When people ask me about setting up a content management system (CMS), they almost never think of WordPress. Even if they have used WP, like it, and are running several sites on WP, they still don’t think about using WordPress unless they are setting up a blog.

Please be aware we’re talking about self-hosted Wordpress as a CMS, and not the free blog setup available at WordPress.com. The blogs at WordPress.com have less functionality and far less flexibility than a WP installation set up on a commercial web host, and would probably not make much of a content management system.

And while WP is the defacto standard for blogs, truth is that it can do a whole lot more. Fact is, you can have a WP site with all static pages. No blog required! With a little planning and the right choice of theme and plugins WP makes a fantastic, lightweight CMS that nobody will be able to recognize as WP (if you don’t want them to).  [1]

WordPress is widely used and supported with a huge community behind it. There are countless tutorials, plugins, themes and other resources for bending WP to your will. It’s easy to learn, easy to use, and flexible. Non-technical folks can easily create content in WP, and even the technical ones spend their energy focusing on the content–at least, when they’re done tweaking the site to their satisfaction.

When to use WP as your CMS

• Are your needs simple? Can you find a few plugins that fill the bill for all required functionality?
• Do you have experience with WP? Do you like it?
• Do you need non-technical people to update the site?

When Not to use WP as your CMS

• Would required functionality require hacking core files?
• Does your site have to interface with other systems in a way that would be difficult for WP? Bridges and forks can work, but will complicate your life in maintaining.
• Would the required functionality necessitate a large number of plugins? Or use plugins in non-supported ways?

Each CMS has it’s strong points and weak points. If you have straightforward needs, can find actively-supported  plugins that do what you need without a lot of trouble, and are already comfortable in WP, it’s a great choice. There’s no law your WP site has to have anything in common with a blog! Chances are a number of your favorite sites are actually running on WP, but you just don’t know it.

If you find that you’d have to do backflips to force WP to do your bidding, would have to hack core files, or would need to juggle a staggering number of plugins playing together nicely to pull it off, another CMS that’s more closely suited to your site’s needs would be a better choice. If WP is the round peg and you’ve got a square hole, look for a square peg.

The trick here is looking beyond what you think WP is about–blogging–to understand that you can design and organize your site content however you want. Forget the blog: ask if what WordPress can do well is well-suited to your requirements.

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WordPress as a CMS

1. See this terrific list of WP plugins especially useful to CMS-WordPresss users.

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Need better business ideas? How to Brainstorm Business Ideas over at the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur has you covered with brief suggestions from over a hundred real-life entrepreneurs in what works best for them to brainstorm brilliance.

This is my contribution, listed #47. It works for me!

Opening The Natural Connection

I absolutely do my most insightful brainstorming when connecting to the natural world in some way.

If the weather allows, sitting beneath a tree, standing barefoot in the grass, potting a plant, or even gazing out the window, turning a crystal in my hand. Focusing on connection to the larger world energy and feeling grateful prompts a receptiveness and positive focus, where inspiration flows much more freely.

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Business Brainstorming Ideas

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Many folks currently finding themselves without traditional employment are reconsidering ideas for their own business. The biggest barrier by far doesn’t seem to be lack of enthusiasm, the economy, poor ideas or anything related to the sustainability of their business model. Instead, it’s fear that stops them.

This article on the Business Worst Case Scenarios from the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur looks at business owners’ fears–and how they overcame them. It’s a must-read for anyone considering (but fearful of) starting their own business, as well as a good read for those that already are running their own business.

Dixie from Good Karma Host contributed #39 to the list. Check it out…

photo credit: MarcelGermain

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Scared of Starting Your Own Business?

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“I had a question,” Mom says. I know what that means–it’s tech support for Mom time!

“Yeah?”

“Do you think I could type something on the internet to see if hotels in certain cities are pet-friendly?”

“Well, that’s what I’d probably do if I wanted to know that, yeah.”

“What would I type? ‘Pet-friendly hotels’ and the city?”

“Yeah, that’s what I’d try.” Mmmm hmmm.

“Well, I wasn’t sure if that would work.”

“I dunno, Mom. I haven’t tried that specific search. But the internet has lots of information, and lots of hotels are online. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to find some that way.”

“Where do I type it?” she wants to know.

“Whatever search engine you use. Do you use Google?”

“I don’t know. I type stuff in. Sometimes I get the Google, sometimes I get the Yahoo. I have that little e thing I  use…”

“Yeah, that’s Internet Explorer, Mom. That’s your browser. I don’t know what start page you have set.”

“How do I get that Google?” she wants to know.

“You type ‘google.com’ in the top. Of your E-thing. It takes you to the Google.”

“Ok, I’ll try that.”

She’s happy. And why not? Now, she’s got the Google!

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Tech Support for Mom: Getting the Google

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Mom’s having trouble with her computer.

