What the heck? How come there are two of them? Which do I go with?
WordPress button from Seattle WordCamp 2014
WordPress is an open source (FREE) software to make websites, beyond that it is a content management system (expanded capabilities from just html/old school websites). It is great for website development or for blogging, or as I recommend a website that has both.
WordPress.org is the WP community’s website. You can download WP from there but don’t. When you set up a domain on any of the hosting sites I recommend: Green Geeks, Blue Host, etc. you will be able to install the WordPress software right from host account.
WordPress.org is THE place to go for information about WP, forums, great links, galleries of themes and details about themes from people that have used them, details about widgets and plugin (more about them in another post).
WordPress.com is a privately owned website. If you just want a free blogging or to try out WP that would be an easy way to do it. They have free websites that included “your name”.wordpress.com in the URL. But there are a number of limitations in using their site. And they Are trying to sell you products.
On WordPress.com to get a website with your domain name of choice and to do what you want it to you have to keep paying for extras. OK found a great website with all the differences – http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/wordpress-org-vs-wordpress-com/
And it working with a paid one I created on WordPress.com I’ve discovered several that are annoying, but the clincher I just discovered is – Google Analytics won’t work on a WordPress.com site. FOOEY. Only if you need a free site. And then I don’t recommend bothering.
You can get a really good website with your free domain name and pay by the month at Green Geeks for about $10 a month. The $3.96 they show on their website is if you sign up for 3 years. But $144 is a good deal for both your domain registration and hosting. And Google loves it, rates your site higher, if you register your domain for three years.
I broke down and became an affiliate of Green Geeks because I really like them for my clients. Because 1) They have 24/7 telephone support – a REAL person. That is huge. 2) I like their Cpanel and ease of getting around on their server. 3) They are very affordable. 4) THEY ARE GREEN. 5) WordPress is really easy to load – in a couple of minutes.
After loading the WordPress software onto your hosting server, you login from online and rarely do you need to go back to your “backend” (server) again.
If you would like to look at Green Geeks through my affiliate link please click here. It would be a nice way to help me fund my life – and I recommend them anyway.
Cheers and Blessings on your way. I’m heading up to Canada for a few days so…. The next blog will be on choosing a domain name. XOX Lindy
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