Creating a Powerful Website Presence through WordPress and Blogging

By Marcy Mitchellwww.mtechbd.com

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Internet Marketing Consultant

◦ Owner of MTECH Internet Marketing- 17 years

Web site development/ Search engine optimization

Social Media

Internet marketing consultant (PPC, SEO, Marketing plans)

◦ Internet Marketing Director for a number of leading real estate firms & community websites (DurangoDowntown.com & Pagosa.com)

◦ SBDC Business Advisor

◦ Certified Marketing for Smarties Coach

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1. What is Wordpress? 2. Wordpress.com vs. Wordpress.org3. Differences b/w free themes, paid

themes and custom themes4. Navigating the WordPress

Backend5. Importance of Blogging

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WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. It is “in the cloud” and also known as a CMS or Content Management System.

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Started in 2003 to enhance topography of writers.

Open Source Platform – meaning hundreds of

people all over the world working on it.

Currently largest self-hosted blogging tool with 60

Million sites/users

Thousands of plugins, themes and widgets

Built on PHP and MYSQL with CSS stylesheets

controlling the look.

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1. Free hosted solution.2. Few plugins available.3. Domain mapping but

content on Wordpress server.

4. Limited themes and design options.

5. Can’t access CSS stylesheet, PHP files to modify.

1. Purchase hosting from $7-$15/month.

2. More than 25,000 plugins

3. Content on your own. server with unique domain

4. Thousands of themes.5. Full access to modify

core theme style and functionality.

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6. Automated backup system byWordpress.com.7. Used primarily for personal

sites.8. Can’t control SEO or gain

credit for new pages.9. Can’t transfer theme to

wordpress.org or other server.

6. Manual Backup by you or website provider.

7. Used primarily for professional sites.

8. Install SEO plugin and make site search engine friendly.

9. Can move site to a number of WordPress-friendly hosting accounts.

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What is a Layout?

Template/theme is

a wrapper, used to

position various

elements on the

page. It contains css

rules for layout and

font styling.

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A. Free to InstallB. Limited Layout OptionsC. Little to No Support D. Limited Branding &

Color ChoiceE. Will Need to Research

and Install Your Own Plugins to Extend Functionality (SEO, Contact Forms, Slideshows, etc…)

F. Need Image Editing Software to Create Custom Headers

Twenty-Eleven Free Theme

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A. More Color/Layout OptionsB. Most Inside Pages Share

Sidebar ContentC. Cost Range ($50 - $150) +

Plugins + TimeD. Can’t Match Logo ColorsE. Some Plugins IncludedF. Need Image Editing

Software to Customize Headers

G. Self Training or Read Tutorials or Videos

H. Some Have Forum SupportI. SEO Done by Yourself

Genesis Paid Theme

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Genesis Paid Them – Customized and 3 Layouts:

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A. Unlimited Color/Layouts/Fonts

B. Unlimited Widget AreasC. WordPress Training

IncludedD. SEO Often IncludedE. Paid Plugins IncludedF. No Need for CSS, HTML or

Image Editing Knowledge/Software

G. Responsive DesignH. Match BrandingI. Backup ServiceJ. Resource/Knowledge Base

Gallesproperties.com Custom Theme

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Gallesproperties.com Custom Theme – Unlimited Layouts

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Gallesproperties.com Custom Theme – Custom Landing Pages, Blog

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Pages and Posts Include Page Title, Permalink, Body Copy, SEO tags, Layout Assignment, etc…

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Widgets Allow you to Put in Content into Sidebar or Special Areas Outside of Your Main Page Content

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Add Special Text, Links, Images or Code to Your Widget Area, You Use the Text Widget. Requires Knowledge of CSS/HTML. Some Custom Themes Have a “Widget Content” Area that Looks/Acts Like Post/Page Area.

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Sites with Blogs Receive 55% more Visitors (Hubspot)

Integrated Into Site

Increased Content/Pages for Additional Keywords – Long Tail

Creates Bridge with Social Media Marketing

Establishes You as a Thought Leader in Your Industry

More Frequent Posts Help Ranking.

Posts Get Shared – Extend Reach

Customer Service

Distinguishes Your Company Brand/Voice

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Develop Content Strategy◦ What is Your Niche? What Do you Know/Do That is Unique?

◦ Research Knowledge Clients Need. What Questions?

◦ Careful…the More You Talk About Yourself The Less People Want to Listen.

CONSISTENCY is Key Make Sure Grammar is Correct. Add Social Sharing Plugin & Social Media Links Add Twitter Feeds and Facebook Feeds. Add High Quality Photos and Videos. Have Fun…But Remember Your Brand.

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Decide How Much Learning / Time You Have Dedicate Time Each Week for Blogging/Social

Media Websites Are Now Interactive – Plan on Tweaking SEO Requires Updates and More Interaction Spend Time Looking at Sites You Like BEFORE

Hiring Web Firm Responsive Design is Causing More Simple Design Determine Your Voice & Specialty Work With Professionals Who Train and Empower

You