{ Dusty Orange Web Solutions }

Welcome to Dusty Orange’s new website. After many years of the same design, I have decided to make the move and build the website on a content management system. This makes it seriously easy to edit, from anywhere, anytime and no need for expensive software.  My latest work in progress, Gumtree Gully Alpacas, has been built using the same system so will post up here once it is live.

For the geeks amongst you (I know you are out there!) I have used Wordpress to manage the content. Website here. What, WordPress I hear you say! But that is for BLOGS! Well, originally yes, but what I like about WordPress is that it is not just for blogs, it is a complete online publishing platform, so can offer you easy management of pages, content and images as well as all the cool things blogging tools come with, like free plugins and free themes.

I am a big, big fan of WordPress ever since I “discovered” it 4 years ago and since then have spent quite a bit of time learning how to install, configure, update, edit and transform. It’s a bit like playing with lego.  This website is based on the latest version of WordPress, 2.8.4, and is using a theme designed by Bright Cherry in the UK. I have added the following WordPress plugins so far:

• Ultimate Google Analytics
  • Google Analytics is a rich product developed by our Google friends which allows you to really analyze your website traffic. It’s a bit addictive, so I recommend limiting your visits!
• MailChimp
  • MailChimp is what I have used to add the subscribe form on the right. It handles new subscriptions, unsubscribes, campaigns, lists, templates, all the things you need for successful email campaigns. Go on, subscribe and try it, not only will you get to see how MailChimp works, but you get to receive my latest web news and views. You can unsubscribe anytime!
• WordPress BackUp
  • This automatically backs up all my content on a  regular basis so should anything happen, I can get it back. It’s like insurance, so hopefully I will never, ever need it.
• LightBox Gallery
  • This plugin is what gives the cool hover effect with image galleries – see my Portfolio page.

As I quite like WordPress plugins, I tend to add quite a few, just to see what they do, which is why I need my automatic back up! In the next few weeks I am going to look at Twitter plugins to link my Twitter account with my blog posts and also at new Email to Blog plugins. I have had great success with one in the past as it makes it so easy to update your blog without logging into the control panel each time. You just send an email to the blog address, and it is automatically published. Great feature from your mobile phone.

Leave a comment below if you like

Tags: blogs, content management, plugin, themes, WordPress