Wordpress is by far the most popular blogging platform. It’s so powerful and robust, it’s the blog software that can function like a CMS (Content Management System).
There are two ways to “Wordpress”… the free account a wordpress.com or you can install the software on your own hosting account with your own domain name.
If you choose the latter, and you just install the basic Wordpress software (which is free and very, very easy to install) you may be disappointed in the results. After all, you’ve heard how POWERFUL and GREAT Wordpress blogs are, yet… yours doesn’t seem to have the “juice”.
Rather than reinvent the wheel here… here are a essential Wordpress how to posts… including the essential plug ins and tweaks to make your self hosted Wordpress blog soar!
First, the posts which share essential plug ins:
- Gray Wolf offers far and above the “best of” list available in his comprehensive post : SEO plugins for Wordpress
- Design Meme offers 11 Essential Wordpress Plug ins
Plug ins are easy. You upload and activate. Anyone who can install Wordpress can install a plugin. (If you can’t do that… then let me introduce you to Acumen Web Services.) Do this one at a time because sometimes the plug ins don’t play well with each other.
Next we’ll cover the application of a THEME to your blog.
There are TONS of “free” themes floating around out there. Some are well coded, clean and “safe” to use. Others contain hidden spammy links and spyware. Considering that a Wordpress Theme can cost as little as $50… it seems pound wise and penny foolish to opt for a “free” theme that may prove to be VERY expensive in the long run.
- Template Monster offers an ever growing selection of Wordpress Themes.
- Brian Gardner offers the versatile and functional Revolution theme
- Solo Stream offers a truly inspired Magazine Theme
- I Themes offers the versatile Blank Essence Theme
Once you’ve got the proper plug ins installed and your blog is looking good, now it’s time for the final “geeky” finishes.
- Search This: From Install to Pimped Out
Great post for those who want to dig in and really tweak Wordpress for all it’s worth! Even if you’re not technically oriented, this post provides some great ideas for getting the most from Wordpress. The list of of pings alone (the last tweak) is worth the visit!!! - Pierson Field: How to Protect CSS Mods for ANY WordPress Theme
- Moonlight Blog: Offers WordPress Plugin: SimpleTags Modification
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
George Lindemann Jr 03.11.08 at 9:46 pm
This is a very helpful post especially to someone like me who is still deciding what to put on my site. If I am going to make my domain a blog, then I definitely would choose the Wordpress platform.
Theme Lab 03.15.08 at 5:07 pm
Sure, there’s a LOT of free WordPress themes out there. Some sites will take others work, embed malicious code in them and rerelease them. Although just because a “premium” theme costs money, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your due diligence. The ones you mentioned are great, just saying there are bad themes out there, both free and paid.