What is WordPress and Why is it Awesome?

WordPress is an easy to use CMS (Content Management System) that allows the client to upload and change the content of their website without having to go through a web designer/developer.

When a person gets on the internet, they click here, there, and everywhere and go wherever they want, without knowing how the engine of the web works. An average internet user can browse happily without needing to know what’s going on under the hood of the net. But when a website needs changing or updating, the client usually has to go through a designer/developer (someone who knows how the engine of the website works), to get things done.

WordPress still abides by the rules of PHP, HTML, and CSS, but unlike a static website, WordPress allows the client/website owner or administrator to update and add content to their own site without needing to know all that technical gobbledegook. And that’s pretty awesome.

How do you do it?

WordPress has a backend interface that allows an administrator to change just about anything on the site. And you can do it from anywhere so long as you have access to the internet. You can easily add photo galleries, video, audio, upload PDFs, add links, add or delete pages, manage a blog, and so on. You’ll need some training on how to manage the site, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty simple.

What greets you when you're ready to login

But wait, there’s more.

WordPress is a huge platform, with nearly endless possibilities. Here are some of the added benefits of a WordPress site:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO). WordPress is a blogging platform, which means that search engine robots like Google and Yahoo! crawl through the site more frequently searching for new content, bumping up your search engine rankings.
  

  See how your site is performing day to day.

  There are different plugins that can be installed to your WordPress site that allow you to see which pages of your site are getting the most hits, who’s looking at them, when they’re looking at them, how they’ve found your site, what search terms they used to find your site, and how they were referred to your site. Yeah, that’s pretty sweet. You’ll be able to see how effective your web site is using your eyes, no technical mumbo jumbo required.

• Blogging. If you’re a business with special offers, events, or you want to have conversations with your clients or customers, a blog is the perfect way to reach them. It shows your more personal side, shows you know your business, and has the added benefit of bumping up your search rankings even more.
• It can be customized. You don’t have to use a standard theme, but have a custom designed template, so your WordPress site looks uniquely tailored (see below).

What does a WordPress site look like?

I just moved True Northe (this site) over to WordPress, after being on a static HTML site for years. The site doesn’t look any different. A WordPress site, when designed and coded by someone who knows what they’re doing, doesn’t have to look like a template theme. It can be custom designed.

Is WordPress for you?

If you’re interested in maintaining your own website, making frequent changes, adding more multimedia, or bumping up your search rankings, then absolutely, WordPress is for you. Having a WordPress site requires you to be trained on how to use it, though. If you’re willing to learn some simple basics in web development (the equivalent of checking the oil level in your car) then you can learn how to operate WordPress.

If, however, you’re not ready to run the website yourself, that’s okay. I can still make the changes for you until you’re ready to take over, or even if you want me to maintain it indefinitely.

And if you get stuck, I’m always just an email away.

What this blog post looked like pre-published. Looks pretty simple, doesn't it?

Do I have to have a WordPress site?

Of course not. But a custom HTML static site will take longer to build, and doesn’t have the benefits in ranking that a WordPress site does.

I already have a site design that I’m happy with, but want a WordPress site. Can I still have one?

Yes. We can move your current site over to WordPress and still keep the current design. Your customers and clients will not notice the difference. If you’re site was designed a few years ago, it may be a good idea to freshen up the design a bit. Let’s discuss.

This sounds great. How do I get started?

Shoot me an email using the Contact form, and please send me the current web address for your site, and we can discuss the process and price in more detail. If I’ve already designed your website and you just want to convert it to WordPress, pricing begins at $400 (depends on how large the site is). A new design + WordPress build begins at $1200.

Hmmm…seems steep. Isn’t that a lot of money?

When you surf the internet, it just works, doesn’t it? You don’t know how it works, just that it does. As a designer/developer, I’ve taken the time to learn how a website functions so you don’t have to. In addition, I can make your website look spiffy and set you apart from the competition. You can probably find a designer/developer who charges less, but what kind of quality are you getting? A website pays for itself pretty quickly, especially when you consider how much advertising in the phonebook costs (which is a bit outdated, depending on who you talk to).

Remember, you can add and delete pages, add photos, video, audio, see your stats, maintain a blog and interact with your customer/client base all without having to pick up the phone or email your designer/developer (me). You can blog in the middle of the night, or make changes on Christmas if you want, without needing me. Sure, I’ll miss talking to you, but doesn’t that kind of independence sound nice?

Yeah, yeah, but what’s the catch?

Depending on your level of web knowledge, I may ask that you steer clear of certain areas of WordPress, particularly the area that says “Appearance.” That section controls the design and functionality of the website. If you go into the “Editor” section and try to make changes, you could break the website. If you’re not a mechanic and you pop the hood of your car and start pulling out random wires, you’ll have engine trouble or your car won’t start. Same thing with a website. Don’t mess with the website’s guts.

If you want to add something and you’re not sure how, don’t guess. Ask me, and I can help you out. Standard charges will apply to inquiries following a WordPress training.

Best not to go here until you're ready.

Have any more questions? Leave a comment below and I’ll get an answer to you as soon as I can. If you’re interested in a quote, please contact me so we can get started.