Thread: Show off your WordPress websites!

Show me your WordPress websites (not blogs, please).

I'll go first: AndaleeDance.com

I just launched it today (let me know of broken links and refresh if the old one shows up). I used a purchased template (Berita pro, $99) and spiffed it up with custom colors, pages and other extras.

I was resistant to using the software at first because my first experience with it wasn't great...but the more I dug in, the more I liked it. I'll miss dreamweaver to some extent, but now I can update this from any internet connection and I don't have to mess with FTP. All in all I think it was a good decision and I hope to recoupe the money spent by getting a booking sometime soon!

So show me your WordPress website and tell me a little bit about the process.

BTW: this is WordPress 3.0

I love it! I tried using wordpress, but I don't have the knowledge or patience to tweak things the way you have. I know Satin and Shiraz both have websites powered by wordpress. I like this one too.

You'll love using Wordpress over Dreamweaver. Content Management Systems are so much easier to deal with than having to deal with a proprietary program. You can access your site at anytime with a browser and update it on the fly. (There's also a WP app.)

I highly recommend it for anyone looking to build a website. It's easy enough to set up and use a free theme for a cheap site to begin with and you can get a pro to build you a custom theme in the future. It will grow with you and the plug-ins are limitless. Even if you don't find a plug-in you like, you can get someone to build one for you.

The menu system on WP 3.0 is a sweet upgrade because you just drag and drop your items. (Just have to make sure your theme handles drop-down menus to get full use out of it.)

This is my experimental site that I need to get back to work on. It's a really simple free theme that I tweaked: http://www.karabelabellydance.com

And the troupe/local dance site which is another free theme (Suffusion) with a lot of crazy custom controls on the back end: http://www.southernraq.com

Originally Posted by roguepen

You'll love using Wordpress over Dreamweaver. Content Management Systems are so much easier to deal with than having to deal with a proprietary program. You can access your site at anytime with a browser and update it on the fly. (There's also a WP app.)

I highly recommend it for anyone looking to build a website. It's easy enough to set up and use a free theme for a cheap site to begin with and you can get a pro to build you a custom theme in the future. It will grow with you and the plug-ins are limitless. Even if you don't find a plug-in you like, you can get someone to build one for you.

The menu system on WP 3.0 is a sweet upgrade because you just drag and drop your items. (Just have to make sure your theme handles drop-down menus to get full use out of it.)

This is my experimental site that I need to get back to work on. It's a really simple free theme that I tweaked: http://www.karabelabellydance.com

And the troupe/local dance site which is another free theme (Suffusion) with a lot of crazy custom controls on the back end: http://www.southernraq.com

Those sites are great! Thanks for sharing...and I love the name Karabela. :)

Andalee,

I like your site- friendly and clean! Now to make mine. If only I could settle on a theme!
-Raqsie

roguepen,

Love the look of your site! mind sharing where you got the free template from? Also, I'm wondering how do you "blend" a photo image into the background... am I asking a ridiculously simplistic question? (no website experience whatsoever) and need to get on that!

Originally Posted by jaded928

roguepen,

Love the look of your site! mind sharing where you got the free template from? Also, I'm wondering how do you "blend" a photo image into the background... am I asking a ridiculously simplistic question? (no website experience whatsoever) and need to get on that!

Just got the free theme off the directory on WordPress.org. The background involves setting a background image to the right and top and making sure the bottom and right of the image matches the color set for the background color.

Oh, for you folks wanting a simple solution for WP sites, I found PageLines' Platform template. The pro version isn't free but it's got a really easy design interface and you can customize a lot without touching the CSS. You can also create an account on their site and play around with the backend of the template.

I'm still loving the Suffusion theme, too. (It's free.) Threw the beginnings of this site up in an afternoon and then left it to the client to populate. The slide show is part of the theme: http://firedworksmacon.com/

I have a wordpress website!

www.shimmytwins.com

Any suggestions are welcomed!

I love the scroll bar on your main page!

