4 Questions about WordPress for Small Business wseb Sites and/or Blogs. What is WordPress? Why you should use WordPress for your small business Web site and/or blog? What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org for small business? What are some of the important features and differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org for small businesses?

1. Take Control: Self-Administered
Small Business
Web Sites and/or Blogs
By Michael Yublosky
The Web “Professor”
9-30-14

2. Outline
What is WordPress?
Why You Should Use WordPress
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
Main Features and Differences

3. 1. What Is WordPress?
WordPress is a free and open source Web site
and/or blog publishing tool
based on PHP and MySQL
uses theme based architecture (child themes,
custom themes)
with many add ons called plugins (small programs
work within WordPress and your theme) and
Widgets

4. Themes
Template, wire frame, layout
Easily change look (almost instantaneously) while
using most of the information on site (stored in
folders)
Some allow built in flexibility (colors, fonts, sizes,
even layouts)

5. Plugins
Pre-written programs (mostly free or requesting
donations)
Allow custom features, functions

6. Widgets
Areas within a theme where you can add text,
images, videos, and other plugins

7. 2. Why You Should Use
WordPress
Content Management System (CMS)
Built for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Other CMS (Joomla, Drupal) Platforms and
Publishing Options (on site builders, software)
Flexibility and Expandability
Portability
Support is out there
Control your destiny
Responsive designs (all in one) available

8. 3. WordPress.com vs
WordPress.org
.org – a la carte on hosted sites with unlimited
space generally including email accounts
.com (free) – ads, limited business,
no ecommerce, 3 gb space, no email
.com (upgrades) – Premium $99/yr
Business $297/yr, Enterprise $500/yr,
VIP $1,250/yr or $5,000/yr

9. Support
.org – varies per host, on line forums,
communities, reasonably priced technical
.com (free) – on line forums, communities
.com (upgrades) - varies

10. Backups
.org – you are responsible to perform or
can pay for, use plugins, etc.
.com – they provide

11. Themes
.org – uses free, premium and custom themes
Can modify in styles editor, files or add child
themes
.com (free) – use only free themes, no style
editing
.com ($ upgrades) – styles editing $30/yr
purchase custom themes (from $20/yr),
unlimited custom themes $120/yr

12. Plugins
.org – free, premium, custom
.com (free) – not allowed
.com (VIP) – $1,250/mo or $5,000/mo

13. Maintenance and Security
.org – Updates, maintenance and security are
your responsibility.
Not difficulty to manage... or
Can opt for a managed site ($$$)
.com – done for you

14. Hosting Expense for .org
Hosting <$10/mo
On site recommended by WordPress

15. Domains
.org – custom, select from available
< $15/yr
.com (free) – always 'yourname.wordpress.com' *
based on one-time usage availability
.com (upgrade) – option at additional $3
registration, $15/yr + cost of URL

16. .com Premium Features

20. Analytics (Measurement Tools)
.org – can add free such as host analytics, Google
analytics as well as premium.
WordPress stats are also available
.com – limited to WordPress analytics

21. Monetization
.org – whatever you wish. Ads, ecommerce,
interactive, etc.
.com – need 25,000 page views to sell ads and
then split revenue
Premium services

22. Control
.org – you own your data and information
Can move if don't like host, changes
.com – read the rules
WordPress can delete your site at any time for
rules violations
WordPress can change your theme
WordPress will promote themselves as your
host

23. 4. Important Features
and Differences
Between Wordpress.com
and WordPress.org

24. .org Dashboard (landing)

25. Slightly Different Sidebars
.com
.org

26. Premium Options .com

27. Shopping Cart for Premium

28. Theme Options From
'Appearance'

29. .com Themes

30. .org Themes

31. Upload A Theme
Downloaded and/or Purchased
From Hard Drive

32. Search For Themes Via Features
Colors, Layout, Features
or Subject

33. New Posts Appear in
Chronological Order
on Blog Page

34. New Post Dashboard
Option to Allow Comments

35. Visual or Text (html) Mode

36. Upload Media

37. Categories and Tags (Aid Search)

38. Pages (are Static)

39. Page Dashboard
No Categories or Tags
Can Determine Order on
Navigation Bar (Menu)
Option to Allow Comments

40. Widgets (Vary Per Theme)

41. Plugins
(only with .org vs. free .com)

42. WordPress Small Business
Web Sites and/or Blogs
Coaching and Tutoring
Michael Yublosky
mikey@diywebjem.com
847.209.6335