After having tried a few CMS software installation, my favourite is still using WordPress to make your own web sites. Sure it is more like a blogging software than a proper content management system, however even Joomla/Drupal could be used for blogging. It all depends on how you create the structure of your web site that will determine your web site is more towards blogging or more towards information dissemination.
When I say web site structure means how you create a section or topic and make a pyramid structure and group them together. A blogging style structure is chronologically linear in nature and has no pyramid structure, while a content site would has some semblance of a pyramid structure to group the topic into sections for easier navigation and finding of information.
You could make a pyramid like web site structure no matter which content management system software you use, be it specifically made for blogging or otherwise.
In my case, I wanted to blog a little, and also create web site at the same time. Because I wanted to try out many aspect of web site creation, this web site of mine is neither here nor there. My web site could end up pretty messy actually. However, with some tinkering about, it could be somewhat structured. So anything that didn’t fit into the topic would be left unstructured, and topics that would fit in the grand scheme of web site creation, would be placed in its proper place.
Installing WordPress was quick and easy using Bluehost Fantastico auto installs or Simple Script. Since I needed a bit more control of the MySQL database naming for easier identification, I manually created the MySQL database, the user name and password and inserted those information when I installed my WordPress installation using Simple Script which allowed for custom configuration and settings.
I installed my WordPress in a folder away from my root to keep my root folder clear from clutter. It is so easy for the root folder to become cluttered with many folders from various software installations making hard to identify which folder belonged to which software. Especially when I wanted to uninstall them, some bits and pieces from the installation were left behind and I had to carefully check through the folder and make sure it was not some important folder belonging to other installation. Now I install all my software in a sub folder for easier web site housekeeping.
If you have a web site that did not have any auto-install script, you will need to study the documentation at WordPress.org on how to install the software. If your web hosting did not provide decompressing feature in their file manager, you will need to unzip the WordPress package first in your computer before uploading them. Use FTP software to upload the files. This is the fastest way to upload any files to a web hosting account. Manual installation also requires the creation of MySQL database manually. Look for the MySQL admin icon on your web hosting account to set up the database. After setting up the MySQL database, note down the database settings as you will need it when you install your WordPress.
Once your WordPress websites has been installed it is time to log in and start configuring it for your use. Note down the login URL, bookmark it for easier future access to it.
The things that you will need to do after an installation not necessary in the order shown:
- Configure the title and description of your blog/web site and key in your email address, date and time format
- Look for a nice looking template to suit your topic and web site theme
- get rid of those links in the blogroll
- change your permalinks to nicer looking ones (eg /%postname%.html)
- switch on Akismet anti-spam (you will need it! Unless you switch off comments to avoid people commenting in your post)
Some advance things you might want to do in your WordPress websites
- tweak or modify a downloaded WordPress template theme and customized it to your requirement
- install additional plugins to increase your WordPress functionality
- you may want to change where you store your images
- using widgets to provide better sidebar functionality