If you’re thinking about setting your own website or blog, I suggest you check out WordPress. I love WordPress. WordPress is free web software that can be used for your website or as a blogging platform. Martha Stewart, The New York Times, Yahoo, and Go Gingham, to name a few, all use WordPress.
You can use it for your website as a CMS (content management system) or as a blog. Self-hosted (meaning you pay for your own hosting and you have your own domain name) sites can download the software here. WordPress.org
Or, you can sign up for a free blog. Your choices are more limited here but it is free and that’s always a good price. WordPress.com
I highly recommend WordPress. You can take an on-line class to learn WordPress or you can learn it on your own like I did. I’m sure some could just wing it, but my mid-40-year-old-brain needed to do lots of reading!
Here are my top 5 book recommendations (all from our public library system). I’ve also included an Amazon link.
- [amazon_image id=”0789746344″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Using WordPress[/amazon_image] “Using WordPress” by Tris Hussey ( 2011). This book is excellent and his list of plug-ins (pieces of code already done for you) is extremely useful.
- [amazon_image id=”032174957X” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Building a WordPress Blog People Want to Read (2nd Edition)[/amazon_image] “Building a WordPress Blog People Want to Read” by Scott McNulty (2009). His writing is easy to understand and he has a good sense of humor.
- [amazon_image id=”0470592745″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]WordPress For Dummies, 3rd Edition[/amazon_image] “WordPress for Dummies” by Lisa Sabin-Wilson (2010). Although I don’t like the “dummies” aspect of the title, this book is good if you like (or need like me) baby-steps.
- [amazon_image id=”0789742756″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]WordPress In Depth[/amazon_image] “WordPress In Depth” by Bud Smith and Michael McCallister (2010). The title really nails this book. Very detailed and in depth.
- [amazon_image id=”047057092X” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Teach Yourself Visually WordPress[/amazon_image] “Teach Yourself Visually WordPress” by Janet Majure (2010). Another good book that covers a lot. This is a good book to start with. The pictures/visuals are outdated.
The other great thing about WordPress is their on-line support. Detailed steps are can be found at WordPress Documents. If you’re having a problem (or several) WordPress Support can help you straighten out your fatal errors and remind you that you haven’t broken the internet – yet.
Free and helpful? You can’t really beat WordPress.
Go Gingham 