[IB]

I'm finally getting an author website together. At least, that's the plan! I can't decide between Wordpress.org and Wordpress.com.

I have the template I like, but, the way I understand it, I can't upload it onto Wordpress.com. You have to use their templates.

But because I don't have enough time in the day to run a website, I think that diving into Wordpress.org would leave me with no website at all for another year!

So, is there a template, on Wordpress.com that's like this one?

http://zenhabits.net/

He offers his template as a download, but I can't upload it onto Wordpress.com.

I've scoured Wordpress.com and I've found a few minimalist templates, but nothing like the one above.

Any suggestions on how to get that template up and running?

 

[Catana]

You can't upload templates to wordpress.com. You use what's there. There are lots of options for customizing, but if you want total control, you'll have to go with wordpress.org.

 

[IB]

You can't upload templates to wordpress.com. You use what's there. There are lots of options for customizing, but if you want total control, you'll have to go with wordpress.org.

If I can't find the right minimalist template, is there some other place to upload the ZenHabits template? A Wordpress.com equivalent?

BTW, I don't need total control. I'd actually rather have Wordpress.com. But I'd like that template and I couldn't find the equivalent on Wordpress.com.

 

[Daniel P Robertson]

It really doesn't take much longer to setup a wordpress.org site than a wordpress.com one, especially if you have a host that offers 1 click install. Most of them do. Plus, self hosted wordpress sites offer so much more flexibility with plugins and themes, and you don't have to worry about running afoul of the wordpress.org policies and such.

 

[Melody Simmons]

If I can't find the right minimalist template, is there some other place to upload the ZenHabits template? A Wordpress.com equivalent?

BTW, I don't need total control. I'd actually rather have Wordpress.com. But I'd like that template and I couldn't find the equivalent on Wordpress.com.

Nope - You either use Wordpress.com or Blogger and you use whatever templates they make available (there are more themes with the paid options), or you have to go the Wordpress.org way which is a lot more work and effort, but then you can customise. You cannot purchase themes from other sites or plugins or anything outside of Wordpress.com and use it...which also creates protection for your site from viruses, by the way. Or you have to look for a build-your-own website option somewhere else...

Melody

 

[lcharnes]

I second Daniel's post. The time an author site takes is in the content, not the setup, so you're no better off in the walled garden of Wordpress.com. If you want to be able to take advantage of the huge range of plugins and themes available for Wordpress sites, buy your own URL (they're cheap these days) and hosting and go with Wordpress.org. It's not much more work than what you'll have to do at WP.com. Godaddy -- the people who host my site -- is cheap and easy to deal with and has the one-click installation Daniel mentions.

 

[A.A]

That's the simplest layout ever (zenhabits)
Perhaps you could play around with Blogger as it allows easy customisation of colours and layout. It does seem overkill to have your own hosting etc if all you want is something every basic. You just may not be able to achieve quite as clean a look as zenhabits has.

 

[IB]

It really doesn't take much longer to setup a wordpress.org site than a wordpress.com one, especially if you have a host that offers 1 click install. Most of them do. Plus, self hosted wordpress sites offer so much more flexibility with plugins and themes, and you don't have to worry about running afoul of the wordpress.org policies and such.

I read that it takes a lot more maintenance, that you have to keep up with updates and security breaches, and other elements that I don't understand.

I'd love to do Wordpress.org, if it really is as easy as .com. Do you think that's the case?

 

[Daniel P Robertson]

Almost as easy. My host has a script that automatically updates the core if I don't do it, but updating is as easy as checking a few boxes and hitting an "update" button.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

[IB]

That's the simplest layout ever (zenhabits)
Perhaps you could play around with Blogger as it allows easy customisation of colours and layout. It does seem overkill to have your own hosting etc if all you want is something every basic. You just may not be able to achieve quite as clean a look as zenhabits has.

Anya, That's exactly right -- And that's what I find ironic! I want that simple layout with a few additions (links to books, screenplays, events, etc.), but I can't find a similar template in Wordpress.

If I use Blogger, do you think they have a similar template (or is Blogger just one template)? Can I link to books, Amazon, screenplays, etc.? And thanks for the suggestion.

 

[IB]

Almost as easy. My host has a script that automatically updates the core if I don't do it, but updating is as easy as checking a few boxes and hitting an "update" button.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

Now, that sounds great! So, why is there all this fear about the updates and security?

Also, can you recommend a host that you find update the core? If I go with Wordpress.org, I was thinking of Hostgator or Bluehost. I don't hear great things about GoDaddy. And thanks for your input!

 

[vlmain]

Updating a self hosted Wordpress blog is simple. It will notify you when you log in when there is an update available and ask if you want to update it. Hit the button and it's done.

Pretty much everything is one click, except for premium themes. If you use a theme like Zen Habits, you may have to upload any updated versions of he theme, but that is really simple, as well.

