August 10th, 2010
by WebphobiaCoach
I had this splendid dream last night in which I had a capable assistant, personal chef, and a fitness coach eagerly following me around and spouting encouragements like, “Taking the stairs instead of the elevator – you go girl!” Then I woke up and realized I’m still a one-woman show who’s gotta make her own egg white omelette and cappuccino (aka tea and Cheerios).
I’m also a Wild Web Woman with a business to run and my clients need websites. Sure, I know some web designers who are so good I have geek crushes on them, but sometimes a gal’s gotta do it herself on a small budget.
Equipped with rusty coding skills and a complete lack of fear of new things, I set out in true Webphobia Coach fashion and built a website using Wordpress as a platform. If you need a website that doesn’t suck in a hurry, Wordpress is your BFF and the thousands of Wordpress theme and plugin developers out there are your support staff, Alfred Pennyworth-style.
For the sake of healthy web marketing you need a website that functions, plays well with others, and looks good doing it. Tons of websites are “secretly” built on Wordpress, which provides you with a Content Management System (CMS) on the back end and easily-installed (yes, really) plugins for social media and SEO.
Kick your webphobia to the curb and build a website on Wordpress using tested Wordpress themes!
Although there are tons of free themes out there, the Superpower of a Wordpress theme you pay for – like those at Themeforest or Elegantthemes – is that the developers have fine tuned the details that really matter. When choosing a Wordpress theme, here’s what you should look for:
- The theme has been tested for compatibility in multiple browsers, like IE8 and Firefox.
- It comes with the .psd, .css, and .php files you may need to customize it.
- Bonus points if it’s already updated to the current version of Wordpress.
- Specs will tell you if the theme is widget-ready (a good thing), or if it comes with a nifty additional CMS panel just for that theme.
- If you‘re shelling out the cash, make sure you’re paying for available technical support such as a users forum.
- Pricing should be fair and not jacked up to over-charge you for “access” to hundreds of inferior themes.
Shop around for a Wordpress theme before you launch into any of the technical stuff like hosting and FTP clients, and it’ll open your mind to the possibilities your website holds for web marketing. Pretty soon you’ll find yourself using “sexy” to describe the design and features of a good theme. It’s addictive, geek-chic shopping at its finest!
Web Marketing Therapy Related Links:
- “No Bull” Website Building
- Website Grader – Find Out How Your Website Ranks!
- 6 Reasons to Rethink Your Website – Individualize YOUR Marketing Plan to Fit Your Business!
The Marketing Therapist
(August 10th, 2010 at 7:18 pm)
WHAT? You don’t have an assistant?
Oh, neither do any of the other wild web women or men at WMT! 
Great post. I love Wordpress as a design option and there are foofoo versions (www.webmarketingtherapy.com is on a hella custom Wordpress design thanks to SiteGoals)
but other sites we have our clients set up with are brilliant on a lower budget…all depends on your needs but amen to this blog post – great eye opener!
Emilia Doerr
(August 10th, 2010 at 8:17 pm)
Thanks for the great tips for kicking your webphobia to the curb – sometimes we know there are great DIY options for web marketing – yet it’s still difficult to know where to start. This is a great guide. I love WordPress too! And don’t forget all the great free plug-ins for WP!
Lorrie Thomas
(August 10th, 2010 at 8:25 pm)
Using a Wordpress theme to design your website | Vandew Marketing
(August 11th, 2010 at 12:12 am)
[...] week I blogged at Web Marketing Therapy, where I’m the Webphobia Coach, about using WordPress themes for professional looking website [...]
Calla Gold
(August 11th, 2010 at 10:19 am)
Webphobia coach. You just blogged about a topic I am very interested in. I have a static site and want to blog. Even though I could DIY, I want help. So I’ve asked Lorrie Thomas your fearless leader some q’s about it.
Thanks for your blog, it’s like you wrote it just for me!
Calla Gold
http://www.callagoldjewelry.com
WebphobiaCoach
(August 11th, 2010 at 10:43 am)
Calla, I love it when I share advice that ends up being exactly what someone is looking for! Thanks for commenting, and you’ve got some simply gorgeous products on your site. We are here to help you out. Cheers!
Marks ftp services
(August 19th, 2010 at 12:21 pm)
WordPress is a great platform to base a website on, especially if your new because it’s so easy to update and change things.