Before you hire a website designer to build your new small business or personal website, consider that you can build your own professional website for free in about five minutes.
Use a Content Management System (CMS) to take care of all the website building, so you can focus on writing your website. The most popular CMS in the world is WordPress, a free software application that can be instantly installed on most affordable website hosting plans.
Of course if you are a big wig with a big budget then you cannot go wrong with a customized designed website, but for the average person, see the cheap and stress free way to get a website.
How WordPress Saves You Time
WordPress works immediately “out of the box”. All you need to do is enter a username and password to get started. After that you can choose your website theme from hundreds of free choices (and hundreds more paid choices). Customizing themes can be done in a simple point-and-click interface. You can see more details in my free report about Building a WordPress Website. The link is in my authors bio above.
You don’t need to spend much time choosing your website theme because you can always change it later using the same simple interface. I know people who change their theme every month. Other people never change it. I now definitely try to leave my theme alone as it might look old and boring to you, but to new visitors it still looks great!
After you choose the best WordPress Theme, you can start adding pages to your site. You can add unchanging (static) pages, blog posts, forms, images, videos, and all sorts of content to your WordPress site just by clicking a few buttons and typing text.
Website Designers Try To Trick You
Hey, don’t get me wrong here. Not all web designers are bad people but some are taking advantage of new webmasters. Website designers also use WordPress because it’s free and easy to setup. Then they sell you expensive layout customization sometimes costing thousands of dollars, when in actual fact, they have used a theme that you could have purchased yourself for hundreds of dollars cheaper. Most designers have certain WordPress themes in their internet marketing toolbox ready to use on new sites. I know I even have a few developer licenses just in case I need to use a Theme on someones elses website, other than my own.
But you don’t need to customize your layout beyond adding your company logo (which you can do from the WordPress menu). Any professional-quality layout, like those included with WordPress, will put your customers and clients at ease. Spending extra money to create a custom layout won’t attract new customers or increase your sales—it’ll just waste your money on something you don’t need.
What’s The Catch?
Too many things on the Internet sound too good to be true, and a free content management system that’s easy to use, requires no programming, and can be set up in less than five minutes certainly sounds too good to be true. Of course there have been many web hosting failures that people love to talk about, but nothing is ever related to WordPress.
But the truth is that WordPress is even better than I make it sound. If you don’t believe me—try it yourself for free. You can register a free account on WordPress.com and create a sample blog.
After you get your feet wet with WordPress, I highly recommend you buy your own hosting so you have maximum control over your business or personal website. hosting is cheap, so you don’t have to worry about losing money—plus, by choosing WordPress, you’ve already saved hundreds of dollars in website design fees.
EasyAzon Plugin
I am wordpress addict. Loving so much to blogging use wordpress. SEO friendly…
adonia recently posted..Case Logic Notebooktasche VNCI116, Nylon, schwarz, 40,6 cm (16 Zoll)
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Same here. I love WordPress!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Most people that I get to talk to when I travel think getting a website up and running is expensive and needs a designer. I make it a point to explain to them that it is really easy to have a CMS up and if one uses the basic shared hosting plans, it will cost less than $25/year with the domain charges. WordPress has truly evolved quite a lot especially with the SEO options that it provides. With a huge collection of plugins and themes, one does not need to look for other CMS’s.
Cheolsu recently posted..PNR Status
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
i agree, I have tried other CMS and have ended with WordPress. That’s it for me as it is the best!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: thetechadd
says:
I would absolutely agree with the part that some webdesigners trick people and give them wordpress with a free theme and charge easily around 150-200$
Aman Arora recently posted..How To : Edit Pictures Online Using Online Photoshop Alternative
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Unfortunately some people do that in all areas when they think that people do not know anything.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..How I Make Money Online With Worpdress Websites – Part 2
Twitter: F2rbL
says:
Is alright. I willing to pay more than that if I have great looking themes. But it’s not cool if meet someone trying to trick.
Ferb recently posted..Top 10 WordPress Plugins For Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The basic premise that WordPress makes website setup easy and accessible is fine. The implication that a) there’s no real advantage to good custom website design and b) that web designers are more likely to “trick” you than not is very inaccurate.
Using a free or commercial theme for a new business can certainly be a legitimate option. That doesn’t mean, however, that a reasonable investment in a custom design option can’t bring additional benefits.
