Using templates with CMS

PJP · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 17

I'm a little confused...

Rosalind's book (which I love) lists template companies, one of which I have subscribed to.

In a later chapter under Marketing it mentions using WordPress to create a blog.

Do we use just the template to input our content or the blog or both?

Thanks.

Griff Grumbein · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:34 am Post subject:

Hello PJP, and welcome to the forum!

The template simply sets the visual format (look and feel) of the site or blog, i.e. how the columns, fonts, images, content text, etc. are to be displayed or placed on the page.

You will input your content to the blog, the template will display it according to the template's parameters.

Hope this helps, Very Happy

Griff

PJP · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 17

Thank you, Griff!

Yes, that helps. Are blogs like WordPress useful for articles or just blogs?

Griff Grumbein · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

Hi PJP!

WordPress is a CMS (Content Management System), not just a blog. It is very robust and useful for a whole variety of things. While I don't use it myself (I'm a Joomla! fan), there are many in this forum who do use it, and can provide much good advice and direction on it's many features, options and capabilities. You can learn a lot about it by going to:

http://wordpress.org/

and reading up on it.

I'm reasonably certain Jim (WebsiteManagers) will be chiming in soon but until then, go to WP's site, and DO search out some of Jim's forum posts - they are QUITE informative as he is well versed in WordPress.

You might also search for some of Michael Buechele's (mike1115) forum posts, he knows his WP stuff, too.

Keep us posted on your progress, we can all learn from everyone's experiences! Wink

Griff

PJP · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 17

Thanks so much!

Jim Hutchinson · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the recommendation Griff. Having a reputation for the right things has its benefits. Very Happy

Now, PJP, there are some sites that will amaze you when you learn that they are run on WordPress software. With the right plugins, widgets and theme, you can do just about anything with the site.

WordPress was originally built for articles and has developed into a full-fledged content management system. Without any plugins, you can have a site that has a static front page, which you can change any time by switching it to another page in your admin panel. The articles would then be available on the menu.

You can also have the site for just articles and have your newest one(s) on the front page. It all depends on what your goals are for the site.

If you just want to write articles, then put those on your front page. If you want a regular website to sell something, create a static page for it and the other pages within the site.

Any time you create a page, its link is automatically put on the navigation menu. The same goes for the articles.

Add plugins to make the site more interactive with your visitors and you have a powerful tool that is easier to manage than using an HTML editor and FTP program.

Aside from figuring out a misbehaving plugin, the toughest thing to do with a self-hosted WordPress site is deciding what to put on it next. The plugins are mostly upload, activate and change some custom settings. Same for the themes, unless they are exactly the way you want them.

The whole idea is to have a site that is easy to manage without having to know a lot of coding.

I hope that helps!

Jim Hutchinson