 

[Daniel P Robertson]

Now, that sounds great! So, why is there all this fear about the updates and security?

Also, can you recommend a host that you find update the core? If I go with Wordpress.org, I was thinking of Hostgator or Bluehost. I don't hear great things about GoDaddy. And thanks for your input!

I have only used Hostgator and GoDaddy, and HG is my recommendation. I do hear good things about BlueHost, but I don't know if they have the automatic update script.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

[PaulLev]

You can link to anything with a url (including books on Amazon), insert any kind of html, in both your individual posts on blogger and (in the case of the html) into the template as well. And blogger has huge number of widgets that do all kinds of things (for example, I have one that automatically pulls up a title and few lines any time I'm quoted in the press).

 

[A.A]

Anya, That's exactly right -- And that's what I find ironic! I want that simple layout with a few additions (links to books, screenplays, events, etc.), but I can't find a similar template in Wordpress.

If I use Blogger, do you think they have a similar template (or is Blogger just one template)? Can I link to books, Amazon, screenplays, etc.? And thanks for the suggestion.

What PaulLev said.
There are heaps of templates, but it seems you could probably do what you want without going for anything complex. Get a Blogger account and have a play - everything is customisable including colours and layouts. I don't use it, as I have self-hosted WordPress, but I've looked at it recently as I have a website in which I write about stuff like this

 

[jvin248]

.
Get your own URL, if you haven't locked in anywhere yet, that is separate from wherever you want hosting. I use netfirms.com currently. They will have specials from $7-$10/year. They are easy to forward from that URL to your host. It keeps you flexible later to change hosting for whatever reason (you don't get held hostage).
.
Then get a wordpress.com account. Point your URL to that account. Use a simple template that is close to what you want. Remember, the template you want is not necessarily what your customers/readers might want to see. It's about them not you. You'll change your template in six months anyway - honest! Artwork/photography are the key differentiators on a website anyway. The stock 2011/2012 wordpress theme with good photography can be amazing and offer a completely different feel with different artwork.
.
Later when you have content and time you can migrate your data from wordpress.com to a fancy-custom-built wordpress.org anywhere you want and point your URL to the new location.
.
90% of professional bloggers are using wordpress software (not blogger) for many many reasons so learn wordpress.
.
.

 

[IB]

.
Get your own URL, if you haven't locked in anywhere yet, that is separate from wherever you want hosting. I use netfirms.com currently. They will have specials from $7-$10/year. They are easy to forward from that URL to your host. It keeps you flexible later to change hosting for whatever reason (you don't get held hostage).
.
Then get a wordpress.com account. Point your URL to that account. Use a simple template that is close to what you want. Remember, the template you want is not necessarily what your customers/readers might want to see. It's about them not you. You'll change your template in six months anyway - honest! Artwork/photography are the key differentiators on a website anyway. The stock 2011/2012 wordpress theme with good photography can be amazing and offer a completely different feel with different artwork.
.
Later when you have content and time you can migrate your data from wordpress.com to a fancy-custom-built wordpress.org anywhere you want and point your URL to the new location.
.
90% of professional bloggers are using wordpress software (not blogger) for many many reasons so learn wordpress.
.
.

Okay. I locked in the URL, but haven't made a decision on the rest. Hey, it's a start...

I have to admit, Blogger looks really easy! But you make a good argument for Wordpress.

Would you go with .com over .org because it's easier when starting out?

And is Blogger with my own URL still too amateurish for an author website? I'm assuming that, to readers, they won't know it's a Blogger account. It won't say so in the URL. Also, is it hard to migrate it to Wordpress later on?

 

[vlmain]

There is no difference between .com and ,org with regard to ease of use. But if you can get the .com you want, I would choose that over the .org.

If your main concern with Wordpress is getting it installed on your hosting, I can do that for you. I have done hundreds of Wordpress sites, and would be more than happy to get it installed for you.

 

[pjmorse]

Yes, you can always buy a domain name and then point it to wordpress.com. In fact, you can even buy a domain name from wordpress (http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/) and purchase a la carte upgrades.

I have used wordpress before, and I would recommend them over any other blogging service because their documentation is fantastic. I had a much easier time using wordpress.

Good luck!

 

[IB]

There is no difference between .com and ,org with regard to ease of use. But if you can get the .com you want, I would choose that over the .org.

If your main concern with Wordpress is getting it installed on your hosting, I can do that for you. I have done hundreds of Wordpress sites, and would be more than happy to get it installed for you.

Thanks for the offer!

My main concerns with Wordpress are simplicity of use and getting the template I'd like. But it sounds like you're another vote, that ease of use is the same for both?

After getting my URL, I looked through the themes and still couldn't find that stripped down ZenHabits style.

I noticed that Tumblr's basic template comes really close, but going with Tumblr is kind of like going with Blogger, even with my own domain, right?!