WP-Mojo

[tweetmeme]So, want to get started with WordPress, but not sure exactly where to start? No problem, this article will clear things up for you. We tried to review the most common ways of getting started with WordPress, and hopefully we’ll help you find the most appropriate solution for you according to your time, budget and technical knowledge.

WordPress.com VS WordPress.org. What’s the difference?

But, first off, before going deeper, it’s important to understand a fundamental concept that often confuses new WordPress comers: the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

WordPress is a free software product that has become the most popular blogging software on the Internet. WordPress is available in two forms. WordPress.com which is a web service that lets you get your free WordPress blog (like you.wordpress.com). The hosting and managing of the software is taken care of by WordPress.com and comes with some limitations. Alternatively, WordPress.org provides the software to create your blog, but WordPress.org does not host your blog on the Internet for you. You will have to pay a separate hosting provider to obtain a domain name and host your blog online. Using WordPress.org with a paid hosting service provides maximum flexibility and customization.

So now that this concept is clear, let’s have a look at the different options to get started with WordPress.

Using WordPress.com

WordPress.com lets you sign up and create a WordPress blog immediately, for free. There’s nothing to download, install or setup. Everything is taken care of by WordPress.com. However, by using WordPress.com rather than WordPress.org, you limit yourself to some major constraints since you actually don’t “own” you blog/site. So for instance there is a very limited choice of themes, no possibilities to extend the blog functionality with plugins, or make some extra customization by modifying the source code. Also one of the major thing to consider is that you cannot use WordPress.com for commercial use, meaning that monetization  and advertisements are not allowed. But it is a great solution if you want to try WordPress and don’t plan to make business out of it.

PROS

• It’s 100% free and very easy to setup
• Everything is taken care of setup, upgrades, spam, backups, security, etc
• Your blog is immediately ready to use

CONS

• Very limited in term of customization (70 themes only to choose from)
• You can’t extend functionality with plugins
• No branding with your own domain name (yourname.wordpress.com VS yourname.com)
• Monetization and advertisements not allowed

Doing it yourself (WordPress.org)

With WordPress.org you can download the software for free but it must be installed on a web server before it will work. You can then install themes and plugins, run advertisements, edit the database and even modify the PHP source code.

So, the most flexible way of installing WordPress is actually to do it manually. The process is a bit technical and involves database configuration, uploading of files and changing file permissions, etc. But in the end this is the way that gives you the most control over your installation. Basically, you’ll have to register a domain name, sign-up for a hosting plan, then download WordPress and get started with the installation. Under most circumstances, installing WordPress is not a very complex process. It will require however a bit of time in order to learn the installation process and a bit of technical knowledge. A detailed guide can be found on WordPress.org. If the words FTP, MySQL, Hosting, DNS sounds too geeky for you, you might consider the other options.

PROS

• Free (if yout don’t count the time you spend on it)
• Complete control to change code if you’re technically minded
• You “own” the blog and can customize 100% of it

CONS

• Time consuming
• Requires technical knowledge
• Requires to setup up hosting, domain name prior to the installation

Using a “1-click install” script

Many web hosts now offer tools to automatically install WordPress for you with a “1-click install” script (such as Fantastico). This is a good way to install WordPress if you don’t feel comfortable with the manual installation but if you are a bit web savvy. Basically, you need to register a domain name and sign up for a hosting plan. You’ll have to log in your host’s control panel and search for a WordPress automatic install application.  The script will automatically make a basic install of your WordPRess blog with a standard configuration.

PROS

• Faster/easier than a manual installation
• No need to setup databases nor download and install WordPress
• Cost effective

CONS

• Not always the latest version of WordPress
• Requires to setup up hosting, domain name
• Requires technical knowledge
• No optimization/personalization

Using free installation services

There are a some people on the internet that offer to install WordPress for free. Why and how can these folks offer a free WordPress installation? Well, simply by using referral programs setup by hosting companies. You sign up for a hosting plan through one of their referral links present their website, then you provide them with the hosting credentials so that they can perform the installation for you. It’s a win-win scenario. You get a fully configured blog, and the “installer-guy” gets a sales commission from the hosting company for referring you.

PROS

• Very easy (since you don’t do anything)
• Generally fast ( about a couple of days)
• Often comes with some basic optimizations

CONS

• You have sign-up for a hosting plan “supported” buy the install-guy
• Need to pass along all your credentials info (trust issue)

Outsourcing to a freelancer

A common way to get your WordPress blog installed and customized for you, is to hire the services of a freelancer. The benefit is that they can do much more than the installation itself. They can actually optimize the installation with specific plugins adapted to your blog. They can also personalize the theme or even create one from scratch. Of course, the price may vary a lot depending on the specificity of the job, and from one freelancer to another but, in the end, this is a good way to have a fully customize WordPress blog.

PROS

• Extra customization/optimization
• Theme/Design personalization or creation
• Personalized support

CONS

• More expensive
• Usually longer (depending on the freelancer’s availability)

Outsourcing to a web agency

Similar to hiring a freelancer, you can hire the services of a web agency. Most of them offer WordPress installation and personalization. This can be a good choice especially if you have very specific needs or if you want to setup something more than a basic WordPress blog.

PROS

• Extra customization/optimization
• Theme/Design personalization or creation
• personalized support

CONS

• More expensive
• Usually longer (depending on the agency’s availability)

Using a WordPress Job Board

If you’re looking for WordPress experts to do the job, whether if it’s for an installation a themes personalization,  a custom plugin or just some code/design touch-ups,  job boards specialized in WordPress can be a good place to look at. It’s a place were you can post the job that needs to be done, and where WordPress experts can reply to your post if they are interested in doing the job. There are a lot of them, some, especially specialized in WordPress ( jobs.wordpress.net, hirewordpressexperts.com) others offering other development jobs as well (simplyhire.com, freelanceswitch.com, Krop.com .

PROS

• Compare and choose the right person to do the job
• Can post specific WordPress jobs (not only the installation on its own)

CONS

• Can be expensive
• Sometimes you also have to pay to post your project
• Need to pass along all the credentials info (trust issue)

Using Page.ly

Page.ly is a premium hosting service that does exclusively WordPress installations. In under 2 Minutes it automatically installs WordPress for you, sets up a domain name, email, popular plugins, and Free/Premium themes. Page.ly comes with over 40 pre-loaded themes and some of the most popular plugins. It is based on a subscription model starting at $14.98/Month (upgrade from 15/month if you choose a premium theme).

PROS

• Immediately ready (2-min install)
• Comes pre-configured and optimized
• All in one setup (domain + hosting + install + theme)

CONS

• Limited choice of pre-installed themes (40 free themes and about 70 premiums themes)
• Some small limitations in terms of what you can do with the server (you can’t install other apps than WordPress)

Using Pressmojo.com

Pressmojo is a service that provides expert out-of-the-box WordPress installation. Pressmojo offers 4 packages that include everything you need to get started with WordPress, including Setup + Hosting + Domain name + email + 1 Premium Theme + Video Training. Its all set up, customized and ready-to-use in 72hrs. All packages come with a premium theme (over 600 themes from the top designers to choose from) and some popular plugins. An excellent solution for non-technical and busy people.

PROS

• Everything setup in 72h
• All inclusive setup (domain + hosting + install + theme + training)
• Huge selection of design (over +600 premium themes, from the WordPress community’s top designers)

CONS

• The hosting plan is prearranged for you

Conclusion

Hope this guide will be helpful for all new and existing WordPress users! Now tell us about you, how did you get started with WordPress in the first place? Which solutions do you now use to install new WordPress sites or blogs? Do you know of any other ways not listed here? [tweetmeme]