Julia Child is On a Rant About WordPress.com
ByI’ve been getting a lot of questions here the past few days as I wrap up preparations for the Fall ’09 Website Creation Workshop that starts on Monday.
One question has come up so many times, that I decided to ask Julia if she’d help me answer this:
Q: What is the Difference Between WordPress & WordPress.com?
Watch and see what Julia has to say…
Now as *delicious* as this video from Julia is, you might be wanting just a bit more detail about the differences between WordPress and WordPress.com. So let me share a few thoughts with you on that right here…
Q: What is the Difference Between WordPress & WordPress.com?
A: The Original WordPress (also known as WordPress.org) is a fully featured and fully customizable website and blog building software that you host on your own webserver. WordPress.com is a restricted version of WordPress that is hosted by the developers of WordPress for people who wish to build blogs without the having to host it themselves.
Q: What Are The Limitations of WordPress.com?
- No Advertising on Your Site (i.e. No Adsense Links)
- Commercial Content is frowned upon, and yet vaguely defined. Some affiliate links are against their Terms of Service, and possibly ANY selling at all may be against their TOS.
- Limited to Choosing From 70 Installed Design Themes
- No Custom Themes
- No Customizing of the 70 Preinstalled Themes
- Due to the limited theme choices (and their murky, negative stance towards commercial content) you will not be able to build the following types of websites:
- Sales Letter Websites with Top, Bottom, and Sidebar Links removed
- Squeeze Page Websites with Top, Bottom, and Sidebar Links removed
- MemberShip Websites with Password Controlled User Access
- No Plugins Allowed. You are limited to the functionality that WordPress.com has decided is best for you.
- Standard URLs are http://mydomain.wordpress.com which puts out a very poor impression of your business to your visitors. Custom domain names (e.g. http://www.mydomain.com) are an extra fee.
- If you choose to move your website later from WordPress.com to your own domain (e.g. http://mydomain.com ), you will not receive any search engine credit for the inbound links you accrue while hosting your website at WordPress.com
Q: Who Is WordPress.com Best For?
A: Personal bloggers, hobby bloggers, and blogging purists who plan only on blogging. People who interested only in telling the world their thoughts and never intend to make money off of their blog or website.
Q: Who is the Original WordPress Best For?
A: People who want to make money with their website. People who want to take full advantage of the flexibility offered by the thousands of free themes and plugins found on the web from developers around the world. People who want to build a variety of websites such as blogs, business presence websites, sales letter sites mini-sites, squeeze pages, and membership sites.
Q: What Are The Limitations of the Original WordPress?
A: There are not limitations to what you can do with the self hosted version of WordPress. Because it’s on your own servers, you have total control. No Big Brother telling you what you can or cannot do. But you do have to host it yourself, and install it yourself*. Hosting today however is extremely cheap with good webhosting available for $6.95 a month.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: In the Website Creation Workshop you get a fully functional, Original WordPress Student Project website hosted, installed, and setup for you upon the start of the course without you having to lift a finger. This was specifically designed to get you past the technical hurdle of having to setup your webhosting and install WordPress before you have begun learning how to use WordPress.
By the end of the course, you will know how to easily setup a webhosting account and install WordPress using the simple 5-minute install technique.
Registration for the 8 module Website Creation Workshop closes on Friday September 18th at 5pm Eastern
Go Here Now for More Info
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Too funny!
I hope Julia makes an appearance on the Website Creation Workshop interview Wed am!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa Suttora and Mika Howard. Mika Howard said: Her video is getting better & better! RT @christinahills New blog post: Julia Child is On a Rant About WordPress.com http://bit.ly/4y45tT [...]
Great video. Can’t wait to meet up with Julia
[...] Christina Hills wrote an interesting post today onJulia Child is On a Rant About WordPress.com :: <b>Website</b> Creation <b>…</b>Here’s a quick excerpt [...]
Yes, Julia does show up from time to time during my Website Creation Workshop….
I am so confused. I was told even WebPress.org is NOT a good platform for real e-commerce & possible direct sales. I own a personalized gift shop & I am creating a gift “present”ation tm plan. I don’t want to waste more time (which I have little of) & $$ on another dead end. I would appreciate an honest assessment of Webpress.org for retailers & “party” plans. Thank you so much.
Did you mean WordPress.org? (you wrote WebPress.org which I’ve never heard of) Without knowing what that person said to you about e-commerce I cannot comment.
I can tell you that people are using WordPress for ecommerce sites.
Check out this one
http://operadepot.com/
and check out this ‘one page sales letter’ site using WordPress http://www.InstantTeleseminarTraining.com
-Christina
oops… Yes, I meant WordPress.org…. I am looking to sell multiple physical products…. & would need a password protected area for gift consultants & a “browse” button for customers to add photos, etc. to products. If WordPress.org does the trick, I would be VERY interested.
I have a group of people who want to create ‘stores’ with WordPress. Multiple products.
Yes, you can have a password protected area, and there are a few different ways you can do that.
The sentence you asked “a “browse” button for customers to add photos, etc. to products.”
are you saying that you want customers would add photos to your website? you want them to manipulate your website? or are these more biz partners?
I carry “photo items” like mugs, mousepads, purse mirrors, photo coasters, linen towels, tee shirts, etc. I would like my customer to be able to send me their own picture or phrase (to be put on the gift) with a button that will “browse” their computer & send the “art” or photo to me, so I can put it on their individual product.
I was cracking up out loud, when she was banging the box on the counter. Amazing the extent to which some will go, to drive a simple point across.
Great post. Makes me hungry!
Loved Julia!!! But how is SHE going to prepare that wonderful piece .org food…..?
I guess we’ll to wait till the next episode to find out what the chef serves up….
L-O-V-E the ability to decide what I’m going to serve up on my WordPress.org websites. They are all still in development, but already being used, but I don’t have to worry about webmaster’s timetable, the costs, abilities. I can play and tinker, experiment and publish, learn and improve on the go….
Thanks Christina,
Eileen
http://www.EnjoyEnglishNow.com
Exactly what all of us should start doing with our blog posts. Come out of the box and expand our creativity. Very well done.
Christina, that was brilliant! I just saw the movie, so it was even more hilarious – and a wonderful analogy for building one’s business through WordPress. And also through video. Jolly well done.
Louise Crooks
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Next stop for you Christina is powerful marketing videos – this is the best I’ve EVER seen!
Hi Christina,
Well, I actually knew Julia, personally…
she would have loved it!
I was on the webcast today for your workshop. I asked a few questions, but alas, we ran out of time.
I am concerned about templates, limitations, and host of other things. Is it possible to talk. I’ve been ’round the bend with this website thing, and now need to make serious change to my site. Don’t mind the time or the money, if it can do and perform what I need now and in future.
Thanks so much. kk
Kathy,
OMG! talk about 6 degrees of separation! In this case it’s only 2. That’s great that you knew Julia Child personally and that she would have loved my videos.
I had another person shame me for making them, and I really feel that Julia would have loved what I’m doing.
I loved Julia Child and remember watching her in my mom’s kitchen as a kid.
If you have any more questions about my course, I’m doing a webinar tongight to answer peoples questions
You can get the info by going here
http://www.websitecreationworkshop.com/blog/information/open-qa-radio-show-this-thursday/
and filling out your info.
Hope to see you on the call tonight!
Hi Christina,
I wasn’t able to be on the call last night and I still have my questions. Honestly, I expected an e-mail and didn’t think to check back to your blog for an answer.
I’m from the old school, I guess. My questions are not about the value or ability of your teaching and your course, I think you have done everything possible to provide that. My questions are more about what WordPress can do. Specifically around templates, but I suppose I will find that out in the class. I would appreciate 5 minutes, though. Thanks.
Kathy,
If people post comments on my blog, I usually respond back here in a comment.
that’s cause there is the checkbox at the bottom to get follow up comments.
Now I know you want an email, I’ll reply to you that way.
Christina
Thank you for that wonderfully funny video which certainly got your point across. Now I’m still wondering whether you teach how to set up a blog on which I can sell art work versus my website which I already have which I use more as a showcase. It also contains a blog but only the kind where I can post one image and say something. It’s not at all a selling tool as far as I can see.
Will your course help to set up a blog with store capabilities?
Phyllis,
Yes I’ve got several students who want to setup a traditional e-commerce store. I’m thinking of doing a special session for those students just on that.
We spend all of module 4 on Making Money with your WordPress Website
Thank you everyone for your comments about my Julia Videos!
If you checked the box when you left a comment, you will be seeing this message in your email box.
At any time you can unsubscribe from WordPress comment message emails. It’s a very cool feature of WordPress
ahhhh, Julia,
You made me laugh… and learn… at the same time.
That was a very clear point too.
keep up the great work, i can’t wait to see what you cook up next!
paul sterling
http://www.hotwebmarkeingtools.com
Paul,
So nice to see you again!
If you liked that Julia Video, you’ll like this one
http://www.websitecreationworkshop.com/blog/videos/julia-cooking-lesson/
it’s even funnier!
Julia,
you are so funny and full of energy!
You must be a good cook too!
loved your video-intro!
That’s the energy we need on the Net!
Do I detect a Scottish accent?
Keep it up!
Cheers!
[...] is the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com? Watch “Julia Child” in this hysterical video to learn more! And then read the rest of the post for more [...]
I don’t even remember how I stumbled across you Julia but one thing is certain… I ain’t letting go:)
I will be directing folks who need a helping hand creating their own websites to you OFTEN…
Keep going and I wish I’d found you earlier
Christina,
You are hilarious to the point, short, and sweet.
You made your point loud and clear
You always have a way to make things much easier that what they may seem
Thanks
Racheli Smilovits
Senior Mortgage Advisor
http://www.loans-4-u.com
Bio http://www.MeetRacheli.com
Truly a funny video ,right to the point..lol and nice to know about WordPress.
Hey, I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog!…..I”ll be checking in on a regularly now….Keep up the good work!
- Marc Shaw
hi, I didn’t know where to contact you but your web design was messed up on opera and internet explorer. Anyways, i just suscribd to your rss.
Glorianna,
Thanks for letting us know about the site looking funny in opera and internet explorer. I’ll have my team look into it
I enjoyed your video, thanks