Hello ...
Once you know "if" WordPress is for you, what's the next step to take?
Making a transition to WordPress deserves serious thought as the entire direction of your online presence will at some point be supported by a content management interactive hub. It is the way the online world is headed for a multitude of good reasons! One major reason is the ability to have up-to-date information immediately available for your prospects and clients! A bit of a competitive "must" .. yes?
Right now the proven leader for an easy to use content management system is WordPress. It's an excellent platform to implement and will serve you well.
So where do you begin?
STEP 1: GRASPING THE CONCEPT
The best first step, from my experience, is to understand the WordPress platform. The end result of a WordPress product can look pretty similar to a traditional newsletter and/or website. However the "behind-the-scenes" - the how, where and why content is applied within the platform is a bit different and is what makes all the difference!
A kaleidoscope is a great analogy to what happens on a WordPress platform. Do you remember playing with one? Watching all those different shapes of colors of glass rearrange themselves and take on different looks based upon "reflections from internal mirrors."
In WordPress, the individual pieces of your business content and the pieces of the WordPress platform become the pieces of colored glass. It can appear in different ways for different types of buyers in different sections of your blog/website as the season, month and time of day changes!!! AND ... you get to do all this yourself .. without having to pay your web person!
For some of you, the above example might be a "stretch" .. but it gives you at a minimum the right mindset to continue.
STEP 2: IDENTIFYING YOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Once you have an understanding of the dynamics, you need to put your basics (the pieces of your business) on paper. It's the same exercise I have my clients do with a traditional website, blog or any communication. Who are you talking to? How many different types of people do you talk to? What actions do you want these readers to take? What do you offer, what information is needed, to make them take those actions? What are the different "seller to buyer" types of connections that will be required?
If you want to go slow you might want to pick just one segment of your business for the above exercise. Once these elements are identified you will want to think about how many different combinations, sorts, tallies, etc you will want to create from all your pieces. Again, what are the different "seller to buyer" types of communications that will be required? Get that nailed and you can move onto setting up your WordPress structure.
STEP 3: CREATING THE STRUCTURE
WordPress Themes are the heart and soul of your structure. They provide the basic components that will support the presentation of all your different seller to buyer communications identified in step #2. Themes all do different things and have to be chosen carefully. You do not want to be restricted by a theme and not be able to maximize your communications!
Within each theme, you create the pages of your WordPress blog and/or website. Each page (or communication) will have a different purpose. Which pages have postings? Which are static? Which are both? Where on each page do you want a sidebar? What type of "widgit" will support the type of info you want in a sidebar? What type of "sorting" of data do you need to give access to (archives, categories, etc)? Are any plug-ins necessary for supporting your varieties of content and/or coding,... and so on.
One very practical part of a theme is if you outgrow a beginning theme you can just change the theme and your content will find their respective home immediately on the new theme! It is a transparent transfer!!
Most people require some instruction on the above components of the
WordPress structure. Some components are pretty self-evident but not all. A good place to "play around" to get familiar before you get serious is on www.Wordpress.com. Activate a free WordPress blog on the WordPress servers and play!!
STEP 4: GOING FORWARD WITH YOUR BUSINESS
Transitioning your business to a WordPress platform can be done in different ways. It depends mostly upon your schedule, the amount of content, the timing, the desire, the ability and sometimes the budget!
Some people begin with a WordPress blog. Over time the blog is expanded and enhanced and before one knows.... they have a WordPress website. Anyone who begins this way is more apt to apply self-instruction! Not necessary as there is always instruction available, but often the case. There is a chance of missing some core capabilities if you are on a novice level.
Other people are ready to create a WordPress website immediately. There are many free themes available to use. However if you go this route of creating a website, let me recommend you invest in a custom designed theme. Get the layout, components, functionality, colors and other that you need for your unique branding and communications. Todays Way offers this service so make sure you speak with us before going forward without!
Know that Today's Way is here to help you with your transition, of any kind. Don't let yourself be left behind. On your own or with our help, go to www.wordpress.com for free themes and hosting. You can also go to www.wordpress.org for themes to install on a private web-hosted wordpress program. If you already pay for web hosting there is a huge chance that you have Wordpress already sitting there waiting for you to activate.
Visualize that kaleidoscope I previously mentioned and place your business communications inside of it. How great would it be to have the pieces of your business that were just presented to buyer A be able to appear for buyer B with just a click. As long as you submit your content to the platform ... you, yourself, can make all the updates, changes, and additions to your WordPress platform that will achieve this and more!
Structure, step #3, may require some assistance and I strongly suggest that you do get help in understanding "structure." It is your driver's license for driving your business forward into 2012. Well worth any investment
Check out my current Special on "all" of my trainings .. Back To School For Business Owners! There is a training listed for creating a WordPress blog for $110. 90 minutes plus a 30 minute follow-up call. Don't miss out!
Keep Your Business Growing!
margie
