Using WordPress to Build a Website and/or Blog

WordPress is a website building system originally designed for building web blogs. For those of you new to web building, a blog (web log) is simply a website with the content arranged chronologically (like a diary).

Although originally designed for bloggers it is a very powerful platform for building standard websites.

By a standard website, I mean a site arranged hierarchically around content themes in very much the same fashion as a book is organised into chapters.

By simple control panel changes WordPress can be setup as either:

• A standard blog
• A standard website
• A website plus blog

Basic Features

WordPress was designed for content publishers rather than web designers, and as such it is far easier to create/publish new content with WordPress than with conventional web building tools like DreamWeaver or FrontPage.

If you are looking to build a professional easy to manage website then you may want to consider using WordPress as your platform.

WordPress offers many advantages when compared to the traditional such as:

• Open Source (free)
• Easy to Use- Ideal for beginners and the not so technically minded
• Built in Easy To Use Visual Editor
• Hundreds of free professional templates
• Templates are easily customised
• Content and Layout are completely separated
• Content creation and management done using a web browser
• Look and feel easy to change.
• Easy to add extra functionality like voting, contact forms, sitemaps using plugins.
• Uses PHP and MYSQL which are supported on almost all web hosts.
• etc...

The video below will give you a quick overview on WordPress and why I recommend you consider it for your website platform.

Building versus Design

Many new site builders are put off by the idea of designing a website. However the truth is that you can build a very professional website with no design skills at all, as WordPress comes with ready made professionally designed templates.

You simply need to select one to use. This leaves you free to concentrate on building your site by creating content.

What You will Need

You don't need any web editing software like Dreamweaver all you need is a web host that supports PHP and MYSQL (almost all do). The ones I use to host my WordPress sites are:

• One and one -UK
• Blue Host - USA based

WordPress Course for Beginners

To help you get started I've put together an introductory WordPress training course  that takes you through the basics.

• How to Build a Wedding Website with WordPress -Case Study