Robin Cannon recently posted..Hire A Website Designer – You Need One
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Of course, in the blogging game for example, webmasters use free themes until they can afford better. As they go along they move up the scale. They might end up getting a web designer.
Big business needs web designers straight up, but the average person can get away with less.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Tips to Write a Good How-To Post
Twitter: azazo
says:
I normally go with an in between option here. I agree that most people with a little time and effort can create a professional looking site with WordPress. You may run into problems at first, but eventually you get the hang of it and it becomes easier by the day.
However, to get a more “professional” looking site I look to purchase inexpensive premium themes and frameworks. For $50-$75 dollars you can purchase a premium theme. I have used the Thesis theme and Metric theme with Genesis framework in the past.
Anthony recently posted..Light Measurement and Testing News
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Hi Anthony
Yes it does not cost much to make a WordPress website look professional. I personally use Thesis and Elegant themes for my websites.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Elegant Directory WordPress Theme
Twitter: SeoRizwan
says:
Lol! I’m one of the people describe here! I’m a WordPress addict. Most of the websites are constructed or implemented using WordPress
Rizwan Sultan recently posted..Crohn\’s Diet
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes I am one too!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..My Daily Blogging Routine Exposed!
I tried editing a theme and had nothing but difficulty. Granted, if I didn’t want to customize it, it wouldn’t be a problem. But… using a theme as-is wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Learning the hooks and filters, though… Ouch!
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes but if you do not learn some of this…when you go to hire someone for the job you will have no idea what they are doing and how much work is actually involved. At least now you will have your eyes open.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..10 Point SEO Checklist for New WordPress Webmasters
Twitter: RelationshipCir
says:
I just started using wordpress about two months ago. Before wordpress I was working with a site-builder that made me WANT to hire someone to do the work for me.
It would literally take me all day long just to add a page because I had to design the whole page – sidebars, headers, footers etc…It took me forever! Now, it takes me a minute to add a post or page or whatever. I love wordpress!
Bellaisa recently posted..Get Your Partner To Agree To Relationship Counseling
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes there are some difficult website builders out there that can put people off very fast. They say they are easy but they are not!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: RingLawnCare
says:
Well it is only because of you Mitz that I took the plunge and switched to WP. Now you have my journey going everywhere a blog or article writing is involved! Yes you can build your own website. Thank you for all you do! Ok gotta go now and plaster your name all over the INTERNET! Which one’s are hugs X’s or O’s ? Aw who cares X O X O !
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Thanks Bryan
You are very kind to me!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: RingLawnCare
says:
You make it very very hard not to be nice to you!
Bryan Ring recently posted..Partner
A bit harsh on the title I think but after reading the entirety of the post, I get where you are going. Like Robin though, I have to disagree on some points.
This part for example:
“Spending extra money to create a custom layout won’t attract new customers or increase your sales—it’ll just waste your money on something you don’t need.”
I’m sure people making money with Adsense would tell you that the layout and placement of ads are very important. The same thing applies when you are selling products on your site. If you do not give focus to the products you really want to sell, then you are not maximizing the earning potential of your site.
Just my two cents.
Leonel recently posted..Steampunk-ish Vintage iPod Dock
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes very true about the position of your ads but how much custom layout can you get from a designer? I am pretty sure all layouts are available in WordPress themes that are either free or a paid theme. Most themes let you switch layouts with the press of a button so why do you need a designer to set this up for you?
Also I know the default WordPress theme is ugly but that is not stopping people from building successful blogs and websites with it. A few personal touches and it can look good enough until you can afford more.
I always go with the K.I.S.S method with WordPress Themes. It works extremely well for me!
I agree that you may need a designer in certain cases but the average person with no spare cash can do it on the cheap. I just do not think building websites is out of reach even for the poorest person!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: janc102
says:
When I first read this post, I thought that Mitz would get some interesting answers from the web designers! I fully agree that there are some people who are so not tech savvy or work such long hours, that to get a web designer is probably the best option. But, I bet most web designers don’t give much of their time away for free!
