I've talked to a lot of people who want a website, but don't want a blog. Maybe they have an offline business for which they'd like a website, or maybe they have a skill they'd like to offer as a service. Consider my husband:
My husband recently quit his job as a school teacher and opened up his own math tutoring business. He wanted a website, but didn't want to blog and update it regularly. He just needed a brochure-type website outlining his services, a place where he could send potential clients and hopefully gain wider exposure.
Dynamic Blogs vs. Static Websites
Here at BloggingWithAmy.com, I talk a lot about blogging and making money as a blogger (via affiliate marketing, advertising, etc). A blog works on the premise that you have information to share and you update your blog with new information regularly. You might say you "sell" information.
But what if you don't sell information, but sell a service instead (like virtual assistance, speaking, tutoring, professional organizing, decorating, bookkeeping, lawn care, digital scrapbooking, etc.)? True, some bloggers offer a service along with their blog, but do you need a website but don't want a blog? Then you need a static website.
A static website doesn't change, whereas a dynamic website does, like a blog.
Thankfully, WordPress is an EXCELLENT way to create a static website. WordPress is a Content Management System. As the name suggests, it makes the process of creating and maintaining the content on your website very user-friendly.
A website doesn't guarantee a successful business (it still takes a lot of work as my husband is realizing!), but a website certainly helps and is crucial in this day and age when much of the world is online. And despite what you may have been told, you absolutely can create a website at very little cost if you do it yourself. And it's not very difficult either.
What about you? Is there a service you'd like to offer but just need a website?
Stay tuned for my real-time videos and the steps I took to get PersonalMathCoach.com up and running…
Other posts in this series
- How to Create a Website (Not a Blog), Introduction
- How to Create a Website: Important WordPress Settings
Amy,
I could not agree more with this post. I will say, as a designer I am seeing more and more people leaving blogger and other forms of FREE blogging sites and moving to WordPress. I think another thing people don't think about it is you OWN the site for WordPress and the only time it will go down is if your hosting company goes down where as in blogger and other free blogging forms, they can remove you whenever they want too.
GREAT POST! I also have to say, I see you and your husband are both running Genesis, they ROCK!!!
Angie
Yes, I definitely recommend WP over a free service like Blogger (although as far as free services go, Blogger would be my preferred).
We are loving Genesis. I'll talk about it in Part 2.
I've recently started using WP to build static websites, and I love the ease of it! Definitely able to use much of what I've learned with blogging to create great websites.
I use WordPress for all of my client sites; it's basically a content management system and making it a 'non' blog is beyond simple. On top of that simplicity the truth is that it keeps that blogging door open; I've had more than one client decide they wanted a blog after all…let's see, I can make that happen in about two minutes!
Before WordPress my company had developed sour own content management system. We developed the software, we hosted the sites too. Yes, we made the monthly revenue but I'm switching clients to WordPress as they are willing…the resulting loss of revenue is more than made up with not having to worry about programming and hosting issues. Additionally someone else is doing a bunch of programming to improve the system while I sleep that's not on my staff!? Perfect!
Exactly. Why not let someone else worry about stuff, right?
And you're right about WP leaving the door open for blogging at some point. That's exactly what my husband has contemplated. He'd like the option to blog later if he ever decides to.
First I have to say I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new blog design! With that out of the way, I am thrilled to hear that WP does static websites! I maintain my hubby's website for his insurance biz and not really happy with the limitations. I am going to check into switching him over. Thanks so much for your help!
Thank you, Paula.
Yes, it's super easy. Basically, you just use all pages instead of posts and then you set your home page to a static page instead of posts in your Settings–>Reading–>Front page displays…
Thank you for this timely post! I am in the process of setting up my hubby's cabinet/carpentry biz at WP and need a static site. Thanks for telling me how to go about that.
I learn something with each and every email I read from you Amy. You are a wonderful teacher!
Thanks Linda. I'm glad it's helpful!
I just started my blog about helping others write or edit. It's under a month old. I am thinking it may need a Static page now…b/c I need to bring in revenue as I am unable to find work right now. I have gotten two offers and did get compensation too. I have others sharing what I offer. I am looking for your tutorial and good luck to your hubby.
Thanks so much Jackie. All the best as you go forward!
Hello Amy,
I truly appreciate your blog and all the great information it has on varies topics. I been reading the blog for quiet awhile and finally added to a post. I have a blog on WordPress and my websites are hosted by 2 other companies.
Thanks,
Carmella
hlw amy nice article but i am confused in one thing is wordpress better than blogger.