Wordpress for beginners

Wordpress.org, not wordpress.com. Same platform but they are customizing the code to use wordpress as a content management system.

Look at WorldVillage.com, I coded that site using wordpress as a base.

Hi, jboogie

I remember being confused about Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org when I first started out, too.

I asked a question in the wrong forum (I think I asked about the self-hosted version in the dot-com forum and got some idiot "Moderator" talking to me like I was a kid whose mummy had feed me whiskey in the womb).

So...

1. Mac means nothing in this discussion in terms of having a website on the interwebs. To do this, you have to "host" all your files on a server. That's what companies like Hostgator, BlueHost, etc. do; they rent you space on their servers so you can put up a website, upload images and videos, etc.

2. Wordpress.com is the one where you have your-site-title.wordpress.com

This is generally not recommended as anything other than a way to get your feet wet. That's because it's their platform. You don't control it.

I'd recommend choosing a topic you're interested in and creating an account, e.g. pig-sticking-in-dubbo.wordpress.com and just learn how to use it.

Forget all this crap about making thousands per month within your first couple of months that you read about in dubious WSOs, etc.

It's a hard graft unless you either get phenomenally lucky, have a lot of money to pay people who know what they're doing, have some serious partners, or do short-term dodgy stuff that gives you the cash flow you need to then start doing it not like a scumbag.

Anyway, back to the pig-stickin'...

Just write about it. Learn to use the Wordpress platform, get familiar with the Admin area, etc. -- without having the hassle of managing your own website (which isn't a huge hassle by any stretch of the imagination once you learn how to do it, but can seem like a lot when you're starting out).

Upload pics of your stickin' exploits, implement of choice, shots of your dogs, etc.

Send people there from forums (there are probably forums all about called things like Bacon Busters and so on. Note: I haven't Googled that. I'm almost too scared! ) Et cetera.

That will, as I say, get your feet wet.

If it takes off and you make a motza from it, good on you! You CAN always transfer it to your own hosted site at a later date. It's not like it's "all or nothing". It's just some work.

Then...

3. When you've found a topic that you're really interested in pursuing, buy a domain name for it from a reputable registrar (I don't recommend GoDaddy, although lots of people do), and learn how to install and configure Wordpress on your own domain -- which you can download here: WordPress › Download

There is an ENORMOUS repository of help information on that site (referred to as "the Codex"), including "the famous five-minute install", but you probably won't need most of it right now -- if ever.

There are also thousands of tutorials on how to install it and configure it, etc. online for free so don't go buying any WSOs about how to do it. Money wasted. Unless you're a TOTALLY visual person, in which case there are video tutorial series available for 20 or 30 bucks. Just make sure any course you're considering demonstrates the latest version of Wordpress at that time because sometimes there are MAJOR changes to the funtionality, Admin panel, etc.

Hope that helps!

All the best with it,
TheNightOwl

jboogie44,

There are some really good tutorials which are free for Wordpress beginners. You can start here:

WordPress Lessons « WordPress Codex

Di

Or simply search your keywords on youtube. There are some good video tutorials for newbies.

Actually most of the peoples are using WordPress.org instead of WordPress.com.It acts as a CMS.
You have to get a host , domain and install the WordPress on the host.So that you can point domain name to your host and can run your website.

As a starter you have to learn a lot to go ahead

Actually most of the peoples are using WordPress.org instead of WordPress.com.It acts as a CMS.
You have to get a host , domain and install the WordPress on the host.So that you can point domain name to your host and can run your website.

As a starter you have to learn a lot to go ahead

Very few people who are doing IM actually use WordPress.com [sites such as marketing.wordpress.com]

More and more people are using their own domains but using WordPress.org as a CMS. It's great for beginners as there are great tutorials and it is relatively easier to get the hang of

There are some great answers above, but I'd also invite you to have a look at our free video course showing you the setup process...from domain name and hosting, to downloading and installing WordPress.

The big difference is when you build your website (self-hosted) via wordpress.org you own your website.