When I first started I did a course called Blogging Beginners which was totally free, and was blown away by Mark who helped me so much with queries – for free and with no hidden agenda. Mitz has looked at my site and given me feedback for free, and I have also seen her recently offer to help somebody who is totally struggling and about to give up with a step by step, personlised “to do” plan for her site. I also saw Mitz make an offer to another person that she offered to review their site in a Skype session. Tiffany Dow is also one of the most generous people that I have ever come across. She is mentoring 3 struggling people for nothing and because somebody gave her some extra money one day she set up a special fund to help people who show drive and promise to give them some of her PLR/eBooks for free which people contribute to from time to time.
Most of us starting out don’t have much money at all to spend on all the great things available so to come across these people who give so generously of their time, I think that is quite a humbling experience.
Also Chris, I think Mitz knows very well how to run a small independent business – isn’t that what she has? Isn’t a successful blogging business, making a lot of money, a small independent business? She has built that successful business through posting amazing content and building up great relationships with people who want to follow her – and aren’t those people going to buy the products that she reviews sometimes?
Web designers definitely have a place in the market and always will I think but for those who can’t afford it, WordPress is definitely the way to go.
jan recently posted..How to stop sugar cravings and sugar addiction
Twitter: thanhtrungpro
says:
Well, I also use WordPress to build my site, it’s a great open code. Everything looks good, check my site to see how it worked well.
Trung Nguyen recently posted..15 Best Ebooks Every Blogger Should Read
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes it is very easy to get a great looking site with WordPress!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: PakistanHotline
says:
If I started with a free WP theme and then after some time I purchase any premium theme for my WP blog, either my posts and comments will be safe or not? And will a new theme effect my previous theme or not?
John recently posted..Quran Search Engine Software by a Pakistani Programmer Zahid Hussain
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
All you have to do with WordPress is add a new theme.. If you do not like it you can always go back to what you had.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: UFitCoUK
says:
I guess you are right. I had to invest huge bucks on getting my site ready earlier, being from a non coding/designing background, it was very difficult for me to work on them, i have started using CMS few months back and trust me someone with zero coding background , i am finding it super easy to work with it. my first site on CMS will be launched in the month of march! trust me, if i can do it, any one can!!!
John Armstrong recently posted..Conservatory quote
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Good on you John! Many people will not like me for posting stuff like this but it is the truth! It is better if you do learn it yourself so you know how the whole process is working.. This definitely does not mean getting technical though! Who needs that stress…
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Elegant Directory WordPress Theme
Need to ask One thing how to resize widget in blogger????
Blogger is way better than WP
Usman recently posted..Johnny English Reborn (2011) DVDRip 400MB Mediafire Links
Twitter: iblog4dollars
says:
I wouldn’t say way better but I do have a blogger account and I must say, being able to resize the sidebar is quite nice. I searched like a madman for a theme with a sidebar that I could fit 300px ads in.
The changes can be made by editing CSS but it’s not easy.
Great point though..
Dennis Marshall recently posted..27 Powerful Quotes Every Blogger And Entrepreneur Should Live By
I don’t agree; let’s say you have a small business, but with a revolutionary product/service and you want to achieve a patent/trademark; in this case it’s best to have a unique design, logo and so on.
Stacy recently posted..Amana NFW7300WW Front Load Washer Review
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yeah sure…but this post is really for people that do not have the cash to do that! I totally agree that you do need a custom design in some circumstances.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: ShreeCy
says:
WordPress wins hands down over any other free web platforms. WordPress as you said really reduces the cost of hiring a web designer. It is really helpful for starters.
Bedashree recently posted..Is translated content considered as duplicate content?
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
I agree that WordPress makes it easy for newbies!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..5 Top WordPress Website Hosting Companies Fighting For Your Business
I made the mistake of hiring a designer when I first started internet marketing years ago. The man was actually cheaper than. The site cost less that $100.
The problem was when I needed to make changes, I didn’t know how. The designer wasn’t always available, either, because he was busy with other people’s projects.
Eventually, through much trial and error, I learned how to use WordPress. It was worth the effort.
gowriter recently posted..Social Monkee – How I Use This Backlink Builder To Rank My Pages [Video]
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
That’s great that you have got yourself out of that dependent position. We all go through the same process of learning and I seriously think it will benefit us in the long run.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..My Daily Blogging Routine Exposed!
Twitter: iblog4dollars
says:
Mitz after listening to you, i bumped up the action on my wordpress.com blog. Take advantage of the free sites.
