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» Using WordPress as content management system

 September 1st, 2008 | Filed in: Articles, Web Design |

WordPress is not just a blogging platform even though many do seem to think so. In fact there are a lot more sites that are powered using WordPress than you’d initially think, some that you’d never even imagine being WordPress sites. The fact is that using WordPress as a CMS system as not as hard at all as it’s equipped (along with plugins) to handle it really well.

Extendibility - Plugins

Perhaps the strength of the WordPress system is the wide range of plugins available and the ease of which you can modify it through those plugins. Some features that really could be the core of WordPress are thankfully available in the form of free plugins. Some of those plugins are a definite need when using the system as a CMS while some are just plain fun.

All in One SEO Pack
One very important thing when it comes to managing a good website (and a blog even) is to consider SEO and it’s a real wonder why this isn’t already built into WordPress. This plugin allows you to add post-specific descriptions, titles and keywords so that it doesn’t have to be the same as the rest of your site. It also adds the ability to change how your defaults are going to be.
- Get it here

FCKEditor for WordPress
Sure the built in TinyMCE based editor works, until you have to do some more serious management of images etc. when you realize it isn’t enough and you need something more powerful. You could say that the FCKEditor for WordPress is just that. Allowing to to create far more things than in the default editor, this is a must have for managing a larger site with different types of content/needs.
- Get it here

cformsII
Most sites should have a contact form and if you don’t – seriously consider getting one. I tried several different forms before settling with cforms but this is really the most advanced form management for WordPress that exists. Allowing you to create many different forms of different layouts and complexity, it’s simply unbeatable!
- Get it here

Maintenance Mode
Also something that I wish was built into the system form the start. What this plugin does is that it’ll allow you to close your site to the public with a custom message for any amount of time, while still being open to you and others you give permission. Which is perfect for any maintenance of theme or similar that you may want to do without people seeing any funny looking things.
- Get it here

StatPress
You would need to keep track on how well your site is doing in many different aspects and StatPress allows you to see clear ad easy site stats as well as the more advanced user stats as well. Overall a great system that’s just getting better and better.
- Get it here

Now I could go on listing all the plugins that I use or just like but these are the ones I feel every type of site needs. There are a lot of great “type specific” plugins that are good for certain types of sites as well and you can find them all in the WordPress Plugin Directory.

Extendibility – Themes

There’s not just plugins there are plenty of to download. There are really a ton of WordPress themes out there, some better than others. I prefer designing my own themes for my sites because it gives me the most flexibility in the end. Luckily that’s very easy as well as it’s just adding a bit of code to the right places. How can you know what code you ask? Luckily we have the great WordPress Codex to our help that lists really everything you need to know.

Should you need to download any free themes for WordPress I do certainly have my places where I know I can get good looking, quality themes. One of those places is Smashing Magazine. They’ve made a lot of posts listing hundreds and hundreds of quality free themes as well as custom made freebies that they are offering.

Wrapping it all up

After installing the necessary plugins and a good template for your site you can begin creating the content and placing it in a good structure. You can make categories appear like pages using blog posts as a page system in addition to using it for blogging. There are many creative ways you’d never have thought of using categories and pages before that you could do. Get creative with the system while setting up and study other sites that are creatively built upon WordPress to get new ideas.

Sites using WordPress as a CMS

Here are some sites that are successfully using WordPress as a CMS system for powering their entire site without it looking like a blog site.

XLD Studios
When I set up XLD Studios newest version I decided to move it over to WordPress so that I could update it on the go. It also provided me the dynamic features I could use to make the site appear richer in functionality and I think the move has paid off and is well used.

A.J Wood.com
This site is creatively using WordPress to power a more magazine looking site with articles placed in an “unconventional” format when it comes to the standard blog, more in line with a news site that you wouldn’t guess the backend was WordPress.

Ten24Media
A very well done integration of WordPress to create the site which at a first glance doesn’t reveal anything about being powered by a supposed “blogging script”. At closer looks in the blog section we can see though that it indeed is WordPress powered.

skysoclear
This London based web designing company is using WordPress as they content management system which I doubt you’ll notice if you are just looking at the site. Even when not having a blog on your site WordPress is an easy to use system that’s perfect for most type of sites.

To me, all of these sites (and there are a ton more) show that it’s possible and simple to use WordPress as a content management system without any major additions or changes to the way it works. With a robust extension system and page/post handling system that could be used in many creative ways, it’s simple to create a robust website.

Tags: Article, CMS, Plugins, Themes, WordPress |  Print Post     

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