First timer – Created Blog instead of Website. Are these the same?
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This is the beginning of my foray into WordPress. I created a username and password, but clicked on create a blog instead of a website. I don’t want the blog, I want to build a website. Each time I go back in, and try to get to create a website, it only gives me the option of creating another blog. Is this just a matter of semantics? Can I build a blog into a website with plugins and widgets? Help!
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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A blog is a website!
A blog is a specialized sort of website where you can automatically post the most recent updates and news about your company. The software allows you to make the most recent news appear at the top of your site.If you want to create a traditional page-based website, then you certainly can use the free hosting of WordPress.com to do so.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/using-wordpress-to-create-a-website/If you have more questions, then feel welcome to post here again.
A bit of advise after you read that link is for you to work through this useful tutorial:
http://learn.wordpress.com/Yes, I understand that lots of what is there is for blogs, but the same techniques for using this platform apply to a traditional page-based website. The tutorial is an excellent way for you to get acquainted with this software platform.
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Thank you for your quick response! I’ve done some editing on WordPress sites, but have not started from scratch before.
Thank you again for clearing up the confusion!
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Do what I do – I just tell people that I have a web site –
most people don’t care – they will visit your site for the content – all you need to do is have it look not too bad – and with the themes here it is difficult to mess things up
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I do that too, but the OP (original poster) should provide more information in order for us to help her. What sort of website does she or he need? Would plugins for sales or newsletters be needed? I think my answer above may, or may not, have been incomplete.
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Thank you auxclass.
1tess: I am building a site for practice only right now. My husband has a photography business so I would like to build a mirror site. It might be a good idea to add a shopping cart. (I’d like to learn how to add plugins and widgets.)
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We can use all kinds of widgets and shortcodes on WordPress.com. But if you need a shopping cart, then you will need to use WordPress.org.
WordPress.COM and WordPress.ORG are two different platforms:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/That said, you can practice for free with wp.com here. See what you can do, post images, make pages, work through the tutorial I linked to, get started. You can then export your site or blog to wp.org with skills you learned here. And use your username for Jetpack, transfer any users and subscribers, and probably stats when you are more experienced.
Here on wp.com, all the problems are taken care of. If you go to hosting your own site, then you are left to deal with things that happen: site crashes and so on.
How much experience do you have with setting up a site?
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1tess: Zero! I’m a true first timer. I’m a graphic designer with lots of print experience but no web experience. Need to upgrade my skills!
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@zills101,
Then definitely start with the free version of WordPress.com. You can even keep the site private while you practice. But if you need help from us volunteers, then let your site be public but not accessible to search engines. Only staff can look at your private site, and they are away at a conference for some days right now. They check the forums, but you’ll get quicker answers via the many great volunteers in these forums. -
@zills101,
You are very welcome. I also started from the print perspective. Online is very different, but similar and strange at first.After you get started, you might be pleased with this relatively new shortcode (which I tried only once on a test blog):
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I thought the same thing when I started my blog last week! Intended to start a website, but when I saw it was a blog I was like, well I guess I’m starting a blog now!
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Please just go to the support documents and put the word “Website” in and you’ll see all the instructions.
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If you want to create a traditional page-based website, then you certainly can use the free hosting of WordPress.com to do so.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/using-wordpress-to-create-a-website/ -
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