But I completely agree. WordPress is so freakin’ easy to setup. I would never pay a designer to put together a site unless I needed tons of customization (which I’m going to need on some time in the near future).
Build your own blog. It’s nothing like seeing the finished work and basking in your success.
Great article Mitz
Dennis Marshall recently posted..It’s A New Year; Do You Know Where Your Goals Are? (+100% Free Download)
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Good one Denis! You are an action taker! I love that!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..20 Often Forgotten Website Traffic Tips
Twitter: eBizROI
says:
WordPress is awesome, Concrete5 is good too and has some great free plugins also. In my experience, many small businesses want a custom design even though they don’t budget for it. A good design has implications regarding your brand and online reputation, but if you have no web presense, then a custom design should not be a barrier to getting started. Also, you are dead on about getting your feet wet on WordPress.com but if you are going to invest in content, you want to have it hosted on your own domain. The key is to have some minimal training (read a book, watch some videos, discover online content or use WordPress help) to learn the basic. Getting to know what plugins to use, especially for SEO, and setting up social sharing are important too. From an operations standpoint, back up your blog periodically, just in case. If you don’t know how, then learn. Think of the hours/days/weeks/months of effort you have invested in created content, take a few minutes every week or two and download a backup which is super easy to do, otherwise risk loosing your data. Also remember to stay current so as not to run into any security issues. Happy Blogging fellow Internet marketers!
Rick Noel recently posted..Seven Anchor Text Tips That Matter
Twitter: techinfo4u
says:
I’ll agree that you won’t always need a web designer, but I think there’s still times you will need one.
After all, they in theory can do whatever it is you want them to do. You might be useless with web design, and just aren’t interested in it, why worry yourself trying to figure out how to do simple things like change your logo?
And be nice, you’re giving somebody a job for a bit who might really need it :p
Rob recently posted..Hesham Zebida – (Famous Bloggers) Interview
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes there is always a need for something but this option is here too and is easier than people think!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..How I Make Money Online With Worpdress Websites – Part 2
Twitter: GrowMap
says:
I’m sorry, Mitz, but I totally disagree with the idea that just anyone can install and update WordPress so they can “focus on writing”. When someone non-technical tries to do that they end up with a broken site with all kinds of strange problems because they are often not wise enough not to touch what they do not understand.
Someone who wants to just focus on writing who does not have the money to hire someone to install WordPress should consider first learning on a few WordPress.com blog or writing on a group blog.
If they are a business they should contact an experienced blogger who can advise them on whether they should have their own blog, write for a related group blog, or pay for blog outreach.
Anyone who knows they are going to be serious about blogging who does NOT want to spend hours figuring out the technical details needs to hire someone to at least install WordPress and a quality theme – Thesis is what I would STRONGLY recommend – and teach them some basic keyword research and how to use those keywords in their posts. That is well worth hundreds of dollars if you value your time and your sanity.
There is infinitely more involved in having a top blog from which plugins to use to usability and where to put things many hobby and even business bloggers STILL aren’t doing: like a search box, your logo, your USP, having a tagline (slogan) that explains what your site is about, the importance of contact and about tabs, why you need a Twitter account and your username should be on your blog, etc.
Anyone who is serious about blogging needs to seek out mentors or they will be years down the road and still piddling along when they could have been accomplishing much in only a few months.
Gail Gardner recently posted..What If There Was an Easy Way to Get Your Tweets Retweeted? There Is – And It is Fast and Free
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
On the other hand..If you have a hands off approach you are crippling your own knowledge and chances of really creating a successful blog. Hmm..But there are always two sides to the story and you have some great points here too!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Tips to Write a Good How-To Post
Twitter: CPASiteSolution
says:
I definitely agree. There are a bunch of website hosting services or website builders that are free, that you can really use and get a great looking site from. This also depends on how well you want to present your site and how much time you have to work on the site. Some people rather pay a designer for everything, to take care of everything for them, so they don’t have to hassle with it.
sue recently posted..Websites for Accountants are Your Inbound Marketing Key
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes you are right..Some people just go ahead and pay while others have no choice but to DIY.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..The 5 Best SEO Tools For WordPress Website Builders
I love WordPress. It’s really an all in one solution to creating blog. I totally agree with you. There are some good designers out there and too many charlatans who will take your money, do only so much and you’re left with an expensive lesson. When I had time and was a bit younger, I did my own stuff as well as commissioned website projects. Now, I need something like wordpress that’s already done and ready out of the box!
