WordPress for Business 101

The first step to implementing WordPress for a business related blog is to go to the following link: https://signup.WordPress.com/signup/

Signing up consists of basic steps like creating a username and a password and providing an email address for point of contact. This part of the process allows the company representative to peruse the terms of service as well as offers the company the opportunity to create a blog URL (example: companyname.WordPress.com). New users can also set up a user name only account but that is an option best reserved for a self-hosted blog or a private blog.

The second screen of the sign up process allows for the creation of the blog and selection of the blog domain. Once created, the blog URL cannot be changed. The option to add a new blog URL on the account later is available. Users can also customize blog titles, language settings and the privacy settings of the search engine options. After set up, these functions are found on the settings page.

The third page encountered offers profile setting customization which can be defined at the time of sign up or later. Users can also check the email address at the bottom of the screen and if it is incorrect for the company's contact needs can change it here.

Like many other web services, WordPress uses email activation links. New users can check their email accounts for the activation notification.

The next part of implementing WordPress involves logging into the new account after activation. The administrative toolbar which is gray is at the top of the screen. From this bar, one can access the blog dashboard, account pages, other options and tools and can create new blog posts. The dashboard is the option which allows companies and users to customize blog content.

If upon logging into the WordPress account the dashboard is not a visible option then the account was set up incorrectly as a user name only or private account. The sign up page for WordPress where the company can add another blog to the account is the place to go to in order to set up the blog correctly. This involves creating and adding a new blog, not editing the existing blog.

WordPress is useful not only for creating blogs but also websites but that is beyond the scope of the current article.

The actual creation of the blog will occur at this point in the process. From the dashboard, select the option Posts and then Add New. There is also a New Post quick button on the administrative tool bar at the top of the page. If these options do not exist then the user has not yet created a front page yet.

Once posts have been created for a company the user can tag and classify the content for easier searches and filtering for the audience to find specific articles.

The process of setting up the basic WordPress functionality is very simple. Once the business is happy with the results of the blog set up and execution then the next step would be investigating themes, security concerns and plug-in libraries. A business must carefully consider the source of any plug-ins before adding content to WordPress programs.

There are many tutorials readily available to assist users of WordPress as well as business strategies for increased views and traffic to a blog. Once the blog is set up and running well, the business' primary concern should shift to ways to maximize exposure of the blog to target audiences. Businesses will likely optimize WordPress primarily as a marketing tool and the displays offered on the blog and social media should be governed by marketing maxims.