I built Shem's website using wordpress as a cms. I like working with it since I am a web designer by profession and am very familiar with front end development. On the other end, it also makes it easier for my clients to do their own updates.

http://www.shemsdance.com

Rebecca

Originally Posted by theothershimmytwin

I have a wordpress website!

www.shimmytwins.com

Any suggestions are welcomed!

I love the scroll bar on your main page!

I like the website, but I was too busy going OH NO! The Shimmy Twins don't perform together any more! I've only seen you dance a few times, but you two were a highlight of almost any show you were in.

Originally Posted by madcat

I built Shem's website using wordpress as a cms. I like working with it since I am a web designer by profession and am very familiar with front end development. On the other end, it also makes it easier for my clients to do their own updates.

http://www.shemsdance.com

Rebecca

You did a great job. I love Shems' new site.

ME! ME!
I already posted it in another thread but you know how proud we are of these things so...

Dahab Oriental Dance

I am still twiking it a little so don't be too harsh!

I based my template on the free twenty-ten template from wordpress. I'm so happy that I can use wordpress, dreamweaver was driving me nuts! The only thing I can't seem to fix is that blogposts don't show the date

www.buikdansereskyria.com

<3 your websites!

I never had one but are considering making one now

Originally Posted by mekyria

I based my template on the free twenty-ten template from wordpress. I'm so happy that I can use wordpress, dreamweaver was driving me nuts! The only thing I can't seem to fix is that blogposts don't show the date

www.buikdansereskyria.com

I'm so impressed that you can do that with the 2010 theme!!!! Did you have to install a lot of plugins or build custom CSS?

My local teaching website is built in wordpress using the ArtSee theme by elegantthemes.com. (The header image in NOT final; it's just a placeholder while my sister designs me a new one.)

I'm in the process of setting up a new performances site using Glow by the same company.

I really like their themes, because they've built a lot of features into the admin console, so you can do a lot without tweaking the CSS or using plugins. As I realized in an earlier draft of the site (using a less feature-rich theme), it's easy to break hand-coded customizations (or lose them entirely) when you apply theme updates. So the more you can accomplish with what the theme gives you, the better.

Originally Posted by jmdruadh

My local teaching website is built in wordpress using the ArtSee theme by elegantthemes.com. (The header image in NOT final; it's just a placeholder while my sister designs me a new one.)

I'm in the process of setting up a new performances site using Glow by the same company.

I really like their themes, because they've built a lot of features into the admin console, so you can do a lot without tweaking the CSS or using plugins. As I realized in an earlier draft of the site (using a less feature-rich theme), it's easy to break hand-coded customizations (or lose them entirely) when you apply theme updates. So the more you can accomplish with what the theme gives you, the better.

Nice! I do think paid themes are worth the money. And oh! the PINK dress! Miss it. ;)

I am curious as to why you thought it was important to have two sites: a teaching site and a performance site. It's a really unusual business decision and I am very curious.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Nice! I do think paid themes are worth the money. And oh! the PINK dress! Miss it. ;)

I am curious as to why you thought it was important to have two sites: a teaching site and a performance site. It's a really unusual business decision and I am very curious.

I actually sold the pink dress. :( I loved it with all my heart, but it was a little small, and the design minimized my chest, which threw my proportions off. I only wore it for that shoot. But it has a good home with my friend Maia Selene now!

I'm actually going to have three sites: one for performing, one for teaching, and one for products (my DVDs, podcast, etc.) I decided to do that because it's really important to plan your website with your audience in mind, and the audiences for those three areas are completely different.

What somebody planning a party wants is very different from what somebody looking for a class wants, and that's very different from what an experienced student looking for help with improv wants.

They're going to be cross-linked (i.e., if you land on my performance page, you'll be able to find the link to my class site quickly), and I will probably have a hub page (I'm doing that weakly on taktaba.com now), but they will be separate, so I can speak to each group personally.

That was kinda rambly; did it make sense?

