My First Websites

wordpresslogo I first started creating websites about 7 years ago. The first website I designed using Microsoft Front Page. It was for my small business so I just wanted to have a web presence, nothing fancy. I found the function of Front Page to be cumbersome and never really figured it out. I got the site to a point that I uploaded it onto the host and left it for about a year. Within that year I tried to create a few more sites but got frustrated with Front Page. It just never seemed to do exactly what I wanted it to do. Trying to figure out all the little buttons and toggles just became a big hassle.

My next attempt was after learning some HTML and CSS. I figured after my Front Page experience I just needed to get to the bottom of the code and figure it out. The next site went very well and turned out great. With my new found skills I realized how easy it was to create the page the way I wanted it to look. I created a cool landing page that was a gateway page to the site. The main page and the category pages and even added a photo section. It was pretty cool. The problem was anytime I thought about updating my site it was a bit of a burden. I would have to create this document and do all the linking and then get into the main page and add links to get to the page. It was time consuming and tedious.

Hello Wordpress – Who Are You?

When I was first introduced to wordpress, I knew nothing about it. I took an online class that taught you how to build an affiliate site using wordpress.  Little did I know it was going to revolutionize my online business, but also my offline business and open many doors that previously I did not know where even there.  After learning some of the behind the scenes menus and procedures that makes wordpress sizzle I was off and running. I could not believe how easy it was and how much you could do with it. Not only was it easy to use but there were countless themes all ready for you to load onto the site and you instantly had a website. I have timed it. I can now choose a name, register the name with my host, install wordpress on the site and upload a theme and my foundation plugins and have the site up a running in about 45 minutes. There is still some work to do after that but you can own the name and have a web presence in that amount of time. Unbelievable!!!  I have created a quick wordpress tutorial to help you get a wordpress site up and running.  It is a brief tutorial – if you have questions – post a comment and I will be glad to assist you.

Now the tutorial is about setting up your own site using wordpress as the basis of the site, one you have through a hose and register the domain.  You can experience wordpress immediately and set up a blog through.  There are two sites for wordpress.  Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org.  At wordpress.com you create an account and set up a blog much like you do at Google eblogger.  It gives you an immediate blog site but you are limited to design and other elements of the overall –  own your own site experience.

The greatest thing is how incredibly easy it is to update the site. You can add pages or posts at will, especially if you use windows live writer.  This is a must have tool to help you manage multiple sites, its free and easy to use. Updating your site regularly allows you to keep your site current and if anything pops up that needs to be added quickly – no problem. Adding links is crazy easy, pictures and video, the same way. You can find plugins for practically anything you can think of from twitter to CNN. Another feature to add cool functions is called widgets. They are like mini plug-ins that allow you to activate some plugins or other features you want to add to your sidebar. There is also a great benefit in using wordpress when it comes to search engine optimization which is vital to getting your content articles and site ranked in the google searches and other searches. The internal filing system of wordpress is an archiving tool that helps you keep your articles organized. You can turn on a widget and display your articles in a number of different sortings to make it easy for your visitors to find their way around your site.

Its Not Just A Blog Anymore

Originally Wordpress was a blogging platform but there have been more and more applications utilizing wordpress for affiliate sites and as the platform for company websites. I have actually tied the wordpress platform together with my existing website that I have had for years. I can post articles at will or update the site with video or pictures that we have shot that day to explain some details or ideas that need to be delivered immediately to our clients.

Another great thing about the themes of wordpress is if you know a little code you can make the changes necessary to set the site up exactly the way you want it. You can add your own header and restructure the headings and sidebars to achieve the results you are looking for. The files that make up the wordpress themes are all basically the same so after you become familiar with the structure of files its easy to find what you need to make the changes you want.

The bottom line is I have been very impressed with wordpress and am excited about all the possibilities.  I have changed my sites over to wordpress and have experienced exceptional increases in traffic and responses to the way my sites look.  If you are contemplating building a site, I suggest you check out wordpress as your foundation, you’ll be glad you did. 

 

Todd Wilson

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