Wordpress, email, hosting and Gallery2
Discussion
All in one hit! This is for my photography stuff, so I've posted here rather than Computers
I've had a Clikpic site for a while and generally ignored it once I'd thrown some photos on. I didnt look closely enough at what I was buying, and the lack of email ability was enough to make me want something else.
A mate of a mate has set me up with a new site, it's basically a blog though and is hosted on his servers. He's done what I asked, and has customised some content, but I didnt really want a blog, I wanted a website with a gallery that I could add a blog to. Also, I bought an email address from my domain name registers, and because the site is hosted somewhere else to where the email ns's are, that wont work either
So where I am at the moment is thinking of moving it away from where its currently hosted and either giving a list of likes/dislikes to a designer, or (more likely) having a go myself and looking for website templates. I now know exactly what I want based on what I dont like - 5 page website, main landing page page, bit of fluff, secure login area away from the main site, a fairly decent updateable gallery and 2 way email on the same domain as the site on a contact me page
I havent got any hosting, but I could get some - I transferred the domain to 123-Reg and I hear they now provide wordpress hosting. I dont want my own local webserver as it's too much hassle. If I was to do my own Wordpress based site, I'd have more control over it. The downside is I know nothing of web design, so it'd need to be fairly simple. Simple means template and template means samey. I'm not too bothered about that as long as it'd give me what I need and look half decent preferably with a flash gallery that I can add to when I want. I dont need SEO or anything driving traffic, it's going to be recommendation and referral traffic coming to the site.
I've searched PH for the last couple of nights and found a few things, mostly similar questions that havent really been answered. Anyone suggest what I should be looking at? You wont be able to make it too simple
I've had a Clikpic site for a while and generally ignored it once I'd thrown some photos on. I didnt look closely enough at what I was buying, and the lack of email ability was enough to make me want something else.
A mate of a mate has set me up with a new site, it's basically a blog though and is hosted on his servers. He's done what I asked, and has customised some content, but I didnt really want a blog, I wanted a website with a gallery that I could add a blog to. Also, I bought an email address from my domain name registers, and because the site is hosted somewhere else to where the email ns's are, that wont work either
So where I am at the moment is thinking of moving it away from where its currently hosted and either giving a list of likes/dislikes to a designer, or (more likely) having a go myself and looking for website templates. I now know exactly what I want based on what I dont like - 5 page website, main landing page page, bit of fluff, secure login area away from the main site, a fairly decent updateable gallery and 2 way email on the same domain as the site on a contact me page
I havent got any hosting, but I could get some - I transferred the domain to 123-Reg and I hear they now provide wordpress hosting. I dont want my own local webserver as it's too much hassle. If I was to do my own Wordpress based site, I'd have more control over it. The downside is I know nothing of web design, so it'd need to be fairly simple. Simple means template and template means samey. I'm not too bothered about that as long as it'd give me what I need and look half decent preferably with a flash gallery that I can add to when I want. I dont need SEO or anything driving traffic, it's going to be recommendation and referral traffic coming to the site.
I've searched PH for the last couple of nights and found a few things, mostly similar questions that havent really been answered. Anyone suggest what I should be looking at? You wont be able to make it too simple
Firstly, there's no reason from what you have said why the email shouldn't be working; most hosts will simply allow you to relay mail on to another (e.g. gmail) address. I do this mainly to centralise all my various email addresses.
As to the gallery, if you want to have individual client areas with password protection, I would seek out an off-the-peg photo gallery site. There's one that lots of people on here use (Leighton I think has one) - someone with a better memory than me will be along shortly no doubt!
As to a Wordpress blog, if you are happy to host it separately from the gallery, I would go direct to Wordpress who will host it for you.
As to the gallery, if you want to have individual client areas with password protection, I would seek out an off-the-peg photo gallery site. There's one that lots of people on here use (Leighton I think has one) - someone with a better memory than me will be along shortly no doubt!
As to a Wordpress blog, if you are happy to host it separately from the gallery, I would go direct to Wordpress who will host it for you.
@ Simpo Two: Flash gallery, reduce the option of right click/save as to screen grab for the less intelligent. If it takes a while to load then thats the way it is
@ Miniman: I'd be looking for 2 way email, send from and receive to *@mydomain.com rather than catchall and reply from a different address. I dont think thats possible with what I've got at the moment as the site is hosted somewhere else than where I transferred the domain to and where I bought the email address from
@ Miniman: I'd be looking for 2 way email, send from and receive to *@mydomain.com rather than catchall and reply from a different address. I dont think thats possible with what I've got at the moment as the site is hosted somewhere else than where I transferred the domain to and where I bought the email address from
Blogs which are also websites are becoming very fashionable. These are pretty slick: http://www.prophotoblogs.com/
Otherwise get any website you fancy, with inbuilt client proofing sections and shopping carts if that's what you're after, and simply tag your Blog to it. Your site provider will likely host your Blog too, and purchasing a separate domain for your Blog makes good business sense.
