WordPress is a versatile platform that most think of when you mention blogging; however, WordPress can actually do more than just run a blog – it can run your entire web site.
The relative ease of use of the WordPress Dashboard allows you, the Administrator, to add new blog posts, upload new themes, plugins and more – all from one interface, but you can also add static web pages to your site as well.
What you may not realize, is that you can have a WordPress driven web site where you do not actually blog at all; you simply have pages - just like any other static html site, only built in WordPress.
Static Page Examples
- Here’s one very simple example of such a site – my still in progress Genesis Tribe site.
- This is one of my web design clients that has beautiful Champion Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, we did their site all in WordPress static pages, without the blogging elements.
- Here’s another very nicely done squeeze page over at Making Beats Now. Yep, this is WordPress.
The beauty of this is if you have blogged using this platform, then you know how to use WordPress, and how easy it is using it as a content management system (CMS), which simply means an easy way to control your content using the Dashboard interface that doesn’t require you to know html, is what makes WordPress ideal for creating static page web sites.
Okay – so how do you accomplish wonderful feat of static page magic? Read on…
How to Use WordPress Static Web Pages
It’s all in the widgets & the Theme
- Choose your theme
- For the sidebar, remove those widgets that pertain to the blogging aspects of WordPress (Recent Posts, Comments, Calendar, Archives, etc..) and only leave the Pages widget
- Remove any blogging navigation from the header & footer navigation via the header.php and/or footer.php files
- Remove any coding from the page.php file that calls in comments as well (if applicable), unless you don’t mind comments on your pages.
That’s really it. By not calling in the blogging elements (that’s fancy talk for the bits of code that turn WordPress into a blog and not just a web site) via the sidebar widgets or onto the pages within the template; WordPress can then be used like any other CMS to build web sites. Pretty cool, huh?!
No need to hire a web designer to get a web site online. I would recommend putting your money instead into perhaps a nice custom WordPress theme, or a premium WordPress theme.
Now, if technical stuff makes you want to pull your hair out, and you feel you need help on how to install WordPress, check out my Beginner to Blogger eCourse. It’s a very detailed step-by-step 4 week eCourse that will get you up and blogging – guaranteed!
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Nice post, at least I can see WordPress can do more than just blogs. I normally use Joomla but I am tempted to give WP a try. Have you used Joomla as well? I’m interested in your opinions on Joomla vs WP.
Hi Bob – yes, I have used Joomla. At one point, I had my web design business site setup in Joomla, and then switched it to WorkPress in 2004 or 2005 (can’t remember now) and have used WP ever since.
I do still have clients that use Joomla and so do continue to work some with that platform via my outsourcing services company. Honestly, I do not like the organizational structure and setup on the backend of Joomla. While Joomla can do quite a bit, there’s not anything I’ve found that Joomla does that WordPress cannot also do.
I prefer the WordPress system for it’s expandability via plugins, and compared to Joomla – for WordPress’ easy to use admin interface with an organizational structure that is straightforward and easy to find what you’re looking for.
Thanks Traci. I think I’ll give WP a try then. Although Joomla 1.6 is supposed to have better organizational structure but that won’t be usable (including addons being updated) for some time.
Thanks again,
Bob.
I agree Traci,
When we were thinking about switching to a CMS type platform we researched Drupal,Joomal and WordPress and it seems there is nothing WordPress can’t do and it does Better by steps above the other options. I’ve also found a WordPress based site will stomp any simuliar Drupal or Joomla site in the engines with little effort. Just another Bonus!
I am amazed to how wordpress went from a blog cms to a perfect cms for anything. I love it, and I use it more for building websites, rather than building blogs.
Hi Traci,
I’ve been wanting to convert my site to a static version for quite some time.
Please can you give references of files and/or codes where deleting changes should be done. I’m running a copy on XAMPP and would lke to give it a test bench shot.
Great site you have and great tips!
Hi Trudi – no need to delete anything. If you want to use WordPress as a static type web site, and not a blog – then don’t create blog posts or blog categories, only create and use Pages. Simple as that.