Showing posts with label WordPress Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WordPress Tips. Show all posts

July 09, 2024

WordPress Studio for Windows and Mac to Test, and Build Websites

WordPress has launched “Studio,” a new way to build WordPress websites on Windows or Mac without hosting on a server. WordPress Studio is available on the developer page. It is free to download and develop websites.

WordPress Studio is already famous among Mac users. Now, Microsoft Windows users can also create and test offline websites. It lets the developers share offline sites with the clients.

With the Studio feature, WordPress is targeting non-developers. It is becoming a go-to solution for newbies and experts to develop new websites before making them live.

WordPress is loosing popularity. WordPress Studio is an effort to regain its reputation. 

WordPress Studio for Mac and Windows To Test, and Build Websites: eAskme
WordPress Studio for Mac and Windows To Test, and Build Websites: eAskme

WordPress Studio for Developers:

WordPress Studio is a local website development platform that creates a localhost server on your laptop or desktop. Creating websites on localhost saves time and speeds up the process. You can develop websites without buying hosting.

WordPress Studio creates a WordPress-like environment on your desktop for testing and developing websites. You can create blogs, business sites, e-commerce websites, etc.

It is a free way to develop WordPress websites. You can test the website’s themes and plugins, understand how they work, and which plugins and customization are suitable for the client.
With a demo site, you can share sites with the clients.

WordPress Studio for Windows:

WordPress Studio for Windows users is the most efficient platform to create, test, and develop new websites. You can create a complete WordPress website without breaking the server. Test everything before making the site live.

You do not need to buy a domain name or web hosting to to created and test WordPress websites anymore.

How to Download and Install WordPress Studio?

How to Download and Install WordPress Studio: eAskme
 
  • After adding the site, you get the options to customize the website, such as “Site Editor,” “Style,” “Patterns,” “Navigation,” “Templates,” and “Pages.”
WordPress Studio customization options: eAskme
 
  • You also get the share option to share your demo WordPress site.
  • WordPress customization will make you log in to the WordPress environment. Now, you can edit and test the website.

What are the Benefits of WordPress Studio?

  • Share Demo Sites: With Studio, developers can share local sites with their clients.
  • Fast: It is a faster way to test and develop websites. You can test unlimited websites.
  • Lightweight WordPress: Develop websites without relying on MySQL, Apache, NGINX, Docker, etc.
  • Accessibility: WordPress Studio makes the local website accessible using CLI, IDE, etc.

Demo Site:

The WordPress Studio desktop app lets developers create and share demo sites with colleagues and clients. It is an easy way to get clients’ feedback. You must have a WordPress.com account to access Studio features.

  • It creates a demo domain to test demo sites.
  • Click on “Delete My Joyful Website” to delete your demo site when you do not need it.

Export WordPress Theme:

WordPress Studio lets you export WordPress themes. You can create your WordPress theme, export it, and upload it on your live WordPress site.

I have tested WordPress Studio. It is easy and complex. Studio makes it easy to test websites without using third-party desktop apps. But it lacks the customization solutions that you get with XAMPP.

Conclusion:

WordPress Studio is an excellent initiative from WordPress to help developers. Now, developers can develop websites in a local environment without using third-party software. It is easy to learn how you can use WordPress Studio.

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June 01, 2024

WordPress Playground: New Way to Create, Test, and Build Websites

WordPress Playground is a new way to test themes, plugins, blocks, websites, etc. It is different from WordPress Studio. WordPress Playground lets you create a copy of your website with a WordPress plugin without making the test pages live. It is a creative way to test plugins, blocks, and new themes.

WordPress Playground: New Way to Create, Test, and Build Websites: eAskme
WordPress Playground: New Way to Create, Test, and Build Websites: eAskme


WordPress Playground:

WordPress Playground is a WordPress plugin to learn WordPress, website building and test everything. Your test data is not uploaded on any server. It works with VS Code, Node.js and mobile apps.

Antonio Sejas, Berislav Grgicak, Adam Zieliński, and WordPress.org have developed this plugin.

According to Adam Zieliński, Playground is a one-click WordPress that allows developers to test themes, plugins, and sites without creating web hosts or other technologies.

It works on the try-before-buy strategy. Without creating a new website, developers test websites, plugins, and themes.

Playground does not disturb the original website and files.

Download WordPress Playground plugin from here.

With WordPress plugin, you can do two things:

  • Create a WordPress copy in private.
  • Test WordPress themes and plugins.

Features of WordPress Playground:

  • Create a Sandbox of the website.
  • Preview plugins from WordPress.org.
  • Export snapshots.
  • Build native apps for the App Store.

How WordPress Playground Works?

WordPress Playground creates a copy of your website with all the files and database. It keeps your original files safe when testing new themes and plugins.

WordPress Playground loads a copy of your WordPress website in a browser window. Your site data stays in your browser as long as you do not close the window.

How to Use WordPress Playground?

  • Go to wp-admin of your website.
  • Open the Sandbox site in the “Tools” menu. It loads a copy of your WordPress site.

Anne McCarthy shared a WordPress video explaining WordPress Playground: the ultimate learning, testing, & teaching tool for WordPress.


How to Test Plugins with WordPress Playground?

  • Login to wp-admin.
  • “Add new plugin.”
  • Choose the plugin and click on “Preview.”
  • Install and activate the plugin in the WordPress playground to test it.

What is the Difference Between WordPress Playground and WordPress Studio?


WordPress Playground WordPress Studio
Free WordPress plugin. Free WordPress software.
Create, test, and share WordPress sites, themes and lugins without creating localhost. Creates localhost on laptop to install WordPress to test and create new sites.
Playground is best to test test themes, and plugins. Studio is best to create WordPress sites from blog to eCommerce.
Playground create copy o fexisting website. Studio do nto create copy of existing site. It let you create a new website.
Compatible with Elementor but not with Divi. Studio is compatible with every WordPress website builder.

Conclusion:

WordPress Playground is an interesting plugin that creates a copy of your website to test plugins, themes, and everything else. The best thing about Playground is that it lets you do everything without the need for a web host or WordPress setup.

WordPress Playground FAQs:

Can Playground Help Newbies to Learn WordPress?

Yes. It lets the developer test everything from plugins to themes.

Is WordPress Playground Compatible with Elementor Website Builders?

Yes. It primarily works with the Elementor plugin.

Is WordPress Playground Compatible with Divi Website Builders?

It is still under testing.

What is Playground Blueprints?

WordPress playground blueprints are a set of guidelines for creating new websites.

Can I Create, share, and save the site with Playground?

Yes. Playground makes it easy for developers to create and test websites. To save the WordPress site, you need to visit playground.wordpress.net and choose the save option in “Settings.”

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April 26, 2024

26 WordPress Alternatives for SEO

WordPress is the most popular platform for website building, content management, and blogging. But is it the only platform for bloggers and businesses? No. There are many blogging and website alternatives to WordPress available online. It is the time to find the best platform for your website or blog.

WordPress is undoubtedly the most popular CMS. In 2024, 1.98 billion websites and blogs are running on WordPress. Even though WordPress is the most popular website building and CMS, there are platforms that you may consider other than WordPress.

26 WordPress Alternatives for SEO: eAskme
26 WordPress Alternatives for SEO: eAskme

WordPress Alternatives:

There are hundreds of website-building platforms available as WordPress alternatives. You can choose any one of them to build your next website or blog.

Popular CMS like Weebly, Wix, Squarespace, Medium, etc. are user-friendly. Popular website platforms are using technologies like Hugo, Joomla, Magento, and Drupal.

Magento is the most popular eCommerce platform, and it is similar to Shopify. Bloggers are using platforms like WordPress, Blogger, Medium, Tumblr, etc.

When choosing the best WordPress alternative, look for features, budget, technology, goals, user-friendliness, and reliability.

Let's find out why you need a WordPress alternative and how to choose the best alternative to WordPress.

Why Do You Need a WordPress Alternative?

You need WordPress alternatives for the following reasons:

  • Requirement: When you need some specific technology other than WordPress.
  • Lack of Technicality: When you need a site with zero technical knowledge.
  • Security: WordPress is an open-source platform, and sometimes, it is less secure than some other alternatives.
  • Maintenance: WordPress requires maintenance such as updates, etc. Consider alternatives to WordPress that require less maintenance.
  • Unique features: Unique features like an eCommerce-friendly platform make users choose Magneto and Shopify.
  • Easy Customization: WordPress alternatives provide more customization options.
  • Lack of Complexity: When you find WordPress to be a complex platform.

How to Choose the Best WordPress Alternative?

Here are the points that you must consider when choosing an alternative to WordPress:

  • Primary Goal: What is your goal when building a website? Do you want to create a business website, blog, portfolio, or online store?
  • Budget: Choose between free and premium alternatives according to your budget.
  • Technical Skills: Your technical skills will help you choose a website-building platform. Some WordPress alternatives come with no coding.
  • Flexibility: Flexibility of usage makes you choose the best alternative.
  • Customization: Customization options are another thing when choosing a CMS alternative to WordPress.
  • Community and Support: Popular alternatives offer community and support to its users.
  • Scalable: Scalability is also an important feature when choosing website-building alternatives to WordPress.
  • Features: Consider features when choosing a reliable site like WordPress.
  • Hosting: WordPress alternatives come with free and premium hosting plans.

Test WordPress alternatives on these points to find the most suitable platform to launch your website, store, or blog.

Start with a free trial to test the platform and engage with the community to understand the errors and usability.

Here are the best WordPress Alternatives to Choose:

1. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM):

Adobe Experience Manager is a content management system with a digital asset management solution. It is an enterprise CMS for brands and large businesses. Government agencies, healthcare businesses, and financial institutions are using AEM.

Adobe Experience Manager provides easy targeting, powerful analytics, and creative cloud tools. With a premium plan, you get access to Adobe tools to create powerful customer and business solutions.

Adobe Experience Manager Features:

  • Enterprise CMS
  • Security
  • Analytics
  • Search feature.
  • Scalable
  • Headless CMS
  • Omnichannel experiences

Adobe Experience Manager Pros:

  • Content creation and publishing.
  • Streamline process.
  • Workflow authorization.
  • Content loads.
  • Multiple sites.

Adobe Experience Manager Cons:

  • Time consuming.
  • Multiple signings.
  • Lack of integration.
  • Forums and communities.

2. BigCommerce:

BigCommerce is an eCommerce platform for creating eCommerce websites. With BigCommerce solution, you can create, publish, and manage online stores. It is best at handling multiple users. Small and mid-size online stores are using this platform.

BigCommerce's 15-day free plan is the best way to test its capabilities. After that, choose a premium plan between $29/month to $299/month.

BigCommerce is an all-in-one eCommerce solution with product handling, catalog management, cart recovery, omnichannel selling, SEO tools, etc.

BigCommerce themes are customizable but only to part of the extent.

BigCommerce Features:

  • BigCommerce Hosting
  • Drag-and-drop website builder
  • Extensions
  • Themes
  • Blog
  • Mobile Optimization
  • eCommerce store management
  • Social media features.

BigCommerce Pros:

  • Complete customization.
  • 100+ themes.
  • Free subdomain
  • No commission.
  • Support.

BigCommerce Cons:

  • Lack of free version.
  • Lack of source code access.
  • Revenue-based pricing.

3. Contentful:

Contentful is another CMS alternative to WordPress for businesses. Marketers and bloggers. It is a scalable content management system.

Contentful Platform and Contentful Studio are two solutions that you can use to develop websites. AI-driven experiences power the contentful platform. Contentful Studio offers flexible design tools with brand integrity.

You must build a front-end before using the system. It takes work to adapt. You may follow the learning path to discover the power of Contentful CMS.

Contentful features:

  • API access.
  • Customizable framework for the personalized interface.
  • Multilingual support.
  • Support multiple time zones.
  • Content modeling.
  • Security

Contentful Pros:

  • Quick integration
  • User friendly
  • Clean interface
  • Free version
  • Scalable platform

Contentful Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Complex content modeling
  • Lack of powerful search.

4. Blogger:

Blogger is a completely free blogging alternative to WordPress. It is a free blogging solution from Google.

Blogger is not a self-hosted blogging platform with limitations. You can start a free blog with a Blogspot subdomain. A lot of customization features are also available, such as custom domain integration, theme customization, third-party tools integration, etc.

It is easy to use with your Gmail account. Blogger premium themes are also available on online marketplaces.

Blogger Features:

  • Easy setup.
  • Analytics
  • Custom theme
  • Google Adsense monetization.
  • Security
  • Unlimited storage and bandwidth.

Blogger Pros:

  • Completely free.
  • User-friendly
  • SSL Certificate
  • Next-gen image format.
  • Uptime.

Blogger Cons:

  • Lack of complete control.
  • Limited support.
  • It needs to be easier to move.

5. Bluehost:

Bluehost is the most popular hosting service provider WordPress recommends. Small businesses and newbie bloggers can start self-hosted blogs with Bluehost.

It is a premium platform for hosting blogs. SSL certificate, regular updates, backup, and instant support are the important features.

Bluehost Features:

  • Free domain name with hosting.
  • Different Hosting plans.
  • VPS and Dedicated servers.
  • Multiple hosting options.
  • Customer service.

Bluehost Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Unlimited bandwidth and storage.
  • 99.9% uptime.
  • SSL certificates.

Bluehost Cons:

  • Premium plan and premium add-ons.
  • Low speed.
  • US server.