Flash sites are thought to be viewed with disfavour by the search engines, although that's becoming less of a problem. What is important is site content and how that is referenced with the metadata tags, but crucially being able to link to reputable sites which will enhance your site traffic stats. Big Folio has some pretty nice flash templates, and most are customizable, but what you can get does to an extent depend on your budget, it can get pricey.
Otherwise get any website you fancy, with inbuilt client proofing sections and shopping carts if that's what you're after, and simply tag your Blog to it. Your site provider will likely host your Blog too, and purchasing a separate domain for your Blog makes good business sense.
Flash sites are thought to be viewed with disfavour by the search engines, although that's becoming less of a problem. What is important is site content and how that is referenced with the metadata tags, but crucially being able to link to reputable sites which will enhance your site traffic stats. Big Folio has some pretty nice flash templates, and most are customizable, but what you can get does to an extent depend on your budget, it can get pricey.
andy-xr said:
@ Simpo Two: Flash gallery, reduce the option of right click/save as to screen grab for the less intelligent. If it takes a while to load then thats the way it is
@ Miniman: I'd be looking for 2 way email, send from and receive to *@mydomain.com rather than catchall and reply from a different address. I dont think thats possible with what I've got at the moment as the site is hosted somewhere else than where I transferred the domain to and where I bought the email address from
If someone wants to screen grab, they will do it. It is a piece of piss. @ Miniman: I'd be looking for 2 way email, send from and receive to *@mydomain.com rather than catchall and reply from a different address. I dont think thats possible with what I've got at the moment as the site is hosted somewhere else than where I transferred the domain to and where I bought the email address from
You can certainly do the email thing with Google Mail. You set it up to receive your mail from your existing POP3 account, and set it up to send using that address. I can send from 5 "from" addresses from a single gmail account.
I use wordpress and flickr for my website these days. Blogging your photos seems to bring in some good relevant traffic if you use the right tags. I do have a small slideshow as a landing page to showcase some photos before you click to hit the blog. www.grantgb.com
I havent got enough to say to the world to do a blog really, thats kind of the main reason I dont want one as a main site. I'd be happy to have one as an Also Ran, but the portfolio/gallery is the main thing I want together with a splash/entry page with a warning as there'd be some nudity in the gallery
Andy, you haven't actually said - what's the point of the site? What are you trying to achieve? Why do you need a customer login area?
You'll get all sorts of advice about search engine optimisation, whether to use flash and such like, but unless you say what you actually want as the end result, the advice you receive may not be particularly useful.
Somewhere to host some of my photography, simple as that. Top 30 images that I like at the time, a bit about me and a couple of offsite links. But using my own domain and maybe a little branding to make it look less amateur
At some point I'll do shoots where I want to show the unedited results to others without putting them into the gallery, and linking to Flickr isnt what I'm after so a secure login with a hidden gallery would be fine.
No need for any SEO stuff at all - it's word of mouth and business card only
At some point I'll do shoots where I want to show the unedited results to others without putting them into the gallery, and linking to Flickr isnt what I'm after so a secure login with a hidden gallery would be fine.
No need for any SEO stuff at all - it's word of mouth and business card only
Edited by andy-xr on Wednesday 16th September 22:25
Speak to Jamie B who owns Register1 - which is used by hundreds of PHers.
Profile here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
You'll usually find him loitering over on the Computers and Business forums.
But they have wordpress and photogallery, etc, etc ....
K
Profile here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
You'll usually find him loitering over on the Computers and Business forums.
But they have wordpress and photogallery, etc, etc ....
K
Kinky said:
Speak to Jamie B who owns Register1 - which is used by hundreds of PHers.
Profile here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
You'll usually find him loitering over on the Computers and Business forums.
But they have wordpress and photogallery, etc, etc ....
K
Cheers Kinky Profile here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
You'll usually find him loitering over on the Computers and Business forums.
But they have wordpress and photogallery, etc, etc ....
K
Andy.. drop me a mail via my profile if you have any queries
J
My blog/gallery is all hosted with Jamie, although I setup wordpress myself, don't think it is included in my particular package.
Best support I've ever encountered anywhere.
Edit to add...
From what you've said you need, Wordpress+gallery will get you what you want with all the flexibility to play with design or use templates.
If you don't want the blog front and center you can hang it off like I do:
http://www.bendobson.co.uk/blog
Best support I've ever encountered anywhere.
Edit to add...
From what you've said you need, Wordpress+gallery will get you what you want with all the flexibility to play with design or use templates.
If you don't want the blog front and center you can hang it off like I do:
http://www.bendobson.co.uk/blog
Edited by _dobbo_ on Thursday 17th September 11:21
furtive said:
And I'm sorry to pull them up on this, but thats exactly what I have currently and dont want Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff