WP Tavern › Forums › Create Topic
Cathy Larkin Since my first WordPress site in 2008, I think WP has gotten much easier. You no longer need to FTP your theme files or plugins, and WordPress & some 3rd-party themes have made many things easier. And I agree that the WordPress codex has loads of info for the DIYer, but it’s intimidating to most. Contextual help has helped a lot. But for many setting up a WordPress site from scratch can still be a challenge, but the results I have seen – moving a site from Blogger to WP or from HTML to WP…the results in look and feel and in traffic increases can be stunning. I use a similar, but extended analogy to describe WordPress. I use the analogy of WordPress being the free software that runs your website – it’s like the car’s engine. The Theme is like the make and model of the car – the look and feel of the website. Plugins are like a car’s options – things you choose that make the website/car run and look better. Although I also like the analogy above of plugins and widgets as apps that add functionality. For larger sites full customization makes sense. For the most basic of blogs – Wordpress’s own three free themes (2010, 2012, & 2013) often make the most sense – they are simple and work pretty well out of the box. But for most smaller, simpler small business websites or blogs, a less than $100 premium theme often is the best choice. It actually often simplifies the process, and most often has security, basic SEO and a few other things built-in already. Something like Studio Press & the Genesis Framework with a child theme, or Woo Themes (there are others we could debate). I know mentioning premium themes and favs may start another whole controversy here, but I like setting up my customers with a theme I am confident will keep pace with Wordpress’s changes. Too many free themes leave clients left behind with an older, stagnant site, unable to take advantages of new features and updates. I agree with Bob S. above, until WordPress includes a how to step-by-step tutorial, that shows up on the dashboard when you start a new site (and they are getting close). We need to step up and teach our customers what they need to know. It’s easy to vet a plugin before use (check details, reviews, # downloads, recent updates, vetted for your version of WP) – do a search engine search for best plugins to do “X” etc. Teach them about site back ups & basic SEO. Make them as self-sufficient as possible is my mantra
Cathy Larkin
Since my first WordPress site in 2008, I think WP has gotten much easier. You no longer need to FTP your theme files or plugins, and WordPress & some 3rd-party themes have made many things easier. And I agree that the WordPress codex has loads of info for the DIYer, but it’s intimidating to most. Contextual help has helped a lot. But for many setting up a WordPress site from scratch can still be a challenge, but the results I have seen – moving a site from Blogger to WP or from HTML to WP…the results in look and feel and in traffic increases can be stunning.
I use a similar, but extended analogy to describe WordPress.
I use the analogy of WordPress being the free software that runs your website – it’s like the car’s engine. The Theme is like the make and model of the car – the look and feel of the website. Plugins are like a car’s options – things you choose that make the website/car run and look better. Although I also like the analogy above of plugins and widgets as apps that add functionality.
For larger sites full customization makes sense. For the most basic of blogs – Wordpress’s own three free themes (2010, 2012, & 2013) often make the most sense – they are simple and work pretty well out of the box. But for most smaller, simpler small business websites or blogs, a less than $100 premium theme often is the best choice. It actually often simplifies the process, and most often has security, basic SEO and a few other things built-in already. Something like Studio Press & the Genesis Framework with a child theme, or Woo Themes (there are others we could debate).
I know mentioning premium themes and favs may start another whole controversy here, but I like setting up my customers with a theme I am confident will keep pace with Wordpress’s changes. Too many free themes leave clients left behind with an older, stagnant site, unable to take advantages of new features and updates.
I agree with Bob S. above, until WordPress includes a how to step-by-step tutorial, that shows up on the dashboard when you start a new site (and they are getting close). We need to step up and teach our customers what they need to know. It’s easy to vet a plugin before use (check details, reviews, # downloads, recent updates, vetted for your version of WP) – do a search engine search for best plugins to do “X” etc. Teach them about site back ups & basic SEO. Make them as self-sufficient as possible is my mantra
Name *
Email *
Website:
Topic Title (Maximum Length: 80):
Forum: — No forum —AI and WordPress Articles Blocks Showcase Discussions Events Introductions Jobs and Working in WordPress Podcast Episodes Site and Block Editor
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Email Address
Submit
Enter the destination URL
Or link to existing content
