A Website Inside a WordPress Website – How to Make it Work
Whether you’ve built a corporate brand or an online store, chances are you’ve considered using WordPress to power its online presence.
For many, WordPress is the ideal choice; it’s easy to use, free, and very flexible. But for those who want to create a more traditional website, using WordPress as the basis for their site can pose a challenge. If you’re looking for ways to bring a more polished, corporate feel to your website, this article will teach you how to craft the perfect digital space within a WordPress website.
Building Blocks
When developing a traditional website, you’ll typically need to consider various technical issues such as hosting, content strategy, and site architecture. But aside from those basics, you’ll also need to make sure that the design of the site reflects your brand’s image and values. Your brand’s identity should be reflected in everything, from the words you use and the way you write to the colors, patterns, and shapes you choose for your site.
On the other hand, a WordPress website doesn’t need to be as meticulously designed as a traditional one. You don’t need to consider issues such as column inches or photo cropping. Instead, you can concentrate on content strategy and growth. When it comes to website design, WordPress gives you the freedom to innovate and try new things. This is one of the major reasons why so many brands choose to use the platform.
Columns, Headers & Spindles
A WordPress website usually comes with out-of-the-box functionality that allows you to organize content in an appealing way. For example, you can use columns in your content strategy to create a more immersive experience for your readers. You can use the recently upgraded header and footer options to give your site a polished look.
And what is a website without some form of vertical rhythm or “spindles” to keep the eye moving around the page and absorbing all the content? A WordPress website usually comes with some default styling that makes it easy to incorporate these three elements into your site.
Applying Colors
When crafting the perfect corporate website within a WordPress website, you’ll want to apply consistent colors across the site. It’s a great choice because you can easily modify the colors anytime you want using the color picker built into WordPress. This provides you with the freedom to test different shades of blue and see how they impact your website’s overall look and feel. You can also use the picker to apply a subtle background image to your site.
On the other hand, if you’re creating a more traditional website, you might not want to overload your content with colors and patterns. Instead, you can choose to leave the background of your site white to give it a polished look.
Custom Themes & Plugins
With WordPress, the sky is the limit when it comes to customizing the appearance of your site. If you’ve ever used Photoshop or another image editing software, you’ll have the basic understanding of how to manipulate and arrange your images. You can use those skills to create a unique theme for your website, one that will provide a polished, professional look.
While you’re at it, you can also use the theme’s built-in functionality to create unique blog posts with an appealing headline and thumbnail that will get your readers interested in your content. You won’t need to spend a fortune on buying individual plugins to tackle these tasks. Instead, you can use freely available themes and plugins that can help you create any type of website you desire.
Bringing a Traditional Look
To create a traditional website, you’ll need to use tools like Photoshop or a similar image editing software. Don’t worry — there are free tools that can help you as well. For example, GIMP is a free and open source software package that provides many of the features you’d find in a paid image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. Using resources like these, plus plugins such as Fancy Header and WooCommerce, you can make your website look like it was professionally designed using expensive tools. This isn’t a bad thing; it just means you’ve made the right choice for your needs.
Focus on the Functionality
One of the primary reasons why so many companies choose WordPress is the platform’s functionality. WordPress is a great choice because it provides a content management system that is very flexible and easy to use. In addition, the software’s design allows for quick and easy modifications. This makes it ideal for use as a launching point for your company’s online presence. If you’re looking for a free content management system with great functionality, WordPress is a perfect option.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a traditional website with limited functionality, you might want to look elsewhere. The CMS doesn’t provide that much in the way of unique features, so you’ll have to rely on third-party plugins to provide the functionality you desire. The more functionality you want to bring to your site, the more you’ll have to pay for individual plugins to do so. In this case, you’re better off investing in a custom platform designed for the specific needs of your business.
Final Takeaway
So you want to make a decision based on what is best for your needs? Start by considering the pricepoint of the product you are evaluating. If you’re looking for a free product that will do everything you need, WordPress will be your best choice. On the other hand, if you need a fully-fledged CMS with vast functionality, you might want to look elsewhere. The pricepoint of this product will determine whether you can afford it or if you should consider an alternative option.
In any case, WordPress will continue to play an important role in the evolution of content strategy and SEO as the web evolves.