While I am not totally new to WordPress as a blogging platform, this is the first time I have used it for my personal website. The previous version of this site, I had used Blogger which was FTP-ed to my server. With a few Php enhancements and a phpBB backend, I have managed to create a rather unique blogging atmosphere.
I am now starting from scratch with WordPress 2.7 — this is the first time I have used this later version. The backend Admin area was totally rearranged. I rather like it though, especially the way Posts are laid out. It felt more comfortable to use to me.
What follows is an abstract for some of the high-points during the creation of this blog. More for documentation purposes, and in the future will be updated to include links to newer posts in which I can go into more detail.
WordPress Settings
Moved WordPress to the root domain per Codex article.
Turned off the Visual Editor in profile settings.
Custom structure for Permalinks /%category%/%postname%/
WordPress Plugins
Akismet, of course.
That is about it. Pretty much lean and mean.
WordPress Theme (Webstractive)
Early stages of theme development
As a baseline, I am using the old Copyblogger theme. Albeit, it is a heavily modified version that I use for new blogs and even a website that I developed with Zend Framework. I got a lot of mileage out of this puppy!
All graphics are created using Photoshop Elements, and an old version to boot. I am too set in my ways and this baby has served me well for a number of years. I am not too graphically talented, so why load up something that I never intend to use to its fullest.
Use of <?php the_excerpt(); ?> on index, category and archive pages. This did not take too much thought. It is a little more work to create those little teasers, but I think it adds character and a touch of professionalism to a blog.
Future Work
Will update this post as needed, add in screenshots, document procedures, etc. yada, yada. As mentioned in my inaugural post, there is an undocumented ‘snafu’ with the is_home() and is_front() functions in the WP core – more on that later too.
I also feel that WOrdpress Script is the Core of a blog and SEO is the best Promotion technique of a blog. You have well written about the Building of a blog.
The wordpress theme you preferred is Simply the best.
Thanks for the article
I’m not familiar the two themes you mentioned however, the Thesis theme is notable to mention, for it’s extreme SEO options. They have a new version coming out in about 3 weeks which will give an even more granular control to the SEO of each page. Just thought it was worth mentioning..