Dianne Dixon recently posted..The Chicken Story
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Very true. There are people in every profession ready to rip newbies off. All we need to do is have our eyes open.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: MoneySavingHVN
says:
All my websites use WordPress. It’s the perfect CMS with such a huge amount of support that it would be stupid not to use it. If you are making a serious website then it really does need a solid CMS behind it. Unless you have the funds to get a CMS made for you from scratch then WordPress is the next best thing.
I also have to say that Hostgator has been lived up to its reputation. Its support is simply second to none, especially when you consider its monthly cost is so low.
WordPress 10/10 – Please note that I don’t have any experience using any other platforms other than simple CSS/HTML as well as blogger.
Michael recently posted..Twitter competition for January – Win a £10 Amazon Voucher
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
I have used other CMS’s and would not use anything else now!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Tips to Write a Good How-To Post
Yeah I definitely agree, You don’t need a designer. With a little hard work and patience you can make one. The most important part is search for a very customizable theme for your blog. There are tons out there(I use Graphene which is super cool). Which a good theme, you can easily change it’s look and make it unique.
Gil recently posted..Hot Flash Winners
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes there are just so may themes to choose from! And the hard work and patience will be a valuable lesson in the long run.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: F2rbL
says:
I probably agree this with beginner blogging. With professional themes can drive more traffic than usual.
Ferb recently posted..Top 10 WordPress Plugins For Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes I love professional themes. ..Such as Thesis,Thesisawesome skins, Elegant themes, and more. We are so lucky to have all this available. When people can afford it, pro themes do improve your blog.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..7 Good Reasons Why Your Blog is Not Making Money
Definitely people need to figure out what they actually want from a website. If you are setting up a business, there might be some things that you might want a web designer or programmer to customize, but generally speaking if you are making a Blog or even a lot of other types of sites, there are so many good free services that exist out there.
Anwar recently posted..Funny stories from travel in the land of the rising sun
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Very true Anwar. Every website has its own personal needs.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..The 5 Best SEO Tools For WordPress Website Builders
Twitter: MindMart
says:
I have some nightmare stories about my dealing with people who call themselves ‘web designers’. There’s a reason Fiverr is so popular.
Clara recently posted..Who Needs a Supplement?
Twitter: pedagangalkes
says:
Hi Sist! Yes wordpress is really great blogging tools. I have no background at all about web and related things. With WordPress I can build my own site and start my online store
Latief recently posted..USG 3 Dimensi
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
WordPress makes us all look like pros!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: esther98
says:
There are still loads of things I need to learn about WP, (like how to edit the footer) but I like it so far. I’m learning each day.
Anne Lyken-Garner recently posted..Paint Colours: Your Front Door
Twitter: vanmarciano
says:
You made some very good points about saving money and time with building a website with WordPress, there are also many other website building tools like Moonfruit to consider also, though I have to agree here too that I do have an addiction with WordPress.
Fabrizio recently posted..Which Platform is Best for Newbies: Blogger or WordPress?
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
There are so many options available I would not even know one percent of them! But I do not look too far from WordPress..
Mitz Pantic recently posted..10 Point SEO Checklist for New WordPress Webmasters
Good advice and absolutely true, however WordPress.com does not give you the freedom that WordPress.org does and equally is free.
Joanne recently posted..Best Dog Beds
Twitter: nadiadrm
says:
WordPress can really save my time.I will do it right now.Thanks for sharing.
Nadia recently posted..Overview Lenovo K800
WIth a decent understanding of WP and StudioPress one can build a beautiful website or blog. I am a studiopress developer and I enjoy builidng my sites and save 1000 of dollars on every site I start up.
Eddie Gear recently posted..5 Things Bloggers Should Not Do In The First Month Of Blogging
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Studiopress themes are top notch! I love them!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..7 Good Reasons Why Your Blog is Not Making Money
Twitter: saucebox
says:
Word Press is the best thing next to sliced bread. I used to manually make my webpages through html. While, it was kind of fun, it was also a pain in the neck. WordPress is not only easy, it has many plugins to make it better.
