Why have a traditional website?

[coachdebra]

Can someone give me a "Wordpress For Dummies" synopsis? I've always been somewhat perplexed by it...

eo

Very quickly - I have a client in a few minutes - Wordpress (.org NOT .com) is a program, like microsoft word, that you upload to your host (many have quick and easy tools for installing it - e.g. fantastico). Then, like microsoft word, you can build a document - your website - on it.

You have to choose a theme. A theme is like deciding the frame for your picture. It tells the program how to manage your content - basically where it goes on the page, what fonts and colors, etc.

Wordpress is built on CSS (cascading style sheets) - which means that every page and post will have the same frame and basic formatting. So, unlike the dreamweaver and frontpage websites of yore, you don't have to reprogram it for each page. And you can get more complex by creating different style sheets to choose from (check out any page on my site, then look at the blog - you'll see different formatting and look - I do that by picking a different style sheet set up by my designer)

The theme can have added functionality and the paid themes tend to be more functional than the free ones.

But - if you want to start out being very simple - don't worry, you can always change themes - just like popping your picture out of one frame and into another.

If you want to be able to do more fancy stuff - you use plugins. Which are like mini programs that add functionality to the basic wordpress program and/or the theme.

Once you've got the frame set up - it's stupid easy to add new pages and posts. I've even changed my "frame" myself by adding widgets - and I'm so NOT technical!

It is open source - and sometimes plugins don't play well with others. That's why I like to have a wordpress expert on my team that I can go to when I need someone to help me if things break.

Questions?

[coachdebra]

A website is like a business card: you hand out cards knowing that a lot of them will not be looked at, but there's always that one person that might follow up and a nice gig might come from it. In other words, you can't afford to show up without them.

I think that's the key point. Exactly where you go with it as far as templated vs highly customized is up for grabs and everyone has to do what works best for them. I would hate to be sitting at the bar at the rally, have someone important ask for a business card, and not have one to give them. And if I gave them one, I'd certainly want to feel comfortable with the web address printed on the card.

Casey

Right - but like a business card - if you don't give it out - it does nothing for your business. It's not enough to have a website - you need to drive traffic to it. IRL networking can be one way. SEO, social media and blogging is another.

[DesireInspires]

Have any of you guys ever considered using an outsourcing service to build a website for you?

[eeoo]

Ah, it's becoming more clear. Thank you so much Debra for taking the time, much appreciated and nice job with the layman's terms!
Cheers!

eo

[coachdebra]

Ah, it's becoming more clear. Thank you so much Debra for taking the time, much appreciated and nice job with the layman's terms!
Cheers!

eo

You are welcome! I am a layman! At least when it comes to things technical like web design - which is my point - if I can figure this stuff out....

[mojobone]

Wordpress (.org NOT .com)

Good catch; 'dot org' is the address for the open source community, the dotcom site is for WP products. You can log into your account from either, if you're of the sort that doesn't bother building keyboard macros for common tasks.

[kclements]

Just to be clear:

Wordpress.org allows you to download the Wordpress software and run it on your own site/server. You have to set it up and install the software and the themes and such. You are also tasked to keep it up to date and running. This is the option I use. It really isn't that difficult to set-up and learn to use. It just takes time, initially, and also you have to check it for updates now and again, or you could run into problems. Again, it isn't difficult to do, just takes time. Using Wordpress software on your own site/server is free with no ads. You just pay for the hosting - mine includes email as well.

Wordpress.com is a hosted site, like HostBaby. It supplies you with the templates to set up your blog/site for free. But you pay for things like removing ads, custom domains(using www.mygreatmusic.com instead of www.wordpress.com/mygreatmusic.htm) and such. The benefits of this method is they do all the updates and keep your software up to date. The downside is you pay a la carte for what you need.

So really, both may be a wash - either you pay a company to host your site and you install the software and maintain it, or you pay Wordpress.com to not show ads and allow custom domains...

Either way, I think Wordpress is a great solution. I started this thread thinking it may be too much for my needs. But after reading your thoughts, I'm thinking I will stick with what I have.

Cheers
kc

[jimmymio]

For further clarification, Coach D said in a recent newsletter:

"Just to be clear - Wordpress.org is a platform or a program that you upload to your webhost. It is NOT a webhost or alternate template site like hostbaby - I am recommending against ALL template sites. WordPress (the platform) determines how your website operates. Your web host would determine the file space and so forth. I've been really happy with Hostgator (affiliate link in the post).
Wordpress.com is a free blogging site and I have the same problem with that as with all the other options I mention in the article.
Uploading pictures is really easy. Playing audio files and video files generally requires a plugin of some kind. The Wordpress.org forum is a great place for getting tips about these kinds of questions."

JP

[kclements]

Here's a new design using Flavors.me

Pretty clean, basic, just about the music.


http://flavors.me/kclements#_

Cheers -
kc