WordPress, in my opinion is the best software to use for your blog. As with any software, you have to learn how to use WordPress properly. I especially like that you don’t have to download software to your computer which means that you can update your site content from any computer, netbook or smart phone. It’s no wonder that it’s become so popular.
You’ve probably heard that WordPress is incredibly user friendly – and it is! Still, most first time users find it overwhelming at first. If you ever tried to tackle WordPress on your own and felt like giving up, you’re not at all alone. There’s a lot to take in at first.
Being the techy type, I just learned it on my own with some help from friends who helped me when I got stuck. The more I got to know it, the more I realized that WordPress is both simple and complex all at the same time.
If you only want to use WordPress to publish content, it’s pretty darned simple. The visual editor operates like any basic word processor. You enter content, press publish and voila! you’ve got a blog post for all to see.
Think of WordPress as being three things at once.
1. It’s a Content Management Script that runs on your web server, letting you enter content as easily as writing an email.
2. It’s storage for your content in a database on your web server.
3. Finally, it sports a Theme which determines the look and feel of your blog.
Entering content is easy. The database takes care of itself. Once you want to customize it or to alter your design and manipulate the database for special needs, you have to tap a whole other area of knowledge and that’s where many get stuck.
There’s good news and bad news for those who want to learn more about managing their WordPress site. The good news is that there’s a huge resource of documents and a large community of developers and users who are willing to answer your questions. The bad news is that there’s a huge resource of documents and a large community of developers and users… 
The trouble for newcomers is usually that they don’t know how to ask the right questions to produce the answers they really need. In other words, you don’t know what you don’t know! Then once you zero in on the right question, the answer can be so complicated you would swear it was written in a foreign language.
My advice? Don’t give up. It does get easier over time. Keep asking questions. To get the best answers, provide as much information about your problem as you can. If you’re persistent, you’ll find that things come easier over time.
There are two great learning tools that you will want to check out. The first one is Kelly McCausey’s WordPress Orientation sponsored by Mom’s Talk Biz. Kelly presents live web conference sessions to answer all of your questions. And once you pay the very low price for the first one, you can keep coming back for free, so as your expertise grows and you feel confident to try new things, Kelly is there to take you to the next level.
The second learning tool is a self-paced eCourse from Traci Knoppe called Beginner to Blogger in 4 Weeks. You can either take the online course or order the DVD with all the courses to play on your computer. Traci takes you step by step in video + PDF formats so you can go back and review the techniques as many times as you like.
My Recommendation:
- Start with Traci’s course to get familiar with the basics of WordPress ==> Click Here For Beginner to Blogger
- And then attend Kelly’s live web conferences to ask your questions and learn from other attendees questions. You will probably get some tips you haven’t even thought of ==> Click Here For WordPress Orientation
WordPress is easy, flexible, convenient and is my software of choice for blogging. Learn it from a couple of excellent teachers. You can do this!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Chris
Wordpress is great… once it is set up!
Database creation and all that.
Setting up is not so easy and the oficial wordpress help is not much use to a beginner.
I set up using Cpanel and Fantastico, there are lots of helpful videos out there on installing via Cpanel.
Once it’s set up, the text editor is easy to use and installing themes is pretty straighforward.
I’ll check out the courses that you recommend.
Keith Davis´s last blog ..A helping hand…
Using Cpanel & Fantastico is an easy way to install Wordpress. It definitely helps to have a tutorial, especially with videos, to hold your hand through all the steps.