| The biggest problem facing most people is that they | | | | was adding. |
| aren't HTMLwizards, capable of churning out websites | | | | Wordpress boasts of their famous "5 Minute Install", |
| as fast as they cantype. When it comes to putting up | | | | and fromexperience, I'd have to say that they aren't |
| a website, the 'geeks'definitely have an advantage. | | | | far off the mark atall. That is, of course, once you've |
| How can we overcome that? | | | | done it a few times. If youknow how to create a |
| The key is to remember that structure and | | | | MySQL database, and know how to FTP files,and |
| presentation are twodifferent things. Now, I realize I just | | | | CHMOD them - then you should have no problems |
| spoke Greek... | | | | meeting orbeating that 5 minute time! |
| 'Structure' is the underlying foundation of a website - | | | | Now - some of the advantages: Wordpress comes |
| the 'glue'that holds it all together and performs | | | | out of the box asfairly good in the SEO department - |
| whatever functions you mayrequire. | | | | and the few holes can bequickly patched with a few |
| 'Presentation', on the other hand, is what the website | | | | SEO plugins. In the Blogging Softwareworld - plugins |
| actuallylooks like. Smart website programmers attempt | | | | are just bits of code that you upload to a |
| as much aspossible to separate the foundation of their | | | | specialdirectory - 'turn them on', and they begin to add |
| website from thepresentation of the content contained | | | | some new ordifferent feature or functionality to your |
| on their website. The waysto do this are beyond this | | | | basic website. |
| short article - but you can look up | | | | In other words - no need to learn HTML, or, in this |
| 'CSS' should you be interested. | | | | case, PHP -since any feature or function you can think |
| Some people turn to 'turnkey' website templates, but | | | | of has already beendesired and programmed by |
| there are twomajor problems... unless you know HTML, | | | | someone else. All you need to dois to search Google |
| you can't modify what youstart with, and chances are, | | | | for the Wordpress plugin you want. |
| it's going to look like a fewthousand other sites. (Of | | | | Another advantage for using Blogging software - |
| course, with the size of the Internet -that's not the | | | | Search enginesseem to treat 'em differently. I was |
| problem that it might first appear.) Being unableto | | | | used to waiting weeks andmonths for my hand-coded |
| modify a 'turnkey' template to do what you want is a | | | | websites to be indexed after submittingthem. But due |
| majorproblem for those who aren't HTML literate. | | | | to the time-sensitive nature of Blogs - searchengines |
| So is there a solution to allow non-geeks to put up a | | | | seem to put blogs ahead of ordinary websites. Maybe |
| websitefairly quickly? | | | | it'sjust my imagination - but Google had my last |
| Well, yes and no. For even the method I'm going to | | | | Wordpress drivenwebsite indexed the same day - and |
| describe willrequire that you know how to FTP | | | | I started getting traffic from |
| software to a web host - and howto 'CHMOD' files. | | | | Google within the next few days. |
| Knowing how to create a MySQL database with a | | | | You may wonder if two Wordpress driven websites |
| CPANEL is also a requirement. Fortunately, there's a | | | | might look toosimilar - certainly it's a possibility if they're |
| great dealof instructional material on the Internet for | | | | both using thesame 'theme' - but the chances are |
| these minimumrequirements. | | | | remote. I use a specific |
| Ready for the solution? One that will allow you to put | | | | 'Semiologic' theme for my website - and I've never run |
| up awebsite in a minimum amount of time? It's a | | | | acrossanother website using that theme - although I |
| secret so shockingthat some of you will start banging | | | | know that there mustbe several hundred others out |
| your head ala 'The Three | | | | there. |
| Stooges'. | | | | Since Blogging software is, by default, a "content |
| In a word - Blogging Software. I'm going to detail just | | | | managementsystem", making changes to your |
| one | | | | website is no more difficult thangoing to your website |
| 'brand', but what I say can equally be applied to many | | | | and 'logging in'. Then you merely type newcontent, |
| otherblogging packages. I use 'Wordpress', which is | | | | rearrange the presentation, add new features by |
| one of the largestand most used of the blogging | | | | uploadinga new plugin, etc. I've hand-coded complete |
| packages available. It's alsocompletely free and well | | | | websites, and let metell you, the difference in difficulty |
| supported. New updates seem to appear ona monthly | | | | is like 'night & day'. |
| basis - so you don't ever have to fear for a lack | | | | Keeping up a website run on blogging software is |
| ofsupport. | | | | incredibly easy! |
| What does blogging software such as Wordpress | | | | For the more advanced webmasters - you can easily |
| do? It gives youthe underlying foundation of a website | | | | integrateblogging software with adtrackers, |
| - all you have to do isdefine how you want it to 'look' | | | | autoresponders, and any othersoftware tools you |
| with theme plugins, and type inthe content. I've actually | | | | require. |
| created a complete website in justhalf-a-day, and | | | | Give it a try! |
| most of that time was spent on the actualcontent I | | | | |