The new “blog” I’m working on today is being set up to look more like a traditional website than a blog, using WordPress as a Content Management System (CMS).
There are several things I’ve done different help me accomplish this:
- I’ve used WordPress options to turn off the date feature on posts.
- I’ve created more static pages which I’m linking to than in my previous projects.
- Entering my domain name takes the reader directly to my home page instead of directly to blog posts. A link called “News” on the navigation menu gives access to “blog” posts and a way for me to continually update the site.
- On the home page I’ve added a “Feature Box” where my latest post can be displayed” but it will be only an excerpt of the article with a link to read the rest of the article.
I’m still working out a plan to access previous posts. I don’t want a list in the sidebar with titles like “Previous Posts” or a calendar or archive of links to July 2001, August 2001, etc. (Does anyone really use those anyway?) What I want instead, I think, are links to categories, or maybe most popular articles? I’m still thinking on this. If anyone happens to stumble upon my post and have some good ideas for me . . . I’m all ears. 
I mentioned adding a “Featured” box to my home page where I could include the latest post. What I really wanted, but so far have not been able to accomplish with my limited understanding of website coding, is a featured post slider box. That would be a feature box with animation that cycles through a collection of different posts.
This is a screen shot of what I have:
What I have is not animated. It shows only the latest post for which I’ve selected ‘Featured’ as the category.
I absolutely hate giving up on an idea when I know what I want and when I know it can be done, but I did. I gave up for now anyway. The page certainly looks good enough as it is. In fact, I’m thrilled with the way it has turned out, and right now I need to be writing content and lots of it, not fiddling for days working to get one tiny feature just perfect. [sigh] Hate giving up. Hate giving up. Must keep reminding myself of the 80/20 Rule to Success.
EDITED TO ADD: I just now stumbled across this post, How to Use Categories to Run Your Site Like a Pro. Talk about perfect timing. This article pretty much tackles directly what I was thinking of doing. In fact, I may come back to this blog and make a few changes as well.
