2. FTP knowledge.
You will need to know how to use file transfer protocol (FTP) to transfer files to your web server. Sound tricky? It's not. FTP is simply selecting files from a location on a computer and uploading or transferring them to your web server. Think of it as moving a file from one folder to another on your computer. Your web hosting service provider will recommend which FTP program to use if you don't have one on your computer. There are tons of free FTP applications available for download online, including at CNET.com.
3. Backup capability.
You will need to manage your own backups, but there are easy ways to automate the process. If you use BlueHost as your hosting provider, for instance, it will do backups for you. "WordPress does offer plug-ins for doing backups on your server or to yoru local drive," Armeda says.
Digg Deeper: How to Start a Website
How to Use WordPress for Business: Additional Resources
WordPress for Business Bloggers: Promote and grow your WordPress blog with advanced plug-ins, analytics, advertising and SEO by Paul Thewlis.
WordPress 2.7 Complete by Hasin Hayder.
A Step-by-Step WordPress Tutorial for Beginners by Mati H Fuller.
WordPress for Dummies by Lisa Sabon-Wilson.
1. Wordpress software is free.
While "free" is not always the best business solution, WordPress is well established. "WordPress.org can serve users at all price points from those who want to start with a free theme that they install themselves, to those with more specific needs who can hire a web designer to create a custom theme that integrates with their site and supports their branding," Cool says. From the start, the only cost will be the price of hosting your site.
2. WordPress is open source.
Why should that matter for your business? Open source means that the technology that powers WordPress is transparent for easier development. As a result there are people all over the world developing new themes and plug-ins to share with other WordPress users. With other blogging programs such as TypePad, users have to learn a specific programming language to use it. Movable Type can be cumbersome for non-techie users.
3. WordPress can be used for simple blogging or full website content.
"It is more appropriate to consider it as a platform for full website content creation and management," Armeda says. Perhaps you already use WordPress for a personal – or company – blog. With a few adjustments, WordPress can also be used to run a full-service website. This makes it a one-stop solution that can eliminate the need to use two different programs for your company website and blog. "In most cases we create full web properties with WordPress, blogs are a component of these solutions, not the main focus," Armeda says.
4. WordPress is optimized for SEO.
"I use WordPress for the majority of my websites due to its ease of use and SEO capabilities," said Katie Wilber, owner of The Marketing Momma. When building any website or blog that's aimed at a wide audience, search engine optimization (SEO) is important. WordPress has SEO benefits built-in. "WordPress sites tend to do much better in the search engines and rank well quickly," said Wilber. "I have had several sites that within days of setting the site up with keyword friendly domain names that are ranking on the first page for that keyword."
5. WordPress is easy to update.
One of the major complaints of business owners is that they can't update their website themselves, and that having someone else update it costs them money. "Not only is WordPress free it is simple to install," said Armeda. "It takes no more than five minutes to set up the software." Once WordPress is set up you can easily update content or create new pages without knowing HTML.
6. WordPress has thousands of extensions.
There is a large community of WordPress developers who create free themes, widgets and plug-ins. There are extensions for polling, contact forms, backing up your site, blocking spam, making your pages load faster and thousands more that can be found on the WordPress Plug-In Directory. "Any enhancement you can think of, type it in to Google and you will find an answer or search the WordPress Plug-In Directory," said Armeda. From there, you add the new features to your website or blog without having to hire a web developer.
7. WordPress has a supportive community.