Twitter: kentkchow
says:
My blog is running with WordPress. There are a lot of great free themes out there. I prefer Premium theme as they look better and it’s for branding purpose.
However, I’d say you’d need a web designer if you want to have a customized WordPress theme, something unique and can’t get out-there. Or you could customize your own in CSS and php code editing.
Kent recently posted..My 2012 Make Extra Money Online Goals
Twitter: janc102
says:
Another great post Mitz thanks. One of my colleagues at work is 3 months behind waiting for her web developer. We chat about our progress and I realized last week after reading your post on eCommerce themes, setting up a site to sell fashion would have been easy peasy for her! I had never come across eCommerce themes before and had no idea how easy it could be!
jan recently posted..Drinking water for weight loss – weight loss tricks
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Hi Jan
Yes it is only going to get easier too.. ! We are very lucky to get all this functionality for hardly any dollars..
Mitz Pantic recently posted..How I Make Money Online With Worpdress Websites – Part 2
Ya Completely Agree with blogger you don’t need to code a single line for web dseign and for wordpress I recommend one should use thesis
Pankaj recently posted..Seductive Ashley Tisdale Red Hot
Twitter: atseadesign
says:
Some of your points are valid, but to ‘categorize’ all designers as sneaky used car salesmen is not only unfair but completely biased.
I’ve been developing/designing sites for 17 years, working with Fortune 500 companies, military bases, aquariums, museums and more. Not ONCE have I tricked any of my clients into providing them with something they do not need.
My company is based around my clients success. Why on earth would I sell them something that in the end reflects directly on me?
WordPress is good… for bloggers, getting online quickly and users who have little or no experience with coding.
WordPress is bad… because it gives people a false sense of security and misguidance into thinking everything is hunky dory.
There is A LOT more involved than just finding and turning on a plugin.
1. Do you know the steps involved for a seamless user experience regardless of desktop or mobile device?
2. How would you streamline your code to remove bloat, HTTP requests and unnecessary code?
The list goes on and on.
My job and responsibility is to guide and educate my clients, giving them the tools and knowledge to succeed online.
CMS to me follows the saying Feed a man a fish feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish feed him for life.
I apologize for the rant but please be sure to cover all bases before generalizing.
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
No I am not categorizing all designers but it would be silly of me to say that there are no rip off merchants in any service.. It could be designing, SEO, or even your local mechanic. Education is the best defense. We all know the story.
There is also nothing wrong with telling people to give something a go themselves. Not sure what the problem is…?? There will always be someone who needs a professional designer.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..10 Point SEO Checklist for New WordPress Webmasters
Twitter: whichtabletcomp
says:
I think I’d pay for a professional to create a logo, or maybe do some graphical stuff. It’s certainly a talent I don’t have! I tend to spend far too much time selecting a theme, then ages more time arranging the widgets. If I was an artist I’d be constantly going back and modifying the painting, I couldn’t help myself!
Graham
Graham recently posted..Tablet Computer Reviews
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes not making a decision is another problem to face when there are so many choices when it comes to WordPress.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..My Daily Blogging Routine Exposed!
There are a lot of good templates out there and many can be tweaked to make the site look original. I use BT’s (£15 per month) and it certainly does a good enough job until i can afford to spend more.
Richard recently posted..New jobs for 2012
There are a lot of smooth talkers out there that tell you that you need all kinds of things. Whether it is website and design related or anything else. It is much easier than it used to be with all kinds of free things out there. Along with tons of free online help. You really can do a lot of it yourself unless you need some custom programing. That is if you have the time to learn it, research it, and just try it until you figure it out.
Ray recently posted..Human visits vs Bot visits
Twitter: wpwebhost
says:
Just check my website. I don’t hire a designer. I just purchase a theme and edit it on my own.
Ricardus recently posted..ColorLabs WordPress Themes Giveaway : Winner Announced
I sort of agree with you. As a web developer I use wordpress extensively for my clients and recommend it as the main CMS to use. However I do charge them! Installing WordPress and adding (even a free) theme doesnt take long, and if thats all they want, then its included in the hosting, but when its comes to adding the right plugins, tweaking settings, making sure things are secure, adjusting the theme so it fits exactly, etc. well then its going to cost me time, so I have to charge someone for it. Still, wordpress is the way to go, its easy and quick and \
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes WordPress is great and it is in demand, therefore it is good for designers to use it. I guess this is the trend?
