While I do enjoy using WordPress as a blog platform — especially when paired up with the Thesis theme — but sometimes my needs are a little more complex. This year I’ve started using a hosted WordPress blog as a CMS or Content Management System for one of the courses I teach. I do have my own servers and I do have access to one of our servers at work, but I wanted to see how well the site hosted at WordPress.com could do the trick. I may be able to share my experiences with other instructors who have less computer knowledge and for whom a hosted solution would be idea.
I had originally thought there was a book on using WordPress as a CMS but it turns out a few websites out there have some good information like the guys at iThemes.com and their WordPress as CMS minisite. You can also find some great ideas over at noupe.com which is run by the gang at SmashingMag.
And of course, apart from the WordPress For Dummies
When using WordPress as a content management system, you want to create most of your content as Pages, not blog posts. Another good thing is to be able to set a static homepage which is something I’ve been wanting to look for for months and you’ll find it on the list at the Noupe.com site.
If you have any tips on using WordPress as a content management system, let me know by leaving a comment.
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This site runs on the Thesis WordPress Theme
If you’re someone who doesn’t understand a lot of PHP, HTML, or CSS, Thesis will give you a ton of functionality without having to alter any code. For the advanced, Thesis has incredible customization possibilities via extensive hooks and filters. And with so many design options, you can use the template over and over and never have it look like the same site.
If you’re more familiar with how websites work, you can use the fantastic Thesis User’s Guide and world-class support forums to make more professional customizations than you ever thought possible. The theme is not only highly customizable, but it allows me to build sites with a much more targeted focus on monetization than ever before. You can find out more about Thesis below:
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Wordpress is what I recommend to all my clients as a CMS when they ask for one with their design. It’s the easiest to work with period man!
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I agree with you completely there Brandon. I’m even thinking of getting my students to do their own blog by starting a Wordpress multi-site in our department at work. Could be interesting. I wouldn’t have them do any coding or mod, just creating posts.
I agree with you this is the way that I’m even thinking of getting my freinds to do their own blog by starting a Wordpress multi-site in our department at work. Keep up good work.
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