I am currently focused on learning WordPress setup, it seems like a promising thing to use as a wedge to break into whatever online business I might end up with. I want to take it on in small steps; my approach in the past was to try to take in everything before doing any work, and it always led to getting bogged down. Marketing myself is also something I need to work up to, so I'll probably start off pro bono. I might do a couple practice sites first, but it's not the same as working with a client.

So what I would like to know is, what do I need to learn to do WordPress for websites, in what order? How much do I need to know before I can be of service to someone, that they can't get for free at wordpress.com? And what other considerations are there? Any advice or links or whatever would be welcome.

I'm doing just about the same as you Hewitt. My wordpress training is going at a snails pace. The instructor is offering the course at a great discount because he is developing it for his own business. The thing is I want to learn it fast and I'm going to have to find a better way. I have a client who would like me to manage and create a new website for her. I am also taking a large cut in payment for this. I look forward to the answers you'll be getting.

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Wendy Harrison, www.wendy-works.com
Go virtual and you'll never go back.

Hewitt & Wendy,
What you can offer in regards to Wordpress set-up is not comparable to what a client could get at WP.com.
The .com version is like blogger/blogspot- free blogging platform with limited options available as far as customizing.
The .org version is installed on a hosting account and can be customized out the wazoo, lol.

Just wanted to clear that up first.

If you want to offer WP set-up as as service, you should know the basics of how WP works- hooks, custom posts, themes, child themes, widgets, plugins, working with images, the list goes on and on.
A client searching for someone to help with WP will either be looking for a complete design package or a maintenance package with tech support. Both of which will involve knowing a lot of the technical parts of WP as well as html, css and a little php code.

Yes, it is possible to offer WP services to clients without being majorly technical but, if you are "maintaining" their site they will look to you when things start to go wonky or the site is hacked. Then you'll be in a pickle scrambling to find someone to handle what you don't know.
My advice if you are serious about offering WP services:
-Take your time and learn it well.
-Find a new VA who would be willing to let you build them a site- they get a free design and you get some experience.
-Set up a sub-domain on your hosting account and set-up an entire site there (I pretended I had a business coach client and I set up a mock site for the pretend client)
- Read, Read, Read & practice!

There are some great ebooks that can help you understand the tech a bit more- My fav is Digging into Wordpress -http://digwp.com - but the best way to learn is by doing it over and over :-)

Good luck and know that any WP questions you have, can be posted here on VAF and there are many of us who will answer.

~C

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I agree with Christina. I also offer Wordpress setup and management and have been developing sites with Wordpress since it came out in 2003.

While, actually using it to publish blog posts or create a new page for a site is relatively easy. Setting it up using secure protocols and maintaining it does take some technical skill and time. Creating a theme, or even customizing an existing theme, takes skill as well.

I would suggest you build some sites yourself (use add-on domains in your hosting accout, or even subdomains) and build several sites using different themes and setups. This will also allow you to have a small portfolio of Wordpress work that you can show potential clients.

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Traci Knoppe, Owner
http://QuickSourcing.com & http://YourWebTechTeam.com

Another thing I would add to this is that I would recommend your becoming familiar with and specializing in a few themes instead of offering any Wordpress theme to your clients as these can have special learning curves when it comes to them.

Then you could offer maintenance and more simplified things to any client no matter what the theme.

Hope this was helpful.

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Alyssa Avant
http://alyssaavant.com

I'm in the same boat as Hewitt and not finding WordPress as simple as I thought it would be. I have webhosting through GoDaddy and installed WordPress quite easily. But, I was totally confused with themes and my site even published - which I hadn't intended - before I wanted it to. So, I then uninstalled WP. I've gone back and forth with this about 5 times now. I'm about ready to go out and buy WP for Dummies. I have looked at a couple of YouTube videos, but still haven't got it. I will take a look at http://digwp.com. Thanks.

@dotyel - don't give up on WP! Try this: install WP, do a manual install if you can - as it's the most secure way to install. Then when you find you need to know how to do something within WP, do a Google search (or search YouTube) to find a tutorial on how to do that one thing.

Just break it down into smaller lessons - instead of looking at all you don't yet know - choose one thing at a time and learn how to do that. :0

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Traci Knoppe, Owner
http://QuickSourcing.com & http://YourWebTechTeam.com

I have a quick question for all you guys out there who use wordpress:- I have a site with Google sites and I want to use wordpress as it seems much more comprehensive. I have a domain name which I want to keep. If I move my site to workpress will I be able to keep the domain. Quite frankly I don't know much about domains and websites but I want to learn so that I can offer it as a service

@dotyel, there are a number of WordPress (WP) "plugins" that will 'hide' your site or put it into Maintenance Mode where, if someone happens upon your URL, they will see a Page that essentially says the site is not ready check back later. That allows you to work on it as you go. All you have to do is Google "WordPress Maintenance plugins". The one I use most is call ThemeFuse. The only caution is be sure to allow admins to log in when the site is in Maintenance Mode.

Alternatively, if you need the site to be available for business, you could build (or create) the WP site on a sub-domain then move it over to your real/regular domain when it's done. "Moving" a WP site can be tricky though. I use a tool called WPTwin.net to clone sites and move them that way.

@shadowcat: Yes, as long as you own the domain, you can keep it and use it with WordPress.org (there is also a WordPress.com which you don't want to use for the most part - it is restrictive in some ways, but .org is not.) How to do this depends on who your domain is registered with and who you choose to host with.

I can't add anything for the OP; the suggestions given already are spot on!

HTH

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Tina Caldwell B.K.A TinaTheVA
www.tinatheva.com

My domain is registered through Google Sites who are also the host - I got it through Start Up Britain who are working on conjunction with Google - I have the site free for 2 years.

Shadowcat