I agree you need to charge for your time. Definitely no such thing as a business if you do not.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..20 Often Forgotten Website Traffic Tips
Twitter: wsiabelpardo
says:
I really like wordpress. It’s easy, simple, fast, and best of all, it lets you do a very good SEO. I think today theres is no other alternative that would give you more for less.
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Ya i also think that wordpress is the best one among the all CMS specially for blogging sites…
It has so many themes which can be get free and lots of plug in to make a number of functionality within your website….
Kenneth Thomas recently posted..Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G A New Phone Soon To Be Released
Twitter: ithauphy
says:
I think we need the services of a web designer for a particular web design. This is true if we are not able to do something deeper about the website. But, all can be learned alone. We just need time.
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Twitter: wordpresswb
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Yes time is what we all need…and the freedom to use it..
Mitz Pantic recently posted..5 Top WordPress Website Hosting Companies Fighting For Your Business
Twitter: mycoportal
says:
Thank you for the great insight on WordPress! I love the fact that it is easy to set up a website and then you can add so many accents just using their excellent plug-ins. WordPress is a must try for everyone who is starting a business and promoting it online.
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
It is deadly easy and I will tell you why I know.. (not just easy for me)
I offer free WordPress installation to anyone who buys hosting through my link. I have only actually installed three sites because everyone tries to do it themselves first and succeeds.. They have me there as a backup though..
I thought I would be run off my feet but people want to do this themselves.. And this is a lot of people as I have a a few websites offering this service.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..My Daily Blogging Routine Exposed!
Couldn’t agree more. WordPress has made my life so much easier. I even worked as a website designer and I still use WordPress fr my personal and affiliate sites.
People should take more advantage of premium themes though, in my opinion. With many of them you can’t even tell if they’re WordPress or a ‘normal’ website.
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You said it! I love WordPress and am a big fan of it. It is a great place to begin promoting your business. Also the plug ins are amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Twitter: janbierens
says:
It’s not that difficult – or easy, depending on what you want. I’ve been using Blogger, but thinking about a hosted domain and WordPress. There are some great tutorials out there to make the switch easier…
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Twitter: Mike10613
says:
Hi Mitz,
Great PDF. It confirmed to me hat I already knew. I have spent over a year on WordPress.com and now I want self hosting. i think I can do the installation but thought the plugins could be a problem and so I’m glad you listed the ones I need and why. I saved a copy of the PDF for when I’m ready to go (soon). I have one question, I use Windows Live writer with WordPress.com; will I still be able to link it to self hosted WordPress?
Mike Maynard recently posted..Neodigital Art | Shadows and Reflections
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Hi Mike
Thanks for downloading it. Glad you like it !
Mitz Pantic recently posted..The 5 Best SEO Tools For WordPress Website Builders
I would say the main point is that you today can find Tutorials about each topic in the internet. Why hiring anybody to do things you can just learn in weeks or month? On this way I learned lot of stuff about graphic design and much more. I bet you find tons of tutorials about webdesign as well.
MD recently posted..I think I also do not spend a lot of time on the Second Life road… but there was a Time I did.
I live in a state where Google reports that nearly 50% of businesses do not have a website. Prior to this news, my wife and I had already started a boutique internet marketing firm out of our house try to help local small businesses compete. We use WordPress to keep our client’s costs much lower than our ‘web designer” competitors, but with fine arts, writing, SEO, usability and internet marketing backgrounds, we provide many layers of quality that no small business owner can ever be expected to achieve out of the gate. We also provide extensive personalized resources and instructions as we guide/train/push our clients to manage their own affairs, and learn for themselves.
Tech can be scary. Most people need their hand to be held a little. Even with the PDF, this article just pushes people off a cliff expecting them to fly. Telling a business owner to “DIY” like this is setting them up for failure and missed opportunities. You might as well be telling people to buy a $50 hardware set and start making all their own car repairs instead of hiring a local mechanic to do the job right. Sure, there may be shady vendors out there, but this was so broad-brush that I found it offensive. I was very dissapointed at how misleading this article is– in fact, I am convinced that you were just trolling when you wrote parts of this.
Small business owners tend to work very long hours — my father-in-law works nearly 70 hours a week as an independent eye doctor, and he is 62 years old. Do you really think he has the time to learn all the things he should know– and time to keep up? Younger generations may be more savvy, but right now, they’re not the majority of business owners. People just starting out might be able to make the time, but those with established small businesses won’t be able to, and you know it. Or do you? (>.>)
Given how out of touch with reality this article is, I must conclude that you really have no idea what you’re talking about. You may know blogging, but you certainly don’t know anything about running an independent small business. The only item I thoroughly agree with you on is that custom themes are a big waste of time/money for… just about everyone. Many WP themes (even the free ones) are very customizable. I also agree that this stuff is easy enough for anyone to learn, but most people don’t have the time to learn on their own. No one person can know everything– we all have specialties. This article seems to forget that.
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
I have actually never had a job or worked for anyone in my life. I know what hard work is so your are talking to the wrong person here. All I know is business and long hours.
I do not think I am out of touch at all. I help people everyday create a business for themselves that are on a tight budget.
Your story was an interesting read but pretty negative. If your father in law works that hard he can afford to hire a designer, therefore why bother with this article at all?
Sounds like the moral of the story is that you have a chip on your own shoulder. I guess that’s why you haven’t left a link to your business as all this negativity would not be good promotion.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Successful WordPress Website Checklist
Twitter: FamousBloggers
says:
Hey Mitz,
I hope that every one reads your post before making a decision, actually I hope that everyone takes enough time to read and discover their choices before doing a mistake!
Many people fail because they don’t read!
Hesham recently posted..TweetAdder: Simply the Fastest Way to Manage Twitter Accounts
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
I simply love articles that entice comments.. I knew what I was getting myself in for and I am getting the exact response I expected.
This one article is not going to change the world but people act like it might!
I totally believe that if you have money to spend then go for it.. And not all designers are terrible or rip offs..
Mitz Pantic recently posted..7 Good Reasons Why Your Blog is Not Making Money
I totally agree. WordPress is clean, there are thousands…if not HUNDREDS of thousands… of themes to choose from, tons of widgets, and I can go on and on! I started off as a blogspot blogger who was hesitant to make the switch, but I have never regretted my decision to just suck it up and do it!
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Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Same here. Years ago I moved a massive website, all a mess with html, into WordPress. It took two of us 3 weeks (can’t remember now) of full time work… That was so worth it! I would never look back!
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Grabbing Those Extra Affiliate Sales – Earn Extra Money
Twitter: Stephanie T.AlwaysOutdoors
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Word Press is great to work with. It is very intuitive and you have results in no time.
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Twitter: Didiverse
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I love wordpress. I now simply changed the header of some of my blogs and it saved me a lot.
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Twitter: hbusinessteam
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I think a big part of blogging is choosing that wordpress theme. I cant tell you how many good themes their are and some not so desirable. Functionality and looking clean are important factors. Anybody can make money online and having the right theme is crucial.
Jeff Casmer recently posted..3 Clear Cut Reasons 90% of Online Home Business Opportunities Fail?
Twitter: reviewsin
says:
Thanks for sharing Mitz. I have to agree, WP is awesome. The ability to customize pretty much anything you want to is such a huge benefit. I know there are some capabilities that would require a custom site to work properly but overall there is very little that WP can’t compete with. I know I am a fan.
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Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
All these fantastic things coming out for WordPress all the time.. I pitty the people using something else because they are missing out on all the new ideas.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Content Is Not The Only King Of WordPress Website Building!
I would share this with friends who are looking to create a site of their own. Some of them are not doing it yet because they fear that they need to spend a lot. I fell for it in the past because I was new to internet marketing but now, I think I can even help them setup a WordPress-based site that would look quite as good as most of the sites we see today.
Twitter: infoamit
says:
I think wordpress is one of the best tool for website i ever seen ….
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Twitter: Apologetics
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WordPress rules the (CMS Lite and Blogging) Internet! I have finally admitted that
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Twitter: Prevucare
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WordPress is good but I also like Blogspot for my blogs because I find it easier to customise to my needs and is easily linkable to other Google services
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I am totally a WordPress addict! I cannot spend a whole without visiting it, on the least side. It is very true, be your own web designer! You don’ need to hire one!
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