The title of this isn’t quite right – it should say “Are you ready for a website with me?”. I write this based on my beliefs on what a good website should be and the kind of work I do. I can easily sum it up in one word – YourContent 
- Content is the best way for people to get to know you.
- Content is the best way for people to experience your uniqueness.
- Content is the best way for people to choose to engage with you.
- Content keeps you on your toes – it keeps you fresh – attuned to yourself and to others.
- Content keeps you present – you are constantly changing and it comes across in your writing.
- Content connects you with the right people – people who can relate to you and to whom you are likely to relate.
- Content will draw you into reflection and observation – which is where more content is born.
- Content creates a flow energy and prevents muddy puddles.
I believe that static websites that are “online business cards” are bad for you – they are muddy puddles. You are better off not having a static website then having one:
- Without content search engines won’t notice you and people won’t find you.
- Without content you have no reason to look at your website.
- Without content you have no reason to invite others to look at it.
- Without content you look like everyone else – there’s nothing to set you apart.
- Without content you relay the message that “There’s nothing special about me, I am like everyone else”.
So … Don’t expect me to help you create a website without content. I will push you into creating content no matter how you try to escape it. If you are not sure you want this or are ready for it there are a number of ways you can try it on your own and see how it feels.
WordPress.com
You can get a free blog on WordPress.com. It runs the same WordPress.org software with which I create websites (here is why). That will make a later transition to your self-owned WordPress website smooth and easy. WordPress.com will provide you with a fully functional WordPress website but you can use it within limitations imposed by the service. These limitation are not likely to interfere with your initial experiments.
Privacy
If you want to, you can keep your blog private (so that only you and authorized users can view it) by setting it’s privacy configuration.
Customized Look
On WordPress.com you will find a variety of themes you can try out. If you find something you like I suggest you spend some time on it, keep it open on your screen let it sink in. Try to ask yourself what it is you like about it, is there anything you would change about it. This will be useful when it comes to designing a customized look for your website.
Twenty Ten
If you want some more freedom to experiment with your own look then I suggest you try the recently released and (as I write these words) default theme called “Twenty Ten”. It enables you to easily set your own background and header images or colors.
Sandbox Website at oDharma
Another alternative is hosting a temporay “Sandbox” website here at oDharma. This is an independent installation of WordPress without any limitations (intended for private non-commercial use only). You can use this as a kind of playground to test the waters with everything WordPress has to offer.
Your Playground Website is a way for you to gradually disover your website. If you choose to call upon oDharma Design and Theme Building services – then you will be able to experience the designs together with your content on the same Sandbox Website. Then, when you feel your website is ready to launch, your Sandbox Website is loaded onto your domain and becomes your working website.
For more information on a Sandbox Website – see the oDharma Services Page.
Other Blogging Services
There are other blogging services you may consider:
- Tumblr – is well known for it’s ease of use and also has some built in community capabilities.
- Typepad – is a service similar to WordPress.
- Blogger – is a hosting service from Google.
If you choose to use another platform please keep in mind that there may be an issue of migrating your content from that platform to your WordPress website. Some of the commercial services that want to keep you from leaving them may raise obstacles to exporting your content. WordPress has built in tools for exporting your content at any time and also tools for importing your content from other platforms (though it doesn’t always go smoothly).
Are You Ready for a Website?
The title of this isn’t quite right – it should say “Are you ready for a website with me?”. I write this based on my beliefs on what a good website should be and the kind of work I do. I can easily sum it up in one word – YourContent
I believe that static websites that are “online business cards” are bad for you – they are muddy puddles. You are better off not having a static website then having one:
So … Don’t expect me to help you create a website without content. I will push you into creating content no matter how you try to escape it. If you are not sure you want this or are ready for it there are a number of ways you can try it on your own and see how it feels.
WordPress.com
You can get a free blog on WordPress.com. It runs the same WordPress.org software with which I create websites (here is why). That will make a later transition to your self-owned WordPress website smooth and easy. WordPress.com will provide you with a fully functional WordPress website but you can use it within limitations imposed by the service. These limitation are not likely to interfere with your initial experiments.
Privacy
If you want to, you can keep your blog private (so that only you and authorized users can view it) by setting it’s privacy configuration.
Customized Look
On WordPress.com you will find a variety of themes you can try out. If you find something you like I suggest you spend some time on it, keep it open on your screen let it sink in. Try to ask yourself what it is you like about it, is there anything you would change about it. This will be useful when it comes to designing a customized look for your website.
Twenty Ten
If you want some more freedom to experiment with your own look then I suggest you try the recently released and (as I write these words) default theme called “Twenty Ten”. It enables you to easily set your own background and header images or colors.
Sandbox Website at oDharma
Another alternative is hosting a temporay “Sandbox” website here at oDharma. This is an independent installation of WordPress without any limitations (intended for private non-commercial use only). You can use this as a kind of playground to test the waters with everything WordPress has to offer.
Your Playground Website is a way for you to gradually disover your website. If you choose to call upon oDharma Design and Theme Building services – then you will be able to experience the designs together with your content on the same Sandbox Website. Then, when you feel your website is ready to launch, your Sandbox Website is loaded onto your domain and becomes your working website.
For more information on a Sandbox Website – see the oDharma Services Page.
Other Blogging Services
There are other blogging services you may consider:
If you choose to use another platform please keep in mind that there may be an issue of migrating your content from that platform to your WordPress website. Some of the commercial services that want to keep you from leaving them may raise obstacles to exporting your content. WordPress has built in tools for exporting your content at any time and also tools for importing your content from other platforms (though it doesn’t always go smoothly).