“And it came up with that thing, ‘Do you want to report this error to Mircosoft?’ and I said, ‘Yes.’ I’ve reported it to Microsoft several times, but they’ve never done anything about it.” She’s clearly displeased over the company’s inattentiveness.

“They won’t, Mom. Microsoft won’t do anything to help you. They just want to know about things for themselves.”

“Oh. So they won’t help me, huh? They will just fix it for other people later?”

“Yeah. They aren’t going to do diddley for you, Mom.”

“Well, I’m not going to bother telling them again!” She’s offended.

“No reason, Mom. No reason.” I explained cutting and pasting, so she could copy the error messages to send to me. I’m certainly going to be more helpful than Bill Gates! I wouldn’t have much faith she’d remember how to do it, but I think she was writing it down.

She apologized for the computer questions. I told her it was no problem.

“After all, Mom, I owe you. You did give birth to me and everything. What’s a couple of computer questions next to giving me life? I’m happy to help when I can.” [1]

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Tech Support with Mom: Microsoft Won’t Help You.

1. Who would have guessed that chubby, squirming little girl would grow up to answer her Mom’s computer questions?

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I contributed #17 to this blog post on locating a good accountant over at The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog.  I was evidently in good company starting with my professional network in selecting new folks to do business with, although there were some dissenting opinions  to consider as well. But for anyone in the market, there are sure to be some helpful ideas here.

And if you don’t follow Mike Michalowicz’s hugely helpful TPE blog, why not? You’re missing out, seriously. Mike’s got a been-there-done-that perspective on building successful business–and more importantly, sharing his insight with others–that makes his work invaluable to those looking to prosper and grow their business in any climate.

photo credit: alancleaver_2000

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A customization for the Thesis WordPress theme, designed by Dixie Vogel of Good Karma Host, is featured on the Art of Blog in the article “180+ Thesis Design Customizations You have to See to Believe” as one of the “best modifications of the Thesis Skin” they’ve found online. If you’re interested in trying out Thesis, the sites pictured in the article will also give you a very good indication of the theme’s flexibility.

You’ll have to scroll down a while to find us listed at #162, for the political blog,  Zombies Uncensored. A big thanks to Nick Reese of Art of Blog for including us in such an impressive roundup!

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GKH Thesis Theme Customization Featured

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I contributed some thoughts about pricing web projects to the article, “What’s In A Price: The Guidelines for Pricing Web Designs.”

I’ve also written about this topic a few times:

• Tight-Belt Tips: Websites on a Budget – Tips for Clients on Getting the Best Value
• Setting Web Design Rates General Advice as part of the “Wannabe-Pro” Series
• Setting Web Design Rates – Expanded Guide for Determining Prices

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I recently got the opportunity to contribute to another multi-contributor blog post on The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: Make it Right for the Customer, looking at how to recover with your clients after a problem comes up. (I contributed #12.)

This is an issue that’s near and dear to my heart, actually. It’s certainly an issue that should be highly important to anybody who serves others and cares about their business (but oddly enough, it often doesn’t seem so).

While the goal is to avoid screw-ups–duh!–if you’re in business for more than a minute,  there will be times when things go wrong. How you handle those slips can make or break your long-term success. It’s easy to be lovable when everything’s going smoothly, after all. But when processes break down and something goes awry, character displays and what you’re made of shows.

Why do so many companies make this so hard? You got me. I am not sure, but suspect sometimes businesses develop an adversarial stance with their customers, where they see each side as trying to get whatever they can out of the other. At least, that’s how it feels. Blech!

I use what I like to call the Golden Rule of Customer Service. It I were the customer, what would I want to happen? Oftentimes, the solution consists of a prompt and sincere apology, a credit on the bill, followup, and reviewing policies and procedures to make sure it isn’t a repeated issue. As a customer, I want to feel valued and respected. I don’t want to have to fight to have things made right. I expect my customers want much the same. So far, it seems like it’s been a good bet overall.

If you’re in the business of doing the absolute best work possible for your people, your people will usually be in the business of wanting to patronize and support the work you do. If you’re not on the same side, if it’s not win-win, then the business and client are not a good fit and you shouldn’t be working together.

I’ve personally found that clients can be incredibly generous and understanding about problems when it’s clear you’re doing your best for them every day. I’ve also found that for pretty much every mistake I’ve made through the years I’ve been doing business, it’s far more upsetting to me to feel like I’ve let down my folks than the breech of service has seemed to be for them.

Matter of fact, last time I apologized for a mistake, I was told it “wasn’t that big of a deal.”  I smiled wide and thought to myself, “I’m very glad it’s a much bigger deal to me than to you! That’s the way it should always be.” And it is.

photo credit: Steve Wampler

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via Twitter –Chris Johnson, Founder, Flat Rate Web Jobs.

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Totally Rocks

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