6. DataLife Engine:

DataLife Engine is a powerful CMS alternative to WordPress for large companies, media houses, news websites, marketing sites, blogs, etc. It is a complete solution that provides performance, security, and SEO features.

DataLife Engine is capable of handling massive traffic without crashing the website. It improves user experience by fast loading and minimizing stress on the server.

It is best for creating a site with multiple user accounts. Users can create and publish content. You can also consider it when creating social media sites.

DataLife Engine offers free and premium plans. A basic premium license starts at $79 with unlimited functionality, publications, and comments. You can analyze user behavior and track comments with this platform.

The only thing that makes you not choose the DataLife Engine is the small number of themes and plugins. It is for English users only.

DataLife Engine Features:

  • Powerful CMS.
  • Multiple users.
  • SEO features.
  • Tracking.
  • Filter comments.
  • Less load on the server.
  • Plugins.
  • Themes

DataLife Engine Pros:

  • MYSQL
  • User experience.
  • Fast loading.

DataLife Engine Cons:

  • The trial version is limited.
  • English language only.
  • They limited themes and plugins.

7. Drupal:

Drupal is not for small businesses. It takes complex coding and technical skills to develop a website on Drupal. Large business sites, university sites, government sites, etc., are running on Drupal sites.

Drupal sites are ideal for handling massive traffic. Yet, it takes work to learn Drupal. You need extensive knowledge of HTML, PHP, CSS, and other coding languages to work with Drupal.

With technical knowledge, you can edit or customize a Drupal website.

Drupal Features:

  • Powerful CMS.
  • Security
  • Blog
  • eCommerce
  • Social media features
  • Mobile Optimized Sites.

Drupal Pros:

  • Open source and free.
  • Templates and extensions.
  • Source code access.
  • Secure.
  • Multilingual.
  • Content authoring
  • Marketing automation.

Drupal Cons:

  • No support
  • No free subdomain
  • PHP server

8. Ghost:

Ghost is an independent open-source blogging platform. It is a popular blogging platform for publishers, writers, and authors. YouTubers, bloggers, musicians, podcasters, artists, journalists, brands, and developers are using Ghost platform.

Ghost comes with built-in SEO features, a default theme, customization, content creation, and publishing features.

It is a premium platform and charges based on the number of members.

Ghost Features:

  • Free Open-Source code
  • Ghost Hosting
  • Drag-and-drop website builder.
  • Mobile optimized
  • Blogging
  • eCommerce solution
  • Social media features
  • Extensions

Ghost Pros:

  • Complete website builder and hosting.
  • Free and premium version.
  • Templates
  • Free subdomain
  • Source code access
  • Support

Ghost Cons:

  • Lack of their party apps.
  • Limited blogging features.
  • It needs to be more scalable.

9. Google Sites:

Google Sites is a product of Google to create websites for every purpose. It is an ideal platform to create portfolios, blogs, and news sites. Bloggers, news aggregators, small businesses, and streamers are using Google Sites to launch new websites.

As a Google Product, Google Sites offers quick and easy integration of Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Maps, etc. Multiple users can collaborate on website-building projects with Google Sites.

Google Sheets is best for newbies and students who are testing their way to website building. With basic features, it attracts webmasters with small websites with less customization. If you need a fully functional website, then you may choose other WordPress alternatives.

You cannot create an eCommerce website on Google Sites.

Google Sites Features:

  • Create and Host websites.
  • Complete control.
  • Easy integration of Google Tools.
  • Basic functionality.
  • Quick editing with limited customization.
  • Website speed optimization.
  • Mobile-friendly website.

Google Sites pros:

  • Easy to use.
  • Start with a free trial.
  • Integrated Google tools.

Google Sheets Cons:

  • Limited customization.
  • Limited functionality.
  • No support for eCommerce sites.
  • Lac of SEO features.
  • Cannot integrate Facebook Pixels.

10. HubSpot Free CMS Tools:

HubSpot Free CMS Tools is a place to access CMS for websites, marketing, services, sales, etc. It offers a drag-and-drop website builder. It is suitable to use it with Hubspot CRM to streamline business processes, marketing, and content experience.

Free CMS Tools offer SSL certificates, CDN, hosting, security, and performance.

It is a helpful CMS but expensive for many users.

Free CMS Tools Features:

  • Cloud-based CMS.
  • Themes.
  • SEO features
  • Easy Integration
  • Dra-and-drop website builder.
  • Security

Free CMS Tools Pros:

  • SEO Tools.
  • Complete website and business solution.
  • Personalization.
  • Support Google AMP.

Free CMS Tools Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Lack of eCommerce support
  • Lack of backup

11. Hugo:

Hugo is an open-source and free alternative to WordPress. It is a suitable platform for bloggers, webmasters, and business owners. You can create lightning-fast websites quickly with the Hugo platform.

It is best for building static websites.

Start with Hugo Themes and plugins. Customize the design of your website with codes. Hugo's shortcodes make it easy to customize websites. Hugo's site generator also generates static sites. If you need a dynamic website, then you should choose another alternative CMS.

Hugo Features:

  • Static website builder.
  • Easy integration.
  • Website hosting.
  • URL customization
  • Wordcount feature
  • Minutes to read feature.
  • Disqus integration.
  • Google Analytics support.

Hugo Pros:

  • Easy integration of Disqus and Google products.
  • Customer support.
  • Multilingual support.
  • Scalable.
  • Fastest framework.

Hugo Cons:

  • It could be better for dynamic websites.
  • Lack of plugins.
  • Limited features.

12. Jekyll:

Jekyll is a simple alternative to creating simple sites, blogs, and static sites. It is a good platform to create simple websites. GitHub users use Jekyll to test website codes and develop static sites. It is also easy to integrate GitHub Pages. Jekyll offers free hosting for websites.

As a suitable platform for GitHub users, Jekyll requires technical skills to host websites. You must understand the coding and commands to create a Jekyll website. Free themes and plugins are also available to help the developer.

Jekyll is known for its blogging features; It is easy to create and host blogging sites on this.

For advanced users, there are better platforms for website building than Jekyll.

Jekyll Features:

  • Static website building.
  • SEO features
  • GitHub integration.
  • Custom domain setup.

Jekyll Pros:

  • Fast websites.
  • Secure website.
  • Free hosting
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Zero maintenance.
  • GitHub integration.

Jekyll Cons:

  • Not for dynamic websites.
  • No image optimization.
  • Lack of contact forms.
  • Lack of post-scheduling.

13. Joomla:

Joomla is one of the most popular CMS alternatives to WordPress. More than 2 million websites are running on the Joomla platform. It is accessible in 76 languages.

Joomla is best for creating community sites, membership sites, and social media sites. Its CMS makes it easy for webmasters to manage millions of users easily.

The only reason why Joomla is not as popular as WordPress is that it is not as easy to work with as WordPress.

It is best for developers with experience in website development. Joomla combines Drupal and WordPress features to make it a valuable platform for web developers.

Joomla comes with 10,000+ extensions and templates to make it easy for users to create websites. Joomla extension installation is allowed on the backend only. Joomla is not best for developers with zero technical knowledge.

Joomla Features:

  • 10,000+ extensions and templates.
  • Mobile Optimization
  • Blog
  • eCommerce
  • Social media features

Joomla Pros:

  • Open source and free platform.
  • Customizable templates.
  • Source code access.

Joomla Cons:

  • Lack of free domain or custom domain.
  • Lack of support
  • PHP server
  • A limited number of extensions and templates.

14. Magento:

Magento is part of Adobe Commerce.  It is an open-source platform to build eCommerce websites.

To develop an online store on Magneto, you must have technical skills. Without coding and technical skills, developers cannot work on Magento.

Magento is scalable and suits large businesses.

Magento Features:

  • Complete eCommerce solution.
  • Drag-and-drop website builder.
  • Mobile optimized site
  • Extensions
  • eCommerce
  • Social media features

Magento Pros:

  • eCommerce platform
  • Free for starters.
  • Best for large eCommerce businesses
  • Templates
  • Source code access.
  • Free subdomain
  • Support

Magento Cons:

  • No in-built blog features.
  • It is limited to eCommerce only.
  • Not for newbies.
  • Expensive for small businesses.

15. Medium:

Medium is a free blogging alternative to WordPress. It is a popular platform with an ad-free user experience. It is easy to start with Medium. Just sign up, add details, and start publishing your content.

Social media sharing, hashtags, and engaging with the available community are the best ways to grow a blog on Medium. Readers can share each other's content, leave comments, and give "claps."

Medium is a simple and easy-to-use platform for blogging and branding.

Medium Features:

  • Free hosting
  • Mobile optimized
  • Blogging
  • Social media sharing
  • In-built Community

Medium Pros:

  • Engaging community.
  • Content publishing and sharing.
  • Medium Partner Program.
  • Support

Medium Cons:

  • No eCommerce
  • No extensions
  • No themes
  • No subdomains
  • No source code access.

16. OpenCart:

OpenCart is an open-source and free eCommerce solution. It is best for new and small businesses.

As a free eCommerce solution, OpenCart offers limited but essential features to run an online store.

Customization, modules, themes, and integrations make it a popular eCommerce solution. Four hundred seventy-one thousand six hundred sixty-nine merchants are running their online stores on OpenCart.

As a free platform, OpenCart has limitations. Yet, it is best for online stores with limited budgets.

OpenCart Features:

  • Clean administrator dashboard.
  • Easy user management.
  • Multiple stores.
  • Customization.
  • Free.

OpenCart Pros:

  • Free and Open Source.
  • Payment gateway integration.
  • Customer support.

OpenCart Cons:

  • SEO issues.
  • Technical issues.
  • Slow site.

17. Pixpa:

Pixpa is another website builder to create professional websites for every need. You can build small business websites and online stores. It also offers image-selling options, marketing tools, client galleries, photo galleries, blogging, and SEO tools.

Creatives, photographers, artists, illustrators, graphic designer, UI/UX designers, models, actors, fashion designers, architects, musicians, and church are using Pixpa to build websites.

Pixpa Features:

  • All-in-one platform
  • custom domain integration
  • customizable themes
  • Mobile optimized sites
  • Visual editor
  • Sitemap
  • Analytics
  • Thrid party integrations

Pixpa Pros:

  • Complete website solution
  • Themes
  • Galleries
  • Drag-and-drop page builder
  • Customization
  • Responsive
  • Blog
  • Social media features
  • SEO

Pixpa Cons:

  • Lack of free plan
  • Lazy formatting.

18. PrestaShop:

PrestaShop is another open-source eCommerce alternative to WordPress. It is popular among startups and small businesses. More than 300,000 merchants are using PrestaShop.

PrestaShop offers classic, hosted, and custom solutions. Classic lets you download Prestashop source code and develop an online store from scratch. Hosted enables you to design a ready-to-use store with a hosted platform. Custom solutions allow you to discuss with the Prestashop team to build your website.

Developers, bloggers, and affiliate marketers are also interested in the PrestaShop platform.

PrestaShop features:

  • Free classic plan to start from scratch.
  • All-in-one payment solution.
  • Customizable themes.
  • Marketing automation
  • Automated ads
  • Shipping
  • Analytics
  • Multilingual
  • Themes

PrestaShop Pros:

  • It's a free version, for starters.
  • Open source
  • 5000+ themes and services.
  • User friendly

PrestaShop Cons:

  • Lack of scalability
  • Lack of team support
  • Need for technical skills.

19. Progress' Sitefinity:

Progress Sitefinity is a suitable platform to create multiple business websites and blogs. It is a valuable alternative to WordPress.

It is an easy-to-manage CMS service with a low-cost option. You can create a website that meets your goals. Developers need less coding on Progress' Sitefinity as compared to many other CMS platforms.

Progress' Sitefinity Features:

  • Multiple websites.
  • Easy sync.
  • Customization.
  • Integration
  • Multilingual
  • Omnichannel CMS, Cloud-Native, CDP, and Marketing.

Progress' Sitefinity Pros:

  • Low-cost CMS licence.
  • Zero setup fee.
  • No coding.
  • Easy Integration.
  • Marketing automation.
  • Digital experience.

Progress' Sitefinity Cons:

  • No free plan
  • Complex setup.
  • Lack of mobile usability.

20. Squarespace:

Squarespace is popular among bloggers, business websites, and content creators. With almost zero technical knowledge, you can build astonishing websites for businesses.

Premium templates, domain transfer, store management, and brand building make Squarespace a user-friendly alternative to WordPress. It is easy to optimize websites for mobile devices.

Squarespace is a complete website solution for building websites and choosing hosting, domain names, templates, and additional features. It is easy to customize, yet only some things on Squarespace are customizable.

Bloggers and small business owners find it easy to start a website with Squarespace. It is an easy-to-use WordPress alternative to necessary features such as SEO tools.

Squarespace Features:

  • Mobile Optimized Websites.
  • Drag-and-drop website builder.
  • Premium templates.
  • Extensions.
  • Blog.
  • eCommerce.
  • Social media features.

Squarespace Pros:

  • Complete website solution.
  • Free and premium plans.
  • Customizable templates.
  • Free subdomain.
  • Free custom domain integration.
  • Complete support.

Squarespace Cons:

  • Lack of Complete Control
  • Lac of custom coding.
  • Lack of source code access
  • Lack of popular extensions.

21. Shopify:

Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce solutions and alternatives to WordPress. Even a startup online store owner can start a business with Shopify. You can begin a Shopify online store without technical skills.

Shopify eCommerce platform also offers an app marketplace. You can choose apps that are best suited for your online store. You get live chat, headless storefronts, analytics, inventory locations, payment options, etc.

Shopify store is easy to create. You may not require any coding skills to build an online store.

Shopify Features:

  • eCommerce Hosting.
  • Drag-and-drop website builder.
  • Extensions
  • Mobile site
  • Blog
  • Social media
  • eCommerce

Shopify Pros:

  • Website builder and hosting.
  • Templates and extensions
  • Free subdomain
  • Support

Shopify Cons:

  • Lack of free version.
  • Lack of Source code access.
  • Commission fees.

22. Tumblr:

Tumblr is a social network and blogging solution. It is a microblogging solution for sharing content online.

Rather than becoming a major blogging solution, Tumblr became a repurposed content platform. Most of the content on Tumblr is reproduced and shared for more engagement and visibility.

With time, Tumblr has lost its popularity. Yet, it is the platform to boost your social media presence and traffic.

Tumblr Features:

  • Content sharing
  • Analytics
  • Unlimited content upload and sharing.
  • Free themes
  • SSL

Tumblr Pros:

  • Free platform and hosting
  • Ad-free access
  • Share multiple content formats.

Tumblr Cons:

  • Posting limit
  • File size limit.
  • Lack of plugins
  • Best for microblogging only.

23. vBulletin:

vBulletin is a forum-building solution. It is an alternative to WordPress forums and has community-building capabilities. It offers vBulletin 6 and vBulletin cloud plans.

As a leading community-building platform, vBulletin offers complete customization, brand building, user management, private messaging, and content management.

vBulletin Features:

  • Customization
  • Built-in apps
  • Chat feature.
  • SEO tools
  • Security
  • Mobile optimized
  • Blogging
  • Ghost

vBulletin Pros:

  • Support
  • Fix bugs.
  • Templates
  • Patches
  • Hosted forum

vBulletin Cons:

  • Lac of the free plan.
  • Limited community features.
  • Lack of code customization in cloud-based vBulletin.

24. Weebly:

Weebly is another alternative to launch your business website or blog. Small businesses, bloggers, and marketers can easily build websites and make them live. Start with free Weebly plan to develop and launch the website with SSL security. A free shopping cart, unlimited items, an SEO Community forum, and support make it a worthy alternative to WordPress.

Weebly is not the best choice for large websites. But for starters, it is a place to test website skills and put them to work. With limited features and functionality, it will help you build websites for every purpose.

Weebly app center helps you with integrations and apps for every need.

Weebly features:

  • Website development with hosting.
  • Drag-and-drop website builder.
  • Extensions.
  • Mobile optimized sites.
  • Blog
  • eCommerce
  • Social media features

Weebly Pros:

  • One platform for every website need.
  • Free plan for starters.
  • Templates and design with customization.
  • Free subdomain.
  • Free domain with premium plan.
  • Community and customer support.

Weebly Cons:

  • Lack of complete control.
  • Lack of source code access.
  • Limited features in the free version.

25. Wix:

Wix is the most popular WordPress alternative to launch a website. It is easy to create a Wix website without limits. You can create online stores, portfolios, blogs, consultant sites, service business sites, restaurant sites, event sites, etc.

Every small- and mid-sized business can start its online business website on Wix. Drag-and-drop makes it easy for webmasters to build websites without technical skills. You can use Wix templates and customization options to customize your website.

Wix is a hosting website and blogging platform. It takes care of security and maintenance. You will have less to deal with technical issues.

Wix offers free and premium plans. Free plans help users to test the platform and use it for building websites without spending anything. The free Wix plan limits users from removing Wix branding. Users can host websites with non-custom free domains.

Wix is unique. You cannot replicate its design on other platforms.

Wix Features:

  • Hosting service
  • Easy installation.
  • Drag and drop website builder.
  • Extensions.
  • Mobile optimization.
  • Blog
  • eCommerce
  • Social media features.

Wix Pros:

  • Free and Premium version.
  • Website builder.
  • Customizable templates and design.
  • Free custom domain support.
  • Free non-custom domain.
  • Customer support.

Wix Cons:

  • Lack of full control.
  • No source code access.

26. Webflow:

Webflow is a platform for creating custom websites with a visual website builder. It offers localization of websites to boost local SEO. Web developers can use the platform to develop business websites, blogs, and even eCommerce sites. It provides both free and premium plans.

With the free Webflow plan, you can create an entry-level website with 2 pages. Creating websites on Webflow is not easy. You may require third-party integrations to embed codes.

With the premium Webflow plan, you can use a custom domain. Premium plans are best for extended traffic.

Webflow Features:

  • Customizable templates.
  • Easy integration and customization.
  • 301 redirects.
  • Sitemap.
  • Payment systems for eCommerce sites.

Webflow Pros:

  • Free plan for starters.
  • General and eCommerce plans.
  • Free learning resources.
  • Security
  • Customizable templates.

Webflow Cons:

  • Now, it's easy for everyone.
  • Social media integration needs to be clarified.
  • Lack of advanced features.

Which WordPress Alternative is Best for You?

WordPress is not just a CMS or blogging platform; it is a platform to build any website, from eCommerce to community, social media, and news sites. Your choice of WordPress alternative depends upon your goal.

You can start a blog, an eCommerce site, a social media site, a new website, a community forum, etc.

If you want to build a blog, then you can consider Bluehost, Blogger, Medium, etc. If you want to create a community site, then you need vBulletin. If you're going to make an eCommerce site, then you need BigCommerce, OpenCart, PrestaShop, Shopify, or Magento. For the business website, you can consider AEM, Contetful, Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, CMS Hub, Sitefinity, Drupal, Joomla, Webflow, Hugo, etc.

Conclusion:

These are the best WordPress alternatives for SEO-optimized sites. Consider budget, features, and customization options when choosing a reliable WordPress alternative.

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December 11, 2023

How to Create WordPress Website in 60 Seconds? Astra Starter Templates With ZipWP AI Website builder

Astra Starter Templates help you create a WordPress site in 60 seconds with ZipWP AI Website Builder. AI website creation tool ZipWP AI website Builder claims it can make any WordPress website in just 60 seconds.

How is that possible?

ZipWP AI Integration in Astra Starter Templates:

Brainstorm Force, the parent company of Astra Starter Templates, has announced the ZipWP AI builder integration for automatic website creation.

How to Create WordPress Website in 60 Seconds with Astra Starter Templates With ZipWP AI Website builder: eAskme
 How to Create WordPress Website in 60 Seconds with Astra Starter Templates With ZipWP AI Website builder: eAskme

 

If you do not know, Astra Starter Templates has more than 1 million installations. Astra themes are easy to install and liked by millions.

Astra theme also has a Site builder and deep integrations. You can use Spectra page builder or Elementor addons in the “Essential toolkit” plan. However you will only access the AI website generator to create a website when you choose the “Business Toolkit” plan.

