FYI, the latest version, WordPress Version 2.1.3, was released to the public on April 3, 2007. You can visit WordPress.org and read the Detailed Instructions or How to Upgrade in Five Steps.

My hosting company, DreamHost, provides one-click installation, so I don’t have to worry about anything – It’s a critial feature to consider when you select a web hosting service. I’ve completed the upgrade process, but my WP/Admin is still showing 2.1.2. Maybe something wrong with the one-click upgrade sofeware?

I’ve submited a support ticket and will keep you informed once I solve this problem.

Update: DreamHost replied back that the one-click installer was pushing out the wrong files. So I reinstalled it and now I am in WordPress 2.1.3. 🙂

Note: Just in case you don’t know the version of your WordPress blog, check the footer in your dashboard after you login WP/admin. Please note that your blog template version might not show as 2.1.3 because the template version usually only changes if it’s a major update such as 2.2, on minor updates such as 2.1.3, it stays 2.1.

Why do you read blogs? Everyone has different answers to this question. Below is the survey result from VizuAnswer, an online poll website. What’s your answers to this poll?

Below is a list of what I did in the first week of Exploring Blogosphere. If you want to start a new WordPress blog and host it with your own domain name, you probably need to follow similar steps after the initial installation. 

• Be familiar with the WordPress dashboard, as it is the most frequently used blogging tool
• Install FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software so that you can upload/download files to the server much faster than using your hosting company’s panel
• Select a few favourite blog templates and upload them to the server so that you can change them when needed
• Install Google Sitemap so that your blog can be indexed faster
• Submit your URL to popular search engines like Google, Yahoo! AOL, etc.
• Register Feedburner, Technorati, MyBlogLog, etc., and install their widgets on the sidebar
• Add Ping services and submit your blog to as many as directories as you want
• Edit the About page to let readers know more about you and your blog
• Now, you’re ready to blog away 🙂

Did I miss anything critical? Please let me know if you have any suggestion. Thanks!

Fortunately, Exploring Blogosphere is back to normal since this morning. It seems that DreamHost has solved the site-slowness problem; however, I will continue to monitor the site. I will also start to figure out how to add some widgets such as site meter, RSS feed, MyBlogLog, etc. It’s a time consuming learning process – that’s one of reasons why I enjoy blogging 🙂

After comparing a few web hosting companies, I selected Dreamhost and registered a hosting account last Sunday. Dreamhost has good word of mouth based on my online research. However, from the very first second when I became their customer, the site loading speed was very slow – it takes more than 10s to respond to any request. I’ve submitted several support tickets asking them to fix this problem. It’s been 48 hours and the speed is still dead slow. I can’t do anything but wait.

Speed is the most important thing for any website. If they can’t solve the problem soon, I will leave for another hosting company.

I had no WordPress experience prior to this blog. I think it is a good idea to record my steps to develop this brand new WordPress blog, from registering a domain name , selecting a web hosting service, changing blog templates, installing plug-ins, etc. I hope this might benefit some Blogspot bloggers who are considering starting a WordPress blog but have fears of the unknown processes. What do you think?

I am so excited that Exploring Blogosphere officially launched today! (March 25, 2007)

I started to blog from early 2006. Since then, I’ve discovered many great blogs and have met some wonderful blogger friends in the blogosphere. I really enjoy blogging. My first blog, Sunflower, has been growing very fast with the support of my regular readers. My Sunflower blog is a place where I share my rambling thoughts, experiences and have fun with friends. I promote a Blogger Healthy Lifestyle on Sunflower blog too.

I created Exploring Blogosphere to take advantage of my marketing experience in the high-tech industry. Exploring Blogosphere will focus on ebusiness, tech news, entertainment and consumer generated advertising market on the blogosphere.

Now let’s start to explore the amazing blogosphere together!