Creating a Web Site with WordPress, part 1, Introduction

Really, I need my own personal website?

Isn't it enough that I have my pages on my company site, plus that profile on (Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com...), my Facebook page, and my blog? No, it's not! Consider these possibilities. What if you change companies? What if that outside site that is working so well for you now goes under, or changes dramatically? What if a site comes along in a couple of years that does to Facebook what Facebook did to MySpace? Your own personal site can be the center of all of your other online marketing efforts, and will be the site that you can consistently market without fear of obsolescence.

As we enter 2012, there is no excuse not to have your own self-hosted website, especially since it is so inexpensive and easy to do using WordPress, and I am going to show you how.

I can do it myself? Isn't it expensive? And don't you need to know HTML and CSS coding?

I've been making websites since 1997, and definitely remember when it was a major undertaking. Whether it was hand-coding in HTML, or learning a software program like FrontPage or DreamWeaver, it was daunting to learn everything necessary to set up even a basic site. WordPress, however, is very user-friendly, and doesn't require any knowledge of programming or coding to get started.

What do I need to set up a website with WordPress?

You actually need very little to get your website started. You'll need a domain name. Currently $11.99 per year, per name from GoDaddy. And you'll need a web hosting account. Currently $7.96 per month for an unlimited hosting package from HostGator.

What should I expect in this series?

The first few posts will be written articles on:
Choosing and registering a domain name with a registrar like GoDaddy or NameCheap.
Getting a web hosting account with a web host like HostGator.
Choosing a WordPress theme from a publisher like StudioPress or ThemeTrust.
After this, the posts will largely be video screencasts showing you how to set up and create your website in WordPress, making posts and pages, and adding features with plugins.

So, without further delay...

What is WordPress?

WordPress began as a platform for blogging, but has evolved into a full Content Management System (CMS), which can be used to create a fully functional website. Best of all, it is an Open Source project, and free for anyone to use. With most web hosts, you don't even have to download the software. It comes with your hosting account, and can be activated with just a few clicks.

 WordPress.com or WordPress.org?

The first place people typically get confused when beginning to look into WordPress is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, both of which use WordPress. WordPress.com is a free platform for blogging, and very useful for that. For our purposes, however, we will be using the "self hosted" version of WordPress, from WordPress.org. This is the version that will give us full control over the set up of our website, allowing us to use any theme and design we wish, and to extend the functionality of our site with add-ons (plugins).

Next time, Choosing a Domain Name...