If you choose to use a free service like Wordpress.com or Blogger and you do not host your own website, you do not own it you won't be able to do cool things like sell it or transfer it, when it becomes worth a lot of money.

Here is a tip: Always host your own websites.

Cheers!

I hope this helps.

Not going to give you the same rehashed stuff as above but if you have any questions don't hesitate to pm. Have been designing wp sites for years.

Jason

Hey

It doesn't matter what system you use, be it Windows or Mac, you can install WP on your site(s), no problem.

You can install Wordpress by:

1. Uploading it with an FTP client (such as Filezilla)
2. Letting your webmaster install it (provided you have a webmaster )
3. Using the Fantastico feature if you have a hosting with cPanel.

As per the domains question. If you get yourself a paid domain (such as yoursite.com or similar), you can use it on your own hosting server, but you have to pay for the domain (around $10/month).

Or you can get a free domain and have your site hosted on Wordpress servers. In this case, your site would end with "...wordpress.com", just as you stated.

The others have said about wordpress so i wont. Im really crap at web development - i spent an entire day trying to get wordpress working. So while i was browsing my Cpanel on hostgator I saw something called Basekit. Its a website creation tool that is free with hostgator. Very easy to use but would lack the features, themes, plugins etc of wordpress.

Here You Go. This guy is good. There are like, 18 or so easy to follow videos.

I was there once a few light years ago, or so it seems now. I thought everyone was way smarter than me until I started learning the stuff and now it is really easy for me. Wordpress.org is what you need and you buy a domain name from a company such as godaddy and transfer the name servers to your hosting company. You then host your own sites with a hosting company such as hostgator. I know it sounds really technical but believe me when the light bulb goes off, you will kick yourself for even thinking this was hard.

i agree with JT808 always nest to host your own websites.

>>One question I have (and I know it will sound stupid) is that when people are talking about using wordpress to make their own websites, are they actually using wordpress.com and making blog sites, or are they downloading some type of tool.<<

Serious business people are using the self-hosted version of WordPress. It's available as a one-click install inside most cpanel hosting nowadays using a program called Fantasico. Inexpensive hosts: Hostgator, Bluehost, etc.

>>I'm assuming they're downloading it because that makes way more sense. I just don't know how you make a domain name with wordpress. Wouldn't it be something like marketing.wordpress.com or something along those lines.<<

Buy a domain name. GoDaddy, etc. (ignore the upsells).

I recommend you buy, your name dot com, first and last. Also, buy a keyword-based domain for your product or primary topic. Then blog, start documenting your journey.

>>Another thing is that I have a mac. Can I download wordpress and use it on my computer somehow? Any and all information on this subject would be awesome. I'm such a noob when it comes to this stuff, and I really need help.<<

I'm on a Mac too. Buy a domain name and get hosting. Also get aweber.com.

Now for some more important advice:

(1) Decide who to listen to or follow, one person for each major topic (make sure they are actually making money, most in IM are not); turn off or unsubscribe from everyone else. If you must, create a separate gmail account for subscriptions. Focus precedes success.

(2) Invest no more than $150 - 200 to get everything going. Then, only buy what you can make money with within 5 days.

(3) Get an accountability partner, someone who will make the same commitment.

(4) Pick a topic you are passionate about, one where you have (or can easily get) information that will really help others.

(5) Make a product fast. Then keep making products that solve the most pressing problems your audience is willing to pay to solve.

(6) Do three things daily to get visitors to your site, master a few methods that work versus trying 50 things.

If you find this useful, thank me...

P.S. Just for fun, here are a few essential tools for Wordpress / Mac:

WordPress

Yoast SEO Plugin
Premise Plugin for Landing Pages
Sexy Bookmarks for Social
Pretty Link Lite

Mac

Jing, Screenflow or Camtasia Mac 2 - to make screencast videos
Icicle USB + Best mic you can afford - high quality audio recording
Pages, Word, etc - for word processing
Skitck 2 - for screenshots
Evernote - for keeping stuff organized
Mars Edit - for updating my blog
Things - expensive but cool to-do list

If you find this useful, thank me...