I get asked this a lot. What's the best platform to build a website? As a web-designer, I built sites all sorts of ways from html and css to .asp to .php to Worpress to those site editors that come with hosting accounts and more. This site is a custom html/css template built entirely by me, my personal growth site, www.MariaTheMuse.com is a Wordpress site with a custom template, my channeling site, www.Dotheo.org is also a Wordpress site with a free ready-made template and my personal blog www.MariaGetsReal.com is a blogger site.
I did them all different ways because I work with people using so many different platforms that it makes sense to use them myself to stay in the loop. But for most people, especially if you have no web design experience and don't want to take the time and effort to learn coding (and it is a steep learning curve), then I suggest going with your own hosting account with a Wordpress install.
Why? Because it's easy to install, has tons of free themes available (the paid ones really aren't that expensive either), is highly customizable, and pretty easy to learn to update too. Plus you don't have to call a web-designer every time you want to add a page or change a paragraph. Simply log in and do it yourself. Quick and easy.
The other cool thing about Wordpress is that you can set it up either as a blog or a static website. So if you're not into blogging then don't worry. You can still use it just fine.
The difference between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org
This is important so listen up! There are TWO Wordpresses out there. Wordpress.com is a blogging platform, much like Blogger.com. You set up an account and your domain name becomes www.yournam.wordpress.com. I NEVER recommend anyone do this. Why? Three reasons:
- It's not your own platform so you don't have full control over it (you know what a stickler I am for maintaining control over your stuff)
- They don't allow commerce (selling stuff) so you really can't do business with it. Wordpress.com was created as a forum for personal blogs and I've heard that if they catch you selling stuff they'll delete your account. I don't know if this is 100% true or not but still.... not a risk I'd want to take.
- They limit what you can do. I worked with a few clients who had Wordpress.com sites (set up before I came along) and you can't put Paypal buttons on them as well as other things we wanted to add.
So my recommendation is to go with Wordpress.org instead. This is Open Source (which means FREE) software you install on your own hosting account then run from your own server. You have complete control and autonomy to do what you want with it and it's definitely the way to go in my opinion.
How do you get it? Once you have a domain name and hosting plan, which you can set up through my GoDaddy reseller account, all you have to do is install Wordpress through the control panel (I'll post directions for this later) and it will install itself. Literally takes 5 minutes.
Then just pick a theme and start playing around with it. Yes, it really is that simple :)
And if you need help then contact me.