Yep, makes sense. I'm really interested to see how it all pans out.

I love the name karabela (means dark love or deep love, love that has very deep meaning to it :) in Turkish)
I liked it! I have to work with it I guess next...
I made mine with weebly, pretty limited but very fast and easy...also my dance Company
www.turkishdancer.com
www.arabinadance.com

So you all are just using the free blog set up on Wordpress? Or is this something different?

Originally Posted by IscahPaquin

So you all are just using the free blog set up on Wordpress? Or is this something different?

This is the WordPress application. Most hosting companies have a one-click install version for their servers. It's like what you find on the WordPress free blog site but, as a stand-alone application, you have a lot more control over it.

Oh, found a new theme that has drag and drop layout capabilities: WordPress Themes for Professional Websites Their Platform theme has drag and drop menus and lots of control over color and text. They supposed put a font design menu in 1.3 but I haven't had a chance to download the new version yet. They have a free version but it lacks some of the design controls of the paid version.

Originally Posted by IscahPaquin

So you all are just using the free blog set up on Wordpress? Or is this something different?

No, I run my own wordpress installation in my web hosting space. You get a lot more options when you run your own.

I have a wordpress website on my own server and a couple of free wordpress websites for one time events. If you can, put your website on your own server! It'll mean you can add your own theme or tweak an existing theme, you can use forms and plugins that are not available on the free wordpress websites.

Originally Posted by madcat

I built Shem's website using wordpress as a cms. I like working with it since I am a web designer by profession and am very familiar with front end development. On the other end, it also makes it easier for my clients to do their own updates.

http://www.shemsdance.com

Rebecca

Hi Rebecca,
I am in urgent want/need of a new website and I love what you did for Shems. Looks gorgeous! Can you direct me to your website so I can properly inquire about hiring you (or your company) to create my WordPress site?
Thank you!!
~Isis

Originally Posted by isis_bellydancer

Hi Rebecca,
I am in urgent want/need of a new website and I love what you did for Shems. Looks gorgeous! Can you direct me to your website so I can properly inquire about hiring you (or your company) to create my WordPress site?
Thank you!!
~Isis

This is embarrassing, I've been so busy creating websites for my dancer friends I haven't had time to work on my own...

I will send you a PM if you are still interested in having me create something for you.

Another Wordpress site I just finished for Rosalba's Bollywood Dance company. I really enjoyed creating this site for her, such a beautiful and inspiring dancer with great taste in costumes.

Lunasha Bollywood Dance Company

Hi,

Thank you Rebecca you are so sweet with all the compliments, I am blushing......I am soooooo happy with my new bollywood website and so grateful to Rebecca. I recommend her 150% to all belly dancers on bhuz and outside of bhuz. I know you put a lot of time and work into it. I even asked her to re design my bellydance website as the one I have right now is really outdated. I am sure she will be getting a lot of referrals and will become even busier soon!!!! I was also very inspired by Shem's website and that's why I contacted her =).

Rosalba

Originally Posted by madcat

Another Wordpress site I just finished for Rosalba's Bollywood Dance company. I really enjoyed creating this site for her, such a beautiful and inspiring dancer with great taste in costumes.

Lunasha Bollywood Dance Company

Love this site and the one you did for Shems as well! :)

My new site is on wordpress, built by Brian Dreamstar studios who also did gorgeous wordpress sites for Satin, Shiraz, Ranya and many others.
Belly Dancer New York | Sublime Belly Dance Artistry by Mariyah NYC

I just moved my old site from an html-based site to using wordpress as my CMS and I love it! So much easier to update and work on - it's not perfect (yet!) but I'm so digging it.

I used a paid theme from Pexeto, and their customer support was excellent - they have a forum where you can post questions, and it was so helpful to look through past responses and post new questions.

fatimadance.com

So I know this thread is old but I just finished another one for my own dance company.

http://www.hathordancecollective.com/


BTW Mariyah you are stunning and look like a fairy goddess on your website.