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Second Project Coaching Session: Looking Under the WordPress Hood

Project Blogger logo Ines and I just completed our second coaching session. In this one, we took a look under the hood of a WordPress blog at the administrative console. Ines had previously played with WordPress.com and felt frustrated by its intricacies or lack of intuitiveness. For newbies WordPress can seem a little intimidating at first. It tends to be a "geekier" platform than some, but for use with single blogs, I love it.

As an aside, WordPress also serves as a great CMS platform. For example, RIS Media's site is built using its engine. With the advent of Web 2.0 applications like WordPress, you're seeing blogs become more like blogsites. Truly, blogs are the new homepage.

We walked through the console step-by-step and I explained what each section contained, answering questions as I went along. One thing I can say about Ines is that she is a quick study. We did a little basic HTML 101 instruction in the process, something we're coming back to in later sessions.

Finally, I also reviewed her 10 Things to Consider document that she constructed based on the last session. (Yes, I give homework.) Ines received an A+ and a smiley face, although at first she did say the dog ate her homework...or did she say it was Rick? Hmmm, not sure. (Yes, that's me struggling to be funny. My apologies. Heh) Anyway, job well done and we're on to the next session dealing with all things RSS!

Posted by Paul Chaney on 04/03/2007 11:42 AM

Comments (5)

project blogger, real estate blogging, blogging, wordpress

5 Comments on Second Project Coaching Session: Looking Under the WordPress Hood

Hi Paul, thanks for sharing. Would you recommend getting a free blog on wordpress.com or google? And, why?

Thanks!

04/03/2007 06:38 PM

by Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty)

Before advising you on a platform, I would want to know the state of your current online situation. Do you have a website? Also, I would want to know your plans for your blog. If you're using for business purposes, I'm not sure a hosted solution like WordPress.com is best.

Having said that, I do like WordPress.com. It has the latest features, and doesn't encumber you with having to install the platform on your own server. Plus, because it's a hosted solution you can be sure it will always be updated and offer the latest cool plugins and widgets. Not only that, there are a number of nice looking templates you can choose from, including my favorite, Cutline.

Still, maybe getting an installed version of WordPress (the .org version) with a custom design that matches the look/feel of your website might be better.

04/03/2007 07:53 PM

by Paul Chaney (Social Media Handyman)

Thanks for such a quick response... yes... I have a website - www.Irina4RealEstate.com . I want to build a blog as an add on to my website, but am not sure what the next step should be.

I do not want to start something that will need to be changed in the near future.

How does the installed version of WordPress work? Where can I go to get more information.

Thank you once again for all your help Paul!

04/03/2007 10:09 PM

by Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty)

If I were you, I'd hire someone like Jim Cronin, the Real Estate Tomato guy, to build you a nice WordPress blog that mirrors the look/feel of your website. In that event, he would install the software on your server, depending on whether it's a Windows or Linux machine. In any event, it's a version of the software that, unlike the .com version, gives you complete autonomy over every aspect of the site.

Make sense?

04/03/2007 10:23 PM

by Paul Chaney (Social Media Handyman)

Yes... it certainly does! Thanks so much! I'll be looking forward to more of your posts and good luck with your protegee! :-)

04/03/2007 11:54 PM

by Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty)