According to WordPressforWomen.com, there are two ways to create a WordPress site - 1) You can either upload the free software from WordPress.org to your own domain ,or 2) you can create a free site on WordPress.com. You may not know what path to take for your school blog or site, but in the next few minutes we hope to make your choice clear.

Wordpress.org

Wordpress.org offers free WordPress software, plugins, themes, just about everything you need to set up a WordPress site. Before you do anything, you’ll need a host for your site. The site provides a list of hosts, but there are many that can host your WordPress blog, provided they meet the minimum requirements.

Tip on choosing a host: If you’re new to the Net and/or technically challenged, who you select as a host is extremely important. Don’t make a choice on your host based on price alone. Customer service is extremely important, especially to the novice. Be cautious of hosts who only provide an email address for support purposes. It may be an economic plus for hosts (although I would argue even that), it is definitely not recommended for most customers. If you have a host that you’re happy with, check to see if they meet the requirements for a WordPress site. They may even offer a WordPress blog package.

Wordpress.com

Wordpress.com is a free, fully-hosted blogging platform that is built with the Worpress.org software. Domain names of blogs hosted by Wordpress.com will be “yourname.wordpress.com,” Because it’s a fully-hosted service, you won’t need to find a hosting service or set-up the Wordpress software on your own.

So what should you do? If you want an easy way to get started using the WordPress software and to become familiar with its features, open an account with WordPress.com. If your objective is to build a stand-alone website for your school or to develop an add-on blog to your school’s website, consider the Wordpress.org option. It’s more professional and provides an opportunity to build branding for your organization. Although you’ll need to choose a domain name and host, it is still a very cost-effective option.

Hostmysite.com, one of the best hosts we’ve dealt with, offers WordPress blog packages for just $45/year and throws in a free domain name to boot. What’s more, they have an easy, automated installation that will have you blogging in minutes! And if you run into problems, their tech service support is just a phone call away (yes, a human being in Newark, DE, does answer the phone)! And if you want additional guidance, feel free to contact us!