Astra Starter Templates have 3 plans:

  • Astra Pro at $49
  • Essential Toolkit at $79
  • Business Toolkit at $149 (with ZipWP integration)

The new ZipWP AI Builder integration will make it easy to create websites, including images and content optimization.

Astra Templates is offering 280+ templates for easy customization for WordPress websites. One million installations explain the story of its success.

Now, Astra wants to offer you something extra.

With the Astra Business Toolkit plan, you will get the feature to integrate ZIpWP AI Website Builder.

What is ZipWP?

ZipWP is an AI website builder. It is creating professional websites without the need for developers and coding.

ZipWP Offers two options:

  • Free
  • Business ($399/year)

In the free ZipWP plan, you will get the following:

  • Instant WordPress Website
  • 3 AI sites per month
  • No Permanent sites
  • The site expires in 24 hours.

In short, the free ZipWP AI website builder plan is for those who want to test the service.
Business:

ZipWP AI website builder Business plan gives you the following:

  • Instant WordPress Website creation
  • 10 AI Sites per day.
  • 20 Permanent WordPress Websites.
  • 20Gb Total Disk Space.
  • 10 Team Members access.
  • White label domain
  • AI Wireframe Builder (under development)
  • VIP Support for business plan
  • 100,000 ZipAI credits monthly
  • You also get a 3 A money-back guarantee and 24/7 support.

When you use the Astra Business Toolkit Plan, you will get ZipWP Pro for 3 months.

ZipWP can create a complete business website or blogging website.

ZipWP premium version or Astra integration lets you create templates from scratch without typing a single line of code. You can change the design and add new content and images with drag-and-drop settings.

Whether a blogger, business, or developer agency, you can still use ZipWP to create websites that suit your client’s needs.

To access ZipWP, you must register on their website.

Conclusion:

AI Taking over many jobs and tasks. The web designing and development world is similar to other IT industries.

With the help of AI tools like ZipWP or ZipWP, integration into Astra themes can save you a lot of time and effort.

However, it is always necessary to test the website created by AI to ensure that it meets responsive and Core Web Vitals standards.

Still have any question, do share via comments.

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September 11, 2023

WordPress 100 Years Domain Name Registrations Launched: How to Get it?

Preserve the legacy of your business domain name with 100-year dominion registrations and WordPress with advanced security-managed web hosting and 24/ 7 assistance.

Until now, you can buy it for up to 10 years. Sites like GoDaddy, Bigrock, BlueHost, Hostgator, etc., allow users to buy a domain name for a maximum of 10 years.

But now WordPress has developed a new plan that allows users to register their domain names for 100 years.

WordPress's 100 years of domain registration are one of a kind. And here is what you must know about it.

WordPress 100 Years Domain Name Registrations Plan:

WordPress 100 Years Domain Name Registrations Launched: eAskme
WordPress 100 Years Domain Name Registrations Launched: eAskme

Registering a domain name for 100 years may not appeal to every individual, business, or marketer.

Yet, WordPress is offering Century Plan.

WordPress's 100-Year Plan will cost you $38,000. In other words, you are paying $380/year for a 100-year domain registration at WordPress.

What do you get in WordPress Century Plan for Domain registration?

You will get more than just a domain name with the WordPress Century plan:

  • Domain name for 100 years.
  • Multiple backups
  • Managed WordPress Hosting
  • Unlimited bandwidth to handle unlimited traffic.
  • 24/7 dedicated support.

Who can Buy a 100-Year Plan for Domain Registration?

WordPress says anyone interested in buying Century Plan to Preserve Legacy can fill out the form.

WordPress hopes people can use One Hundred Year Domain name registration to gift newborns and preserve their history for 100 years.

How to Join 100 Year Domain Name Registration Plan?

Go to WordPress.com 100 Years page and fill in the form.

Conclusion:

WordPress's 100-year domain name registration is already making headlines. It is a unique domain name registration plan you can gift someone.

WordPress is one of the most popular CMS for creating websites, blogs, and e-commerce sites.

The company hopes that a new plan will make users stay with the WordPress company for a very long time.

It is a good plan for those who choose WordPress over other website CMS platforms.

You will get hosting, domain name, security, backup, and a server that can handle unlimited traffic. It is undoubtedly a good plan for massive news websites.

If you plan to run your website for 100 years, choose the WordPress Century plan for domain name and web hosting.

Do you want to buy a domain name for a hundred years?

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May 26, 2023

Exploring WordPress as a Way to Make Money During College!

Are you a student looking for innovative ways to earn extra income as you study? If so, WordPress could be the solution to your problems.

This content management system has revolutionized the online business arena, providing multiple web development and design tools.

Besides helping businesses manage their content for maximum online presence, WordPress also provides a great opportunity to make money from the comfort of your dorm room.

WordPress provides various tools to share and monetize your skills, whether you are passionate about writing, web design, or copywriting.

You could therefore consider seeking academic help on platforms like https://mypaperwriter.com/economic-paper-writing-service.htm to free up some space for freelancing, development, or theme design, without compromising on your academics.

This article will highlight how you can convert your skills into money and make a profit during your college years.

Exploring WordPress as a Way to Make Money During College:

Exploring WordPress as a Way to Make Money During College: eAskme
Exploring WordPress as a Way to Make Money During College: eAskme

1. Web Design and Development:

Thanks to the increasing demand for companies to maximize their online presence, the need for web design and development experts is at an all-time high.

Fortunately, you do not have to be a guru in JavaScript, CSS, and HTML to venture into web development and design.

WordPress offers many tools that help you go about web design easily.

This content management system has an easy-to-navigate dashboard that allows you to easily create web pages and add various elements to your pages.

This reduces the time you require to hone your craft in web development and design, allowing you to begin generating supplementary cash in a short duration.

2. Theme Customization:

Another great feature of WordPress is the wide range of themes that allow you to customize the front end of a website.

Themes make for the easy adjustment of colors, fonts, and the design of your website and are thus a great plus to aid in the start of your journey in content writing.

Besides starting a blog, you could also make some extra cash by customizing WordPress themes and adding new features to suit various client needs.

You can then sell these themes on the platform, supplementing your student budget.

3. Plugin Development:

Like themes, WordPress provides multiple plugins that help you adjust your website's operation.

This creates a gap for additional features to redesign plugins to enhance your client's functionality.

You may consider developing plugins and selling them to clients or offering plugins for free as a teaser and charging a premium for versions with advanced features.

Note that plugin development requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and WordPress architecture.

Also, take time to learn about data security to overcome any vulnerabilities that could expose users of your products to malicious attacks.

4. Content Creation:

If your interests lie in writing, you could use WordPress to create a cheap website and start your blogging career.

The powerful content management features on WordPress will help you to streamline your content and have an easier time publishing and managing your content.

Before you embark on your blogging journey, however, ensure that you have identified a lucrative field to exploit and also that you have identified various means to monetize your blog.

