed on a domain name by Fantastico.
That is a fantastic setup.
Trouble is, I do not get an API Key and there is no way I could ever get an API Key, free or not, associated with that WordPress blog. So, I can not get Akismet, and the spammers descend on me by the tens of thousands.
On the other hand, I DO have access to the database. The trouble with THAT though, is that I am an utter newbie with databases. I have NO idea how to customize my blog using the blog database.
(Perhaps I need to say adios to blogs and go back to college and learn about databases, but that takes MONEY. Most of us are here to learn how to make money from blogs.......)

I also have a blog from WordPress.com. It's free, and effortless to obtain. It has an API Key that's easy to get. It's equipped with Akismet, so the spammers will have to go elsewhere. BUT.........When I use a free blog directly from WordPress.com or .org, I DON'T HAVE ACCESS to the DATABASE. So if I want to install StatCounter or anything similar, I am utterly out of luck.

I am beginning to think that monetizing a blog, for me, may well be out of reach for 5 to 10 more years.

I don't know a thing about databases to save my life.

I guess what I am trying to ask everyone here is, Should I use a blog on a domain name I obtain myself, or should I take a BIG chance on using one of those free WordPress.com blogs? If its best for me to use a blog on a domain name I obtain instead of using the free blogs at WordPress.org, I face the dilemma of not having the slightest idea of how to install the blog .

I'm open to suggestions folks, but I am beginning to think that I need DESPERATELY to go back to college for about 8 years to catch up with everyone else lol.......

[dixonge]

If I recall correctly you can use the Wordpress.com key on your own blogs. I'm pretty sure I did that.

But my problem with Akismet is that it still allows the spammer to stick their crap on my server. I don't want them to think my server is open to them. I recently installed the 'Bad Behavior' Wordpress plugin and have been pleased with the results. Copy the folder to your plugins folder, activate the plugin, voila - you're done. No database knowledge required.

[Brad I]

Originally Posted by dixonge

If I recall correctly you can use the Wordpress.com key on your own blogs. I'm pretty sure I did that.

But my problem with Akismet is that it still allows the spammer to stick their crap on my server. I don't want them to think my server is open to them. I recently installed the 'Bad Behavior' Wordpress plugin and have been pleased with the results. Copy the folder to your plugins folder, activate the plugin, voila - you're done. No database knowledge required.

Dixonge, do you have a link for that? Do you have to manually add people to the list of bad behavers or??? My spam has gotten bad and I'm tempted to close comments

[dixonge]

Originally Posted by Brad I

Dixonge, do you have a link for that? Do you have to manually add people to the list of bad behavers or??? My spam has gotten bad and I'm tempted to close comments

A link! Sure, get it here:

Bad Behavior download page

You just activate it, period. No other setup required, three checkboxes on the Options page. On one of my blogs, one I have just begun to monetize and have not yet begun marketing, Bad Behavior is reporting it has blocked 1200 access attempts in the last 7 days. I found two spam comments to moderate. And trust me, before I installed Bad Behavior all 1200 of those attempts would be spam. That's not 'real' comments being blocked....

[Mark]

I'd like to thank everyone on this forum for their time and input. I really appreciate it. Most, if not all of us are very busy, so I'm thankful for all the advice I get.

I have figured out how to put a SiteMeter counter on my blog.
I have a Level 1 account with DreamHost, and I am delighted.
I have a standalone Word Press blog, with a domain name.
I chose a theme. I have also activated Akismet.
I burned a feed at Feedburner a couple of weeks ago.
I'm reading Blog Blueprint over and over again and am reading all my books on blogging and I also regularly read every pro blogger's blog.

Now, I am getting ready to start a blog diary, as Yaro suggested in his blog.

This is all really so enjoyable.

[FirstByte]

Originally Posted by dixonge

A link! Sure, get it here:

Bad Behavior download page

You just activate it, period. No other setup required, three checkboxes on the Options page. On one of my blogs, one I have just begun to monetize and have not yet begun marketing, Bad Behavior is reporting it has blocked 1200 access attempts in the last 7 days. I found two spam comments to moderate. And trust me, before I installed Bad Behavior all 1200 of those attempts would be spam. That's not 'real' comments being blocked....

Great link

[kathiemt]

Originally Posted by Mark

I'd like to thank everyone on this forum for their time and input. I really appreciate it. Most, if not all of us are very busy, so I'm thankful for all the advice I get.

I have figured out how to put a SiteMeter counter on my blog.
I have a Level 1 account with DreamHost, and I am delighted.
I have a standalone Word Press blog, with a domain name.
I chose a theme. I have also activated Akismet.
I burned a feed at Feedburner a couple of weeks ago.
I'm reading Blog Blueprint over and over again and am reading all my books on blogging and I also regularly read every pro blogger's blog.

Now, I am getting ready to start a blog diary, as Yaro suggested in his blog.

This is all really so enjoyable.

Good to see you got the Akismet thing worked out. I've just joined and was going to tell you, you can use the same 'key' for all blogs. I own 11 blogs in Wordpress and use Akismet for them all - using the same API key. I was only able to get that key by opening an account at Wordpress.com but I don't have my blogs there - all are hosted on my server with individual domain names. Sounds like you'll have a similar set up with Dreamhost - I've heard they're good. And I really like Feedburner too - works well.