The very first Theme you should install and activate with Theme Test Drive Plugin

After just setting up your Wordpress Blog, you may just want to test some themes or plugins. While doing so, you don't want the public to watch all your actions and would like to show them a landing page where people could register to your feedburner feed while you would see another theme.

So first register your Blog with Feedburner if you haven't done it already. Then install Launchpad theme with Theme Test Drive (you can install this plugin or any other very fast as explained in previous installment) by entering this zip url http://themeshaper.com/downloads/launchpad.zip :


















After activating the theme, enter current options of the theme ...











... fill the text field with the name of your feedburner site's name:








In the end, go back to Appearance Menu, click on Theme Test Drive and fill these options :



















The name of the theme that appear above should be the name of the theme you want to see when connected as Administrator.

The very first plugin you should install right from the start

Once you have just setup your Wordpress Blog, I advise you to install this Plugin straight away:
One Click Plugin Updater. This Wordpress Plugin will allow you to install other plugins remotely by putting the zip url in the field below - so without having to upload them with your FTP software.

For example, you will then be able to install your second plugin Theme Test Drive (see next installment):

Create your own social network with Wordpress

There are a few companies (SubHub,...) which will allow you to build a social network on the internet but it may cost you a monthly fee that you could not afford.

Wordpress Mu is free allows to create multiple wordpress blogs within one single directory install. This doesn't yet transform it into a fullblown social network except if you use Buddypress which bundles a template with some special plugins to transform Wordpress into an amazing community platform. Be aware that at this time of publishing, the release is still not finalized.

To install Buddypress:

1. Download Wordpress Mu
2. Download Buddypress
3. Read the installation guide

Many webhosting services do not accept Wordpress Mu so ask them before. I have tried with Hostgator and Ubiquity Hosting - though in details with Hostgator I had to create a ticket for Wordpress Mu support and still not able to install last version of Wordpress Mu only version 1.3.1 whereas Ubiquity Hosting was perfect (you don't even need to ask them anything).