You could make money from blogging by being an affiliate for various online stores or adding various Google ads on your page and earning for each new click.

5. eCommerce:

Besides writing, WordPress provides multiple plugins, such as WooCommerce, to help you set up your online store.

Upon establishing an online store, you can sell various products and services, including digital downloads.

You could also use these platforms to drop ship, gaining money without investing in a product.

6. WordPress Support and Maintenance:

With so many people flocking to exploit the many benefits of WordPress, the demand for experts to troubleshoot various issues is always rising.

Often, users may seek help handling updates and backups and troubleshooting various errors as they navigate the platform.

You could, thus, take the opportunity to learn the mechanization of WordPress and update yourself on the solutions for various issues.

With these skills, you can charge for services, including management, maintenance, and fixing of WordPress systems.

As a start, you could create profiles on various social media platforms and content mills, landing your first few clients and establishing your authority in the field.

7. Affiliate Marketing:

Affiliate marketing ranks top among various ways to make money as a blogger.

As an affiliate, you must enhance the sales of a particular commodity and encourage clients to purchase through your website.

You earn a profit commission for each lead, making passive income over time.

When starting as an affiliate, consider providing your users with detailed product reviews to help them choose the best product among the variety of options at their disposal.

This approach will allow you to add value to the reader and ramp up quality traffic, increasing your earning potential.

It is worth noting, however, that blogging will require some understanding of SEO-optimization techniques to rank higher than your counterparts.

If you are unfamiliar with SEO, consider using a WordPress SEO plugin or getting expert support to optimize your website.

8. Online Courses and Consultations:

If you are an expert in a particular field, you should consider using WordPress to set up a consultation service.

Plugins like LearnDash and Memberpress can help you manage subscriptions and sell various courses online, making some cash to supplement your budget.

Conclusion:

WordPress is a great option to diversify your money-generation channels as a student.

We recommend developing various competencies in SEO optimization, affiliate marketing, and web design and development before pursuing any WordPress endeavor.

This will help you avoid frustrations and ensure that you offer quality solutions whenever you identify a business gap.

Otherwise, we wish you success in your business endeavor.

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March 14, 2023

Making Custom WordPress Development Sites Accessible and Inclusive for All Users

Building custom WordPress sites that are accessible and inclusive for users is very important to web development, especially for WordPress sites.

Accessibility means custom WordPress development and design websites that everyone, including those with disabilities, can use.

Making a custom WordPress site accessible means having clear and consistent navigation, headings, and labels that are easy to understand and ensuring that the site's color design has sufficient contrast between the background and text, making it easier to read.

You also must ensure that your sites are accessible and inclusive for almost all public.

If your business includes working on WordPress website design in Toronto, you may find some pieces of advice that can be helpful for you in this article.

Understanding the Guidelines for Custom WordPress Development:

Making Custom WordPress Development Sites Accessible and Inclusive for All Users: eAskme
Making Custom WordPress Development Sites Accessible and Inclusive for All Users: eAskme

 

When it comes to custom WordPress development, there are a few guidelines you should always keep in mind to be sure your site is accessible and inclusive for all users.

First and foremost, always use high-contrast color schemes for your text and background.

This will ensure your site is readable for everyone, regardless of their vision problems.
 
Secondly, make sure that all your content is easily navigable.

Use clear and short headings and subheadings, and break up long blocks of text with images or infographics.

Thirdly, always bring alternative versions of your content, such as audio or video.

This way, users with different disabilities can still access and enjoy your content.

Finally, don’t forget to test your site regularly to ensure it is still accessible and user-friendly.

Following these simple steps, you can create custom WordPress sites accessible to all users.

Strategies for Making WordPress Sites More Accessible:

WordPress is a content management system that powers millions of websites and blogs worldwide.

It is known to be very user-friendly and flexible, making it a popular choice for many online publishers.

However, because WordPress is so popular, it is important to ensure that your site is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Custom WordPress development allows you to control your site to meet all the criteria for an accessible site.

There are several ways you can make your WordPress site more accessible:

1. Use an accessible theme:

When choosing a theme for your WordPress site, choose one that is optimized for accessibility. There are many accessible themes available for free or premium.

2. Install an accessibility plugin:

Many plugins can also help make your WordPress site more accessible. These plugins can add features such as alternate text for images and headings, audio and video content transcriptions, and more.

3. Use clear and concise language:

When creating content for your WordPress site, use clear and concise language everyone can understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may not be familiar to all users.

4. Optimize your website for search engines:

This will help users looking for your site using a search engine find it more easily. Use descriptive titles, meta descriptions, and relevant keywords throughout your site's content.

5. Enable sharing buttons:

Making it easier for users to share your blog's content will increase the reach and make your content available on many online platforms and social media channels, as well.

6. Test your website:

Screen readers and other accessibility tools can test your website to ensure that all users can access the content on your site.

This is an important step for any WordPress site but especially crucial for sites intended for a specific target or purpose.

Following these steps, you can ensure that your WordPress site is optimized for accessibility and is user-friendly to all users.

WordPress website design in Toronto can be a profitable business idea and easily increase your income.

Ensuring Inclusivity:

As the web becomes more and more accessible, it's important to make sure that your custom.

WordPress site is accessible and inclusive for all users. You can do a few simple things to ensure your site is accessible to everyone.

First, use clear and simple language when writing your content.

Avoid jargon and technical terms that everyone might not understand. Second, format your content in an easy-to-read way.

Use short paragraphs and plenty of white space to help break up your text.
 
Third, add alt text to all of your images. This will help users with visual troubles understand what is on the page.

And finally, make sure that your site is easy to navigate using only a keyboard. This will help users who can't use a mouse or have other physical disabilities.

Benefits of an Accessible Site:

An accessible website can be used by everyone, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.

This includes people with disabilities, those using assistive technologies such as screen readers, and those with slow internet connection speeds.

There are many benefits to making your WordPress site accessible:

1. Improved SEO:

An accessible site is more likely to rank higher in search engine results as it is designed to be used by a wider range of people.

2. Increased traffic:

An inclusive site can attract more visitors, as it ensures that no one is excluded from using your content.

3. Greater customer satisfaction:

Providing an accessible experience for all users will result in happier customers who are more likely to return to your site.

4. boost your brand image:

An accessible website shows that you care about inclusion and diversity, which can boost your brand's reputation.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Working on WordPress Website Design in Toronto:

A few common mistakes can make custom WordPress development sites inaccessible and exclusive for certain users.

If your business is about WordPress website design in Toronto, here are a few to avoid:

  • Not ensuring that all content is accessible to all users. This means that text is not very readable, images haven't alt text, and videos haven't been captioned.
  • Not giving users the ability to customize their experience. This includes letting them choose their font size, color scheme, and layout.
  • Not providing enough alternatives for different types of users. For example, including audio versions of blog posts for visually impaired people.
  •  Not testing the site with different types of users before launch. This will help ensure the site is accessible and inclusive for all.

