Question about Wordpress

[Milla]

How does it work!? I'm still not very clear on it.

If I sign up for wordpress am I able to change the template? Their webpage says something about needing a host, so does that mean I have to pay a company $5 a month to host my blog with them? If I do that THEN am I able to change the template?

Someone please explain it. I have a blogger account and wordpress just seems so confusing!

[mplezia]

How does it work!? I'm still not very clear on it.

If I sign up for wordpress am I able to change the template? Their webpage says something about needing a host, so does that mean I have to pay a company $5 a month to host my blog with them? If I do that THEN am I able to change the template?

Someone please explain it. I have a blogger account and wordpress just seems so confusing!

It can work a couple ways. Wordpress is both a blogging software and blog host (like blogger). Using the software on your own site allows you total flexibility in how your site looks. But, it is complicated by having to set up hosting and domain registration through a site like godaddy or dreamhost. Plus, you'll need to spend a fair amount of time and energy finding the look you want and maintaining the site (software, databases, etc.). I have a simple family blog using wordpress on my personal site (hosted by dreamhost). It can be a bit of work and is definitely a lot more complicated than something like blogger.

The blog hosting part is like blogger, but using wordpress software and letting them take care of the hosting and back-end stuff. I'm sure it's less flexible than a stand alone site/blog, but it should be infinitely simpler. It should be relatively simple to sign up here: http://en.wordpress.com/features/. They have a free account option that should let you get your feet wet with the software and find out how you like it.

[ChrisMc73]

Some hosts have custom templates that you can install on WordPress as well...such as http://intothedarkroom.com/custom/

[blackshadow]

wordpress.com is purely for blogging and you are limited. I would recommend you get your own webhost and domain name and find a suitable template.

My main page www.blackshadow.com.au is a fairly simple wordpress blog but there are some really amazing templates out there. I was looking at some amazing templates on http://graphpaperpress.com/

The beauty of wordpress is once you learn to use it is there are a myriad of plugins and you can tweak it to do all sorts of things. It does take a bit of time to learn (but not a lot) but it's well worth it.

PS - if you're looking for a decent webhost I recommend hostgator - feel free to click on the link on the right hand side of my site to signup.

[ChrisMc73]

A trend with a lot of photographers I've seen is to have both a blog (wordpress or blogger etc...) and a web site. The blog is something kept up daily or weekly with constant posts of recent shoots and samples of the shoots etc, to show off your daily/weekly work. The web site seems to be a gathering of the best of your work, and a place with information such as pricing, about you, etc...and again, more samples of all your work, a portfolio site.

So I think its key to have both, but it is something you have to keep up with.
In my opinion, of the blogging sites/software, wordpress is the better one for many of the same reasons that blackshadow has mentioned. I'm still on the hunt for a webhost I like or am sold on, there are many good ones, and hostgator has been mentioned by others so it must have a good reputation.

Its hard to find an all in one solution.

[danameless]

How does it work!? I'm still not very clear on it.

If I sign up for wordpress am I able to change the template? Their webpage says something about needing a host, so does that mean I have to pay a company $5 a month to host my blog with them? If I do that THEN am I able to change the template?

Someone please explain it. I have a blogger account and wordpress just seems so confusing!

There is some confusion behind it, so hope this doesn't confuse you even more.

There are 2 "types" of wordpress. Wordpress.COM and Wordpress.ORG. The .COM is similar to blogger or blogspot. Wordpress will host your blog for you, and all you have to do is go on and add your posts/images. Disadvantage is that you can't have cuztomized themes/templates for your blog - only whatever standard options they offer. It is free, but your domain will be something like www.yourname.wordpress.com (http://www.yourname.wordpress.com).

The .ORG version, you download wordpress to your local PC and you can customize in pretty much unlimited ways. One of the reasons people like wordpress is because it is open source, meaning you can customize until your heart is content. Disadvantage is you would need to either provide your own host on a home server or sign up for a hosting company, which will have a monthly or annual fee. You will also need to have your own domain name, which you will need to register if you don't already have one.

Most photographers will use the .ORG version to give them maximum flexibility.

[ChrisMc73]

There are a few hosting companies which also work well with the WordPress .ORG files, and will host your web site and wordpress blog, and also sell you the domain name all in one place. One that was shown to me was www.intothedarkroom.com but their custom stuff is really $$$$, they use hostgator as their host.