The different flavors of WordPress

Posted on by Jackie

Brass_scales_with_cupped_traysWhen you’re setting up your new WordPress site, the first decision you need to make is where your site should be hosted. The primary options are hosting your WordPress site on WordPress.com or alternately, on a different hosting provider using the free software available at WordPress.org (often referred to as “self-hosted”).

WordPress.com:

  • Unlimited free sites
  • Custom domains
  • Free support
  • No theme uploads, but they offer over 200 free & premium themes
  • No outside plugins, but popular plugin functionality built in
  • No upgrades or maintenance
  • Cannot run your own ads, but high-traffic sites can apply for the WordAds program
  • No bandwidth caps
  • Need upgrades to modify design/CSS, remove ads, upload your own audio and video, ecommerce

Self-hosted sites using WordPress.org software:

  • No limitations on advertising or content
  • Can modify theme files (and even the core WordPress software if desired)
  • Can upload own themes and plugins
  • No limitations on ecommerce
  • Must obtain own hosting and register domain
  • Bandwidth/space limitations for most hosting plans
  • Need to research & install plugins
  • Need to handle own security, backups
  • No free support

So which is right for you? If budget is your primary consideration, WordPress.com is the clear winner, in that you can get a site up and running for free. Even with the Premium upgrade, the hosting only sets you back $8.25/month. The support and maintenance by the staff at WordPress.com also make the site nearly worry-free. However, there are limitations since you cannot use your own themes or plugins and have only limited access to theme files. You also must keep the WordPress.com footer and abide by their Terms of Service. Self-hosting opens up a lot more options, notably the ability to upload your own theme and plugins. Furthermore, if you need advanced functionality (for example, membership options, paywalls, special landing pages), if you want to run your own ads, or you want a truly customized site design, then a self-hosted WordPress site is likely the better option for you.

How to create a new WordPress Admin account

Posted on by Jackie

When you need to give a new person access to the back end (Dashboard settings) of your WordPress site, the best practice is to create a new administrator of the site with a separate username and password. This protects your own account information and allows you to deactivate the new administrator account later if you no longer need it.

This can be done in just a few easy steps.

1. Log into your WordPress Dashboard, typically at http://www.yoursite.com/wp-admin (where you replace ‘yoursite’ with your actual domain address).

2. Navigate to “Users” in the left-hand column, and under that, select “Add New User”.

3. Complete the new user profile by assigning a username and password for the new user, as well as a role. For an administrative user, be sure to choose “Administrator.” Make sure you include the user’s correct and preferred email address.

4. Click on button to “Add new user” and the user will be added to your site, and an email will be automatically sent to the address you listed, informing the new user of their account (and prompting them to change their password if you didn’t send it to them).

admin user