If you’re launching a website with a WordPress platform, you’re already ahead of the game. WordPress is still the most widely used web platform for blogs and informational sites. It is easy to set up and requires little knowledge of programming. However, there are still plenty of blunders to avoid. It’s all too easy to make a WordPress site look shoddy and amateurish. If you want potential visitors to take your site seriously, use the following tips:
Host the site under your own domain name
Always host the site under your own domain name. Having “.wordpress” in your domain name can look unprofessional. The free WordPress platform is terrific, but isn’t appropriate for most commercial sites. The domain name and free platform will only detract from a site that you plan to market and monetize. The free platform doesn’t allow much flexibility with template design either, so it’s worth paying up front for your own domain name and hosting package.
Focus on quality content
WordPress is all about providing the perfect framework for content. WordPress sites aren’t so much about looking flashy as creating a platform to present writing. The platform is already well designed to meet SEO standards. You need to fill in the rest by creating quality, SEO friendly content.
Learn how to alter a simple template
Learning the basics of HTML and CSS will give you a real edge on customizing otherwise generic templates. You may find a template that suits your site perfectly. More likely, you’ll need to slightly alter a template to better fit your needs. The best thing to do is choose a simple template with both fixed pages and a blog. Use the CSS to adjust the HTML elements more to your liking. WordPress is surprisingly flexible for a platform with little direct programming. You can alter the CSS through the administrator control panel. As long as you can recognize the HTML element you want to change and write CSS to manipulate it, the possibilities are pretty endless.
It’s easy to spot a WordPress site that didn’t go the extra mile to look unique and professional. After a while, you start to recognize the same old themes across many websites. Make your unique and professional site stand out by avoiding the beginner’s pitfalls.
