Putting up own website - where to turn?

[Dogmama]

With any luck, I'm launching my dog training business in 2014. I need a website. I'm fairly computer literate but known little about websites. I'd really like to try to do it myself to keep costs low because I have other fairly substantial start up costs. I have a web hosting service through my local internet company. People are telling me that Wordpress is easy to use and I've poked around their website - seems fairly easy.

In the beginning, I'm keeping it fairly clean. I just want a web presence and a way for people to contact me through the internet. I will eventually want to have the ability to take credit card payments, but that's down the road. I may do a video or two, but again, that's down the road.

Does anybody have any experience or advice?

[thekarens]

No advice, but I wanted to wish you the best of luck!

[tulip]

I use WordPress and Weebly. I find Weebly simpler to use but WordPress is more robust.

[Irulan]

Here are the basic steps:
1.Register your domain name. This is like $12/year.

2. Get a web hosting plan. - oh, looks like you have that.
3. Start building the site with WordPress or similar. Godaddy has a service that integrates with Wordpress so you get started right away. I've hand coded sites way back when, and for the new technology Wordpress is pretty simple. Wordpress is interactive software that you install on your computer, than is linked with whatever server/hosting you use.

-Even though WordPress is known as blogging software, it's great for just regular sites, too.
-You will need to download Wordpress onto your computer if that's the way you decide to go.
-I'd opt to pay for hosting. You can have a free blog/website at Wordpress but it comes with ads.

There is a ton of help out there in terms of tutorials, videos, etc. I found that any time I couldnt figure out how to do something I would just google it and find the answer somewhere.

[Catrin]

Back when I had a book indexing business on the side I used Wordpress and liked it just fine. I didn't even use the interactive software they provide, just used their free online editing/templates. I didn't have ads, and I may have paid a small amount for that, it's been a few years and I've forgotten if I did.

Good luck and have fun!

[Dogmama]

Irulan, thanks, that is what I needed to know. I bought a domain name at Godaddy (The Well-Mannered Dog)and will be talking to my web host service after the new year. I don't want ads - with my luck there would be Petsmart ads on my page:rolleyes:.

One thing I'm not clear on - can I download wordpress, start to work on it and then upload it to my web hosting service?

[shootingstar]

I love your domain name, dogmama!

Just make sure your web host service already hosts wordpress.org blogs and ask them for their customer links. The free one is on wordpress.com on Wordpress company servers....

I have used both versions. What wordpress.com version does is to make sure its core/new features work..before they take to .org version.

I have used both versions. There is inherently some strong advantages using wordpress.com ...for free to try out. It doesn't hurt to try your own personal blog separate from your business.

[Irulan]

Irulan, thanks, that is what I needed to know. I bought a domain name at Godaddy (The Well-Mannered Dog)and will be talking to my web host service after the new year. I don't want ads - with my luck there would be Petsmart ads on my page:rolleyes:.

One thing I'm not clear on - can I download wordpress, start to work on it and then upload it to my web hosting service?
Shootingstar is right in that you have to make sure your host is set up for WP.

As for working ahead, I'm not sure. It does help to be organized ahead of time. You can have a lot of your text ready, your images ready to go, an organizational structure in mind. It doesn't have to be complicated, but you should have a plan.

One thing that is cool about Wordpress is that there is a lot of built in options. For example, there is a "contact" form that is easy to set up so people can contact you by email. Social media integration is done with a click of the button.

This link will get you started. http://wordpress.org/
One thing to do first is to surf the themes. These are predesigned layouts that determine the look of your site. You can change colors, fonts, images and placement. There are lots an lots of them, generally sorted out by category such as e-tail site, blog, media rich and so on. http://wordpress.org/themes/

To give you an idea, when I was doing my mom's blog, I looked at three themes Chateau (http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/chateau/), Tiny Forge (http://wordpress.org/themes/tiny-forge) andTwentyTwelve (http://wordpress.org/themes/twentytwelve)

I ended up chosing the Chateau theme to play with, and this is what I did with it
http://hadditt.com/

[ridebikeme]

I'm in the same situation here and appreciate the post and info everyone! Of course, this all rather sounds easy with all of YOU talking about it HA!!

[Irulan]

I'm pretty new to WP, but some of our TEs have been using it a long time. When I redid my business site, (hand coded in the 90's) my nephew switched it over to WP and then tutored me it it. I then did my mom's site on my own. There is a lot of help and how to out there on the web, but I'm happy to pass on what I know, which is like 1% of what you can do with it. And I'll go on for hours if no one else chimes in...I think the hardest part is knowing where to start and then what steps to do in what order....

[shootingstar]

Dogmama:

For your own sanity, since same Wordpress.com themes often are also found on wordpress.org, you could spend time targeted on a 2-3 choice theme templates. "Theme" is just a type of template design for organizing your blog content. Wordpress.com has over 200 themes, some which are 1-time fee-base. I've used free ones and they are just as good if the theme meets key minimal features for your needs.

I've used Twenty Twelve for: http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com
http://www.velo-city2012blog.com/ Which is blog is actually on self-hosted company server that uses wordpress.org plug-ins. Same Twenty Twelve features.

My partner uses Triton Lite for: http://velourbanismblog.wordpress.com/
Another blog for a non-profit organization which uses Expound: http://www.cyclotouringbc.com/wordpress/

All of above chosen themes per blog, are free wordpress.com themes. Yes I do have some widgets (those little functional information displays and information tools on left, right hand or bottom of any blog) which look fancy, but some are automated or freebies I've found.


Some, not all the wordpress theme templates offers a features photo custom header banner slider. Themes here: http://theme.wordpress.com/ Make sure you click for drop-down "Find a Theme" menu button at top of linked page to do a general search.

For wordpress.com just to understand key areas to customize: http://en.support.wordpress.com/customize-my-site/

Anyway, once you get rolling, you will like it (assuming you naturally like writing about stuff that you passionately believe in.).

For others who wonder how on earth people can spend time on fashioning a blog post: my response- Well knitting, crocheting or sewing a garment takes a lot of time too! So does creating 1 painting or sculpture. Or if you become proficient and focus on right stuff, yea some people do a blog post in 1 hr. or less..but it may be simple post. I could NEVER blog on a iphone but the ability to use Wordpress to do it, is possible and some people do.

[shootingstar]

Here's a rather simple way to be guided/prompted by a wordpress article series to get started or to give you clues how to focus on certain features for a blog (aka website) start-up:
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/zero-to-hero-intro/

[Dogmama]

I'm pretty new to WP, but some of our TEs have been using it a long time. When I redid my business site, (hand coded in the 90's) my nephew switched it over to WP and then tutored me it it. I then did my mom's site on my own. There is a lot of help and how to out there on the web, but I'm happy to pass on what I know, which is like 1% of what you can do with it. And I'll go on for hours if no one else chimes in...I think the hardest part is knowing where to start and then what steps to do in what order....

That's what I need so appreciate the help!!!

My computer techie suggested WP, so that's where I found out about it. I also saw on Amazon where you can "borrow" a book in Kindle on WP with Prime membership (which I have.) First thing though is to make sure my web host accepts WP.

[Wahine]

I'm in the same boat here. I just purchased my domain name from Go Daddy. Has anyone here used them for hosting? Comments?

[Irulan]

I've been using them for many years and have had no problems. Tech support is very good. I find the website very difficult to navigate. The prices seem reasonable to me, but they are always trying to upsell me. I just ignore that part I know some people don't like them becasue of sexism issues, but I don't know about that. Plus, I'm so locked in with all my various hosting plans on multiyear programs, now is not the time for me to shop for something new.
I use them for domain registration, hosting two websites, and a blog. I run all my email through them on my personal domains.

[Dogmama]

I will be using a local ISP that I've had for email for a very long time. I like the fact that they're local (I can actually go to their office!). They are extremely helpful in all matters. For example, they helped me set up my modem and get my internet working when I could get NO help from the phone company. I send them an email and receive a response in one hour. If you have any option like that, I'd highly recommend it. They really seem to care.

