Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

Jacobm · 07-20-2007, 10:23 AM

Hi,

I am starting to design and build a (fairly straightforward) website for my girlfriend who is an artist. Having taken a university web design module, I have a fairly decent knowledge of html and css, and some basic javascript.

One idea I had was to integrate a blog page into the design. This would mean that my girlfriend could update the site with any recent news or upcoming galleries/shows, without having to rely on me to update tricky html pages for her. I would want something like Steve Pavlina's site design, in that the blog would fit into the overall design just like any another page in the website.

However, I have no experience of using blogging platforms myself. How would I best go about doing this? Is it a case of finding a Wordpress layout that can slot into my ready-made website? This would be preferable, but is it possible, and if so, how? Or should I start with a Wordpress layout and build the site using the "add page" function? Would this give me less control over my design?

Many thanks in advance for your help,
Jacob

Iksander · 07-20-2007, 12:40 PM

I was contracted to build a website for an artist with a dynamic content management system - they wanted to have a blog and an image gallery.

I built the image gallery software myself and integrated the b2evolution blog with the rest of the site. All I did was modify their template to match the design for the rest of the site - it was pretty straight forward, you have to dig through some PHP and alter some XHTML class/id attributes so your stylesheet can style it.

That is the easiest way, in my opinion.

Jacobm · 07-20-2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the response Iksander, that's very helpful. I hadn't heard of b2evolution - looks like a good alternative to Wordpress which might work well in this situation. Modifying the blog template sounds like a good way to go - I don't really have any experience with PHP but I'm sure I could pick it up pretty quickly.

Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.

Iksander · 07-20-2007, 06:14 PM

My other suggestion would be to use the blog software 'LifeType' (google it).

Much better software then b2evolution in my personal opinion, it uses a much simpler template system that doesn't have any PHP - so it should be easy to pick up. (it is written in PHP, its templates just don't have PHP in them

)

b2evolution has alot of baggage, their code came off as really messy to me - lifetype is much cleaner, and has very good functionality.

Jill · 07-21-2007, 03:51 AM

Install Wordpress on your server, choose a theme, and you're good to go. Add whatever plugins you want and you have an entire website.

Plus, it's all free.

tobyhede · 07-21-2007, 07:47 AM

I would suggest Wordpress and then customise the design. The WP Template files can be edited through the "Presentation" area of the WP Admin system ...

The default theme is very simple ... not particularly hard to work out how it works if you have some basic HTML and CSS. Most of the design can be manipulated with CSS. And if you can find a template that is close to your layout the job may be even easier.

1000feet · 07-21-2007, 07:44 PM

A third alternative to creating the whole website in wordpress or making a blog blend in is to use a full-features CMS system like Joomla, which includes blogging components. There's several others out there too.

finandom · 07-22-2007, 08:52 AM

Before this, I read through some sites that contain some templates that have 2 version, both wordpress and web site. Sorry I don't bookmark them however I think you can search from Google.

Jacobm · 07-23-2007, 11:01 PM

Thanks for all the responses, they are very helpful!

At the moment I think I am going to go with the idea of changing the blog template to fit with the rest of the site; this would give me flexibility and allow me to build upon my current knowledge of html and css. I will certainly look into the other solutions though, so thanks for all the suggestions!

Kristoffer · 08-01-2007, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacobm

One idea I had was to integrate a blog page into the design.

However, I have no experience of using blogging platforms myself. How would I best go about doing this?

You already have got some good advice on this, I think the easiest is to install wordpress like Jill says.

I got the same idea some time back and just chose a similar color of the WP theme to make it look OK. It is not as seamless as Stevepavlina.com but have a look if you want to, I put the blog under "NEWS" link here

LillyoftheValley · 08-01-2007, 09:07 AM

Check out mine (in the signature).
My boyfriend integrated Blog Engine into our site for the same reason you're doing it for your girlfriend.

blogengine.net

p.s. Your server should be on Windows platform.

Hope this helps!

07-20-2007, 10:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jacobm Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 20	Integrating A Blog Into A Website Hi, I am starting to design and build a (fairly straightforward) website for my girlfriend who is an artist. Having taken a university web design module, I have a fairly decent knowledge of html and css, and some basic javascript. One idea I had was to integrate a blog page into the design. This would mean that my girlfriend could update the site with any recent news or upcoming galleries/shows, without having to rely on me to update tricky html pages for her. I would want something like Steve Pavlina's site design, in that the blog would fit into the overall design just like any another page in the website. However, I have no experience of using blogging platforms myself. How would I best go about doing this? Is it a case of finding a Wordpress layout that can slot into my ready-made website? This would be preferable, but is it possible, and if so, how? Or should I start with a Wordpress layout and build the site using the "add page" function? Would this give me less control over my design? Many thanks in advance for your help, Jacob

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07-20-2007, 12:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Iksander Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 219	I was contracted to build a website for an artist with a dynamic content management system - they wanted to have a blog and an image gallery. I built the image gallery software myself and integrated the b2evolution blog with the rest of the site. All I did was modify their template to match the design for the rest of the site - it was pretty straight forward, you have to dig through some PHP and alter some XHTML class/id attributes so your stylesheet can style it. That is the easiest way, in my opinion.

07-20-2007, 01:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jacobm Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 20	Thanks for the response Iksander, that's very helpful. I hadn't heard of b2evolution - looks like a good alternative to Wordpress which might work well in this situation. Modifying the blog template sounds like a good way to go - I don't really have any experience with PHP but I'm sure I could pick it up pretty quickly. Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.

07-20-2007, 06:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Iksander Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 219	My other suggestion would be to use the blog software 'LifeType' (google it). Much better software then b2evolution in my personal opinion, it uses a much simpler template system that doesn't have any PHP - so it should be easy to pick up. (it is written in PHP, its templates just don't have PHP in them ) b2evolution has alot of baggage, their code came off as really messy to me - lifetype is much cleaner, and has very good functionality.

07-21-2007, 03:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jill Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ashland, MA Posts: 481	Install Wordpress on your server, choose a theme, and you're good to go. Add whatever plugins you want and you have an entire website. Plus, it's all free.

07-21-2007, 07:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
tobyhede Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 182	I would suggest Wordpress and then customise the design. The WP Template files can be edited through the "Presentation" area of the WP Admin system ... The default theme is very simple ... not particularly hard to work out how it works if you have some basic HTML and CSS. Most of the design can be manipulated with CSS. And if you can find a template that is close to your layout the job may be even easier.

07-21-2007, 07:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
1000feet Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 295	A third alternative to creating the whole website in wordpress or making a blog blend in is to use a full-features CMS system like Joomla, which includes blogging components. There's several others out there too.

07-22-2007, 08:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
finandom Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 94	Before this, I read through some sites that contain some templates that have 2 version, both wordpress and web site. Sorry I don't bookmark them however I think you can search from Google.

07-23-2007, 11:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jacobm Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 20	Thanks for all the responses, they are very helpful! At the moment I think I am going to go with the idea of changing the blog template to fit with the rest of the site; this would give me flexibility and allow me to build upon my current knowledge of html and css. I will certainly look into the other solutions though, so thanks for all the suggestions!

08-01-2007, 09:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
LillyoftheValley Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Croatian location Posts: 89	Check out mine (in the signature). My boyfriend integrated Blog Engine into our site for the same reason you're doing it for your girlfriend. blogengine.net p.s. Your server should be on Windows platform. Hope this helps!

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums