How many of you remember your first website? I remember mine. During that time, people were still using Microsoft’s Front Page, or do it yourself sites like GeoCities to create their sites. Everything on a website then was done in HTML. I hadn’t heard of CSS or PHP yet and had barely begun taking Photoshop seriously and had yet to discover how everything fit together.
Seems like ages ago. But like everything else in graphics, learning how to do design with what are now considered old school methods, pave the way for a better understanding of the tools and methods we use today.
When WordPress hit the scene in 2002, people were using it as a blogging platform. Finally, everyone had a means to express their thoughts that didn’t require conventional media. You could voice your opinion on a number of things, you could share your daily life through a “web log” in a public journal.
People also wanted to put their personal stamp on the basic WordPress design. Those who knew how to use HTML code and Photoshop started customizing the look of their sites and before long, WordPress evolved from a simple blog into a unique and useful means of promoting business.
Those who previously needed a webmaster to manage their sites discovered how easy it was to manage their own sites for themselves.
Today, if you take a look at sites on the web, it’s difficult to distinguish who is using WordPress for a content management system (CMS) and who isn’t.
WordPress gave us an easy to use dashboard, where with a few clicks here and there, we could improve the functionality of our sites with plugins, or install a new theme and have a totally different look in a matter of minutes without having to be a coding genius.
This type of expansion is so important to entrepreneurs, who need to have a site that grows with them and their businesses. WordPress gives them the ability to have shopping carts, advertising, forums, interactive forms, downloads, videos and memberships right on their sites.
Got WordPress?
One of the biggest questions we get from clients is “Can you convert my site from HTML to WordPress?” and the answer is “Yes!” Take a look at Legendtales or Ignite! and you’ll see some fine examples of how we took an HTML site and converted it into an easy to use and beautiful new site.
But that’s only part of what we do. Having a WordPress site is all well and good, but that’s only half the battle. You need to know how to use it.
That’s why Wendi and I have created Blue Sun Studio’s WordPress For Beginners. This guide will introduce you to the basics of WordPress and get you started on the path to freedom. You’ll learn how to create posts and pages (and what the difference between the two are!), how to add various media, how to create your navigation menus and so much more.
Are you ready to step up to WordPress and take control of your site? Click here to order your copy today.