[Irulan]

I will be using a local ISP that I've had for email for a very long time. I like the fact that they're local (I can actually go to their office!). They are extremely helpful in all matters. For example, they helped me set up my modem and get my internet working when I could get NO help from the phone company. I send them an email and receive a response in one hour. If you have any option like that, I'd highly recommend it. They really seem to care.

That works, too! You can have domain registered at one place, and host at another.
For Wordpress though, it requires certain types of software based servers so you must make sure they are set up for that.

[Wahine]

Thanks Irulan!

I got some input from a friend yesterday, he does website management for a few people and he recommended godaddy and Wordpress as the way to go. He also recommended that I sign up for lynda.com for their video tutorials on all things computer-y. But that's another $25 per month. I think I'll try without first and see how I do.

I'm going to take the plunge this weekend and see what I can make happen.

[Wahine]

So, I started looking at themes on Wordpress and I feel like I have no clue what the heck. I need a Wordpress jargon 101 class or something. I'm sure I'll figure it out but I hate this stage of learning when it all seems like gobbleteegook.

[tulip]

So, I started looking at themes on Wordpress and I feel like I have no clue what the heck. I need a Wordpress jargon 101 class or something. I'm sure I'll figure it out but I hate this stage of learning when it all seems like gobbleteegook.

I find WordPress to be way more than I need, and the help sections aren't that helpful since they assume you know something about coding, which I have no interest in. I manage one website with Weebly and one with Wordpress, and frankly, the Weebly one is so much easier.

[Veronica]

We use Wordpress and GoDaddy. Thom could probably give you some advice since he set ours up. I don't find it difficult to post, when I bother to post. :p

Veronica

[Irulan]

So, I started looking at themes on Wordpress and I feel like I have no clue what the heck. I need a Wordpress jargon 101 class or something. I'm sure I'll figure it out but I hate this stage of learning when it all seems like gobbleteegook.

There are good non-Wordpress sites for help out there, lots of them. I think I found a glossary that helped me sort out all the lingo. Plug-in vs widget and so on.

[Wahine]

There are good non-Wordpress sites for help out there, lots of them. I think I found a glossary that helped me sort out all the lingo. Plug-in vs widget and so on.

I signed up for lynda.com as my web dude friend suggested. It's $25/month for unlimited educational video access on every computer topic you can imagine. You can turn off the monthly access and not pay as desired. So far I've already gotten my moneys worth in 90 min of cruising the site this morning. It's perfect for someone like me who has the ability to learn this stuff but is really starting from scratch.

Unfortunately, part of what I've learned so far is that I will likely have to upgrade from Windows XP to at least windows 7 to do the stuff I want to on my home computer first before publishing my site to the web. That means learning a bunch of new computery stuff. Well, I needed an excuse to clean up my computer anyway.

[smilingcat]

Getting support on XP is going to get progressively more difficult. Better off just migrating over to win7. If you have problems with managing your web site or access via FTP, you will have better support on a win7 machine than on XP.

Save yourself from grief and save time by migrating over to win7.

And one thing about godaddy. Be careful!! They like to tack things on and extend your contract to 5 years without your explicit authorization. Really into upsell!! They like to pull the trigger on implied authorization so pay attention to your credit card billing and elsewhere. They are fairly responsive in straightening out your order so don't let it slide.

That was my experience with them years ago.

[Wahine]

Getting support on XP is going to get progressively more difficult. Better off just migrating over to win7. If you have problems with managing your web site or access via FTP, you will have better support on a win7 machine than on XP.

Save yourself from grief and save time by migrating over to win7.

And one thing about godaddy. Be careful!! They like to tack things on and extend your contract to 5 years without your explicit authorization. Really into upsell!! They like to pull the trigger on implied authorization so pay attention to your credit card billing and elsewhere. They are fairly responsive in straightening out your order so don't let it slide.

That was my experience with them years ago.

