Upgrade Question

  • Unknown's avatar
    kavyen · Member ·

    I have been using the free wordpress site for hosting my blog and I want to get serious now, but I am not sure if I should go with purchasing a domain or just a CSS upgrade. Here a few of my requirements, please recommend the best option:

    – I want to retain my blog url or have something very close to it like http://readingbetweepages.com
    – I want to have a Google friend connect button and few other plugins
    – I want to be able to customize my page and have a jazzy user interface
    – I want a reliable site
    – I am currently only able to post a blog if I am connected to the web, I want to be able to write my blog offline (user friendly) and then upload it when I am connected to the internet

    Can you please recommend the best way to go…

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    – I want to have a Google friend connect button and few other plugins
    – I want to be able to customize my page and have a jazzy user interface

    Please read this entry very carefully so you fully comprehend the differences between having a free blog from and being free hosted by wordpress.com on this reliable site and self hosting a wordpress.org install.

    WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

  • Unknown's avatar
    auxclass · Member ·

    If you have a PC Windows Live Writer will let you do a Post or Page on the desktop and then upload it.

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    Yes, and Ecto will do the same if you have a Mac. It’s not free but it’s a modestly priced offline blog editor.

  • Unknown's avatar
    kavyen · Member ·

    Wow, I dint know wordpress.com offered so much. Would you rather recommend that I use wordpress.com and do the CSS upgrade?

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    Are you clear on the facts that
    there is no FTP acces to wordpress.com blogs and we cannot upload plugins;
    the code used in the Google Connect widget will be stripped out by the software here to preserve security;
    you cannot change the functionality of a blog by editing the CSS;
    the css upgrade does not allow you to do anything aside from changing the appearance of the blog?

    We cannot add themes at wordpress.COM, we are limited to the themes found in the dashboard under appearance > themes. Themes found on the internet are for self-hosted wordpress blogs using the software from wordpress.ORG.

    If you have CSS editing experience, you can get the paid custom CSS upgrade and renew it annually. It will allow you to stylize the appearance of themes you find here > Appearance > Themes, but it does not allow you to change the functionality, by editing the underlying template. Also note that CSS is theme specific, so you cannot use the CSS stylesheets from other themes with the themes here at wordpress.COM.

    Since there is no official Staff support for the CSS upgrade, and precious little Volunteer support, I recommend that you don’t buy the upgrade unless you have at least moderate understanding of HTML and CSS because you must be prepared to do the work on your own.

    If you are considering purchasing the upgrade, you can go to Appearance > Edit CSS. There wordpress has provided a preview function where you can try before you buy.
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-css/
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/editing-css/

    If you do purchase the upgrade be sure to read this article before starting your editing > http://csswiz.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/if-you-have-the-wp-com-css-upgrade/

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