So you need a website for your business

and you’ve stumbled across Berries and Cream Blog Design. You’ve noticed that we prefer to work with WordPress, and you are thoroughly confused.

“Isn’t WordPress a blog?” you wonder. And in one sense, you are right. WordPress was created as a blogging platform.

WordPress, however, is so flexible that it makes a fantastic foundation for many, many different kinds of websites.

Here are some features to consider:

WordPress is a template-driven platform, meaning that your design will automatically be applied to all of your posts and pages without your having to do any coding.

Search engines love WordPress websites.

• Regularly updated content, like blog posts, will make your site rank higher and be visited more often by the search engines than sites with outdated content
• Meta tags are automatically generated in WordPress, and there are plugins to give you the ability to customize meta tags, titles, and descriptions for not only your home page but for every single page and post on your site
• Permalinks (the direct link to a post or page) settings allow you to choose title-based permalinks, which mean that keywords in your title are also in the permalink to that post or page

Plug-ins (small programs that can be added to your WordPress site to create specific functions) are available for nearly anything you could ask:

• turn your WordPress blog into an online store
• automatically Tweet for you when you publish a new blog post
• block spam
• create contact forms, information requests, and many other kinds of forms
• allow people to share your content via their favorite social media site – FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Digg, etc.
• turn your blog into a real estate website with featured listings and more
• create an online portfolio – great for photographers and other artists
• create an image gallery
• showcase important information using slideshows and rotating images (the link goes to a bra boutique)
• create an online magazine
• create a subscription site
• and so much more…

Creating a custom WordPress website typically costs much less than creating a standard custom HTML.

• WordPress is free; there are never costs associated with the WordPress platform itself, although you do need a hosting account and domain name
• customizing WordPress is generally easier than creating a custom HTML website; less time spent on project = more money in your pocket
• unlike many sitebuilders, there is no limit to the number of pages you may add to your WordPress site, nor is there any charge for adding pages to your site

WordPress automically allows you to create multiple users with differing permission levels, and there are plugins that allow you to further customize the user levels and permissions.

WordPress not only allows you to have a blog but also includes the ability to create static pages (like a home page, about page, contact page, and the like)

WordPress is user friendly.

• Static pages and blog posts are easily added, edited, and deleted from you administration area – no HTML knowledge or special software (like Dreamweaver) is required
• both visual and HTML editors are included, allowing you to create and edit pages and blog posts in a visual format using the WYSIWYG editor (has toolbar buttons similar to Microsoft Word) or to edit the actual page code, if you are knowledgeable enough to tackle that

Need more convincing to consider using WordPress as your small business web solution?

WordPress was awarded the Overall Best Open Source CMS* Award in the 2009 CMS Awards.
*CMS stands for Content Management System, which is a system used to manage your website

There are many companies, universities, and high-profile people that use WordPress for their whole site, not just their blog:

• Ford
• Texas Tech
• Timberline Lodge
• Andy Roddick
• Wall Street Journal

… to name just a few

WordPress boasts a thriving community, meaning you can easily find help if you need it.

Interested in getting your own custom WordPress design?

1. Take a look at our portfolio to see a sample of what we can do for you.
2. If you need more information, contact us with your questions.
3. Order your own WordPress-based small business web solution.

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Category: Tips and Tricks, WordPress Wednesday