Migrating to windows 7 is the plan. Thanks for all the input smilingcat.

[Irulan]

Getting support on XP is going to get progressively more difficult. Better off just migrating over to win7. If you have problems with managing your web site or access via FTP, you will have better support on a win7 machine than on XP.

Save yourself from grief and save time by migrating over to win7.

And one thing about godaddy. Be careful!! They like to tack things on and extend your contract to 5 years without your explicit authorization. Really into upsell!! They like to pull the trigger on implied authorization so pay attention to your credit card billing and elsewhere. They are fairly responsive in straightening out your order so don't let it slide.

That was my experience with them years ago.

Well, that's not my experience. Ever. Never had an account problem with them. I've hosted up to five websites and domains with them and nothing auto renews unless I've set it up that way. I've been with them for about ten years. Now if you forget, or aren't paying attention, that's a personal problem and not them doing things with out authorization. They are always trying too sell me additional months, I do agree with that. I do pay attention to that, heck yeah- if I can save $75 on a two year contract sure I'll renew now.

Plus I'm pretty sure it's illegal to charge things that aren't authorized, so pay attention to what you are signing up for.

[shootingstar]

THis is for anyone reading who still would like to blog but wants to start off cheaply for "free" and especially if they just want a personal blog. or would like to have a blog for a non-profit organization.

If you have bought your own domain, you can still use the free Wordpress.com. If you don't buy your own blog wordpress.com domain, then the address will have wordpress embedded: http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com


Here's a recent article written why this expert blogger still chooses .com for her personal blogs. http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2013/10/30/7-reasons-why-i-like-wordpress-com-hosting/ The blogger is a lead volunteer support person for the last few years on the wordpress.com support forums.

I have used both .org (self-hosted blogs) and .com versions (on wordpress.com host servers) of wordpress. There are key features in .com that would satisfy most bloggers for their personal needs and for one-person businesses that just needs a simple blog-website..if their own little business.

Previously I did not design any website but my career has required that I configure and roll out databases enterprise-wide over a network. I am not at the developer level but more of a super user that has designed screen and output reports, some simple coding for report design and only using corporate IT expertise when things break down or ensure I stay within corporate wide technical configurations.

Unless you buy CSS-on to customize .com blog, the "coding" in a wordpress.com is not that much/very little to know/write. Writing and posting a blog post with photos..is actually just a little more than posting....to TE forums. :) http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/publish-your-first-post/

Look: this guy knits teddy bears as his own little business. His blog-website is truly on wordpress.com He began with not much: http://madmanknitting.wordpress.com He was profiled by wordpress.com and received hundreds of thousands of readers...his beginnings makes an interesting story.

[ny biker]

So a relative who is recently out of college needs to set up a website as part of his job-search efforts, and I've been asked to help. I can code but am not a designer or graphics person. I do a quick search for open source website software... WordPress looks interesting ... I think some TE folks have used WordPress, let me do a quick search.......

Seriously I think we have discussed pretty much everything on this forum, and it is so useful. You all are wonderful.

[shootingstar]

ny biker, my link goes to my blog in my signature in this forum. Wordpress.com has some free templates that mimic a simple website very easily. He should have something visual in terms of his byline, a graphic, etc.

[isetann]

just use wordpress or wix

[ny biker]

I ended up using Wix because it seemed easier to get something up and running quickly. It was pretty easy to modify one of their templates, though things didn't look quite right on smaller devices.

Since then I have played around a bit with Wordpress and plan to learn more about development with it.

[JJessie]

Good idea about choosing Wix. I used to have a few sites on Wix and one on Wordpress. Though I ended up with one WP website. Actually, both platforms are easy to modify, but Wordpress is a bit more versatile and offers more independence.

[Noah2141]

Good idea about choosing Wix. I used to have a few sites on Wix and one on Wordpress. Though I ended up with one WP website. Actually, both platforms are easy to modify, but Wordpress is a bit more versatile and offers more independence.

Yeah, and Wordpress is more flexible and contains lots of useful plugins. You should be good at SEO analysis as well.