WordPress is a content management system initially created for blogging. Today with wordpress, one can create and run any kind of website without any coding skills.Its ease of use is enough to help you build a functioning website with less than 30 minutes.
For wordpress to function, it has to be hosted.Hosted simply means that the software is installed on a server(installed online). After a successful installation, one can access the software via the internet.
Automattic, the company behind wordpress, created two ways of handling their software;
- Selfhosted. Selfhosted is where you download the software and use it as you wish. The downloadable version of worpress is also called “WordPress.org”
- Hosted. It is hosted and managed by auttomatic. If one wants to create a site with it, they just needs to sign up with wordpress.com to acces the admin dashboard.The hosted version is also called “wordpress.com”
Why begginers should go for worpress.com
WordPress is a great software but it has its downside too. The greatest fear of most wordpress users, is to one day find that their website has disapeared. At this point the site is not visible anymore over the internet neither can the admin log in to access the dashboard.
In such cases, that can mark the end of the site mostly to beginners who are not ready to pay the price of repairing their broken sites.
Why websites break
Most website break due to insecurity. Insecurity can be caused by anything capable of damaging a site. It could be outdated plugins, bad hosting, uncompatible themes, an oudated version of wordpress, and much more.
It can be a great fall to invest alot on a website only to have it break when you need it most. If security is your number one priority when it comes to web hosting, then wp.com is not a bad choice. Not that there isn’t any other way for securing a website. We even have managed wordpress hosting where you get all the technical work done for you and all you have to worry about is the simple tasks like what to post or the page to add.
The challenge with managed wp hosting is that it can be a little bit expensive. Wp.com is like managed wp and self hosted wp combined to form one service that is affordable and reliable at the same time.
WordPress.com is;
Affordable
Wp.com comes with a free plan and other premium(paid) plans. If you just started a blog or personal website, the free plan is the best.it will not only save you money but also give you time to familiarise with wordpress. If you Aim to create an online shop or maybe a coporate/ business site then the paid plans are the best.
Secure
By using wordpress.com, your site is already 50% secured because auttomatic is taking care of the wordpress software. On top of that wp extends its security with plugins like akismet and jetpack to ensure the safety of your site.
Efficient
Wp.com comes with features that ensures your website delivers what any functional website should. It is accompanied with free themes and three very crucial plugins/extentions.
Jetpack
jetpack, is a plugin rich with features that boosts the websites functionality with a single installation. Jetpack integrates your site with features like
- Social media sharing
- Auto updating
- Site stats
- Search engine optimization
- Security
- And much more
Jetpack is free but to get the best out of it, you need to be using one of the paid plans of wordpress.com. With wordpress premium, one can start earning with wordads (The wordpress ad network ). You will access it directly via the jetpack dashboard and with a few steps, you can start earning from your site viewers.
Woocommerce
If you want to create an online shop, then woocommerce gives you the ability to sell anything whether physical or downloadable products. With woocomerce you can recieve payments via paypal, credit cards or even mpesa directly on your website.
Akismet
Akismet is a security plugin that help you manage spam with ease. It protects your site from spam and gives you the ability to choose which comments to approve. With akismet you can trash comments that are not relevant to you as the author.
Jetpack and akismet are free to all wordpress.com users but woocommerce can only be accessed by premium users.
Free themes
You don’t need a web designer ! Wp.com comes with many proffesionally made themes that you can install with the click of a button. The themes are 100% free and if you wish to get a more versatile theme, you can purchase one of their premium themes.
Who should go for wp.com
WordPress.com is fit for anyone who wants to create a website with ease but to be more specific, wordpress is the best for ;
- Writters and content creators
- Vendors
- Designers
- Business people
- Artists
Wp.com limits.
Unlike the self hosted wodpress.org, where you can upload plugins and themes of your choice, the free wp.com does not give you this option. To avoid this setback, you need to upgrade to the business plan or opt for the self hosted version of wordpress( wordpress.org)
Getting started with wp.com
- First you need to visit wordpress.com’s official site and keep in mind that you don’t need to buy hosting because wordpress is already hosted for you.
- The next step is to view the pricing and to compare the different plans.Choose the one that suites your needs and fits your budget.
- You will then be required to provide some personal details to signup with wp.com
After this you will be taken through a process which involves choosing a domain name,selecting a theme and other steps before getting to the default wordpress dashboard.
What you need to signup with wordpress
An active email address
An active email address is needed to register with wordpress. It is through this email that you will confirm your signup and also recieve updates concerning your site from wordpress.
Credit card
This could be visa or master card. You will need it to make your payments. One can also use paypal as an alternative.
After a succesful signup, you will be ready to create your first post or maybe a beautiful homepage.
Get Started with WordPress.com
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