Conclusion:

We hope this article has helped you how to make your WordPress site accessible and inclusive for all your target public.

By keeping these tips in mind when developing and designing your WordPress website, you can ensure that it is usable by everyone regardless of their disability or browsing experience.

If you are running a WordPress website design in Toronto, accessibility should be the priority when building a custom WordPress site—you must not forget that aspect.

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November 25, 2022

How to Brand a WordPress Site (7 Beginner Tips You Can Use Today)

WordPress is one of the internet’s most popular website creators.

Its gold-standard, open-source software is free for anyone to use – and with a small upgrade, you can attach your professional domain name to your site.

The low cost and user-friendliness of WordPress mean it is one of the world’s go-to systems for blogging and website creation. It is what’s known as a content management system (CMS).

How to Brand a WordPress Site (7 Beginner Tips You Can Use Today): eAskme
How to Brand a WordPress Site (7 Beginner Tips You Can Use Today): eAskme

This allows you to create a website and upload content to it easily from an invisible back end that your website visitors can’t see.

People pay dozens to hundreds of dollars monthly for website management and hosting from proprietary services. 

WordPress does not require such an investment. As such, it’s the perfect option for beginners. Still, you’ve got to know how to use it well.

One of the most important aspects of website design is branding. 

You want your visitors to feel as though they have a unique experience they can’t find anywhere else. 

That means making yourself stand out – which you will have a much easier time doing with the following seven tips. Read on!

1. Set Your Objectives Ahead of Time

WordPress is a simple system to navigate once you get the hang of it.

However, setting up a website will still take hours of your time.

Plan on 10-20 hours, including choosing your brand colors, getting a logo, writing copy, selecting a theme, and loading everything in.

Given the time commitment, it’s smart to ask yourself, “What do I want from this?” Is it sales? Email signups? Meetings? Whatever the case, you’ll want to tailor your web copy and design to it.

PRO TIP: If you’re unsure what your objectives are, it’s time to halt your process and speak with a trusted advisor. You MUST know what you’re trying to achieve before you put up your website, or you are simply wasting your time.

2. Get Your Own Domain Name

This is one of the trickier aspects of WordPress to understand, but also one of the most important.

WordPress software is, as mentioned, free and open-source.

That means anyone can use it. WordPress even provides complimentary hosting if you choose – i.e., a place to keep your website on its servers.

If you choose to use WordPress hosting, you are taking advantage of the WordPress.com arm of the organization.

They will host your site, but they will not give you your domain name – it will end with the WordPress address. So if your business name is Bits and Baubles, your website might read https://bitsandbaubles.wordpress.com. It’s free, but it’s not very professional-looking.

For that reason, most businesses opt to connect their domain names using WordPress.org.

You have to pay for your hosting and domain name, but once you do, you can use the themes and CMS with your domain – e.g., https://bitsandbaubles.com.

PRO TIP: Is your domain name available? Play around on a site like Google Domains to see what’s available.

3. Nail Your Logo

Logos are key. You will use them everywhere, from your business card to the top of your website.

Get yours right by ditching the drawing board and using a professional logo provider.

Human designers abound on the internet, but most are quite expensive.

The best bet is to use an online logo creator, which gives you plenty of options but won’t make you pay until you’re happy with your file.

Remember to use your logo as your favicon as well.

The favicon is the little icon that sits at the top of an open tab, and it’s what shows up on the browser bar when someone favorites your site.

Make the most of this little bit of branding potential!

PRO TIP: If you aren’t confident designing your logo, reach out to a professional designer.

Just note that this will cost money, so it’s best to use an online service that will walk you through the steps and suggest designs that match your needs.

4. Select Your Theme Carefully

WordPress is famous for its wealth of free and low-cost themes.

You have many options and can easily pick one from a theme template site.

As with the rest of its ethics, WordPress themes seek to smooth your transition from an entrepreneur with a pretty good idea to a businessperson with excellent prospects.

Before you select a theme and launch your site, load up enough content that you can see what your theme will look like when filled out.

That way, you won’t find out later if you don’t like it.

PRO TIP: While you can change your themes easily on WordPress, it’s not advisable to do it too often. One of the most important parts of branding is consistency; if you are constantly changing the look of your site, you aren’t very consistent.

Your audience will lose trust, so once you find a good theme, stick to it.

5. Choose 3-5 Brand Colors

Ready? This is one of the fun parts of designing a well-branded WordPress site.

You can play around with colors, matching them up to create a small stable of colors representing you.

Make sure to choose:

  • A background color (usually white, though ivory and light grey are also okay)
  • A text color (dark grey or black)
  • 2-4 other brand colors

Note: if your logo leverages more than white and black, you might want to wait to get it until after you choose your brand colors.

PRO TIP: Are you stumped when it comes to shades? Use a color picker that generates themed color sets or picks out the hues in images and reports them back to you for use.

6. Tell a Story

Don’t forget that WordPress is not just a website design platform.

It’s also a CMS, meaning it’s very easy for you to upload content to it regularly.

Even if you don’t hope to become a well-known blogger, that doesn’t mean you should ignore this feature.

There is a middle ground between throwing up a few web pages when you begin and blogging daily.

Use that middle ground to tell your story.

You can do this in several ways, from creating good foundational content for your Home, About, and Contact pages.

You might also have Shop, Mission, or Work With Me pages – it’s all up to you and your business strategy.

Once you’ve got those pages in the bag, look for other ways to add value to your site.

Will you have news once in a while?

Stick a News link in your menu, then only post to it when you have something to share.

Avoiding the word “blog” can reduce the pressure you might feel to produce when you don’t have much to say.

PRO TIP: If you’re genuinely unsure how to spread your story out across the pages of your site, then sit down at your computer and draft your business’s tale in a Word document.

After you’ve collected a thorough narrative, parcel it out over a few pages of your site.

7. Don’t Forget UX

UX, or user experience, design is key. It dictates how a person will use your site, which in turn dictates the kind of experience they will have.

Before you launch your website to the public, have several people test it out.

  • Do they understand how the menu works?
  • Can they navigate to every page from every page?
  • Do they know how to find what you want them to see (e.g., your shop or forms)?
  • And so forth.

PRO TIP: Confused about UX design? You can hire people online to help you tweak your site without paying them to build the whole thing.

There are plenty of places to find freelancers, and many companies will offer this as an à la carte option.

Slow and Steady Wins the (Branding) Race:

It’s tempting to look at the above list and start crying, but … don’t.

Remember the tortoise and the hare?

Be the tortoise, going down the list methodically and ticking off one element at a time. It’s too easy to encounter overwhelmed otherwise.

If you stick with that slow and steady approach, you’ll have a lovely WordPress site before you know it.

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