5 Unique Ways to Use Wordpress (Not as a Blog)

5 Unique Ways to Use WordPress (Not as a Blog)

Posted by junger - 08/28/08 at 10:08:36 pm

WordPress is easily the most intuitive, user-friendly blogging software available today.

But did you know you can use it for other types of sites?

Here are five unique ways to use WordPress besides as a blog.

A Content Management System

Like most Web sites that use a content management system, WordPress allows you to create static pages outside of the reverse-chronology setup of blogs.

Whether you're creating a page of resources, links, or non-date specific information, pages are the best option for timeless content on your site.

But what about your site's home page? WordPress allows you to set any page as your site's main page. In WordPress 2.5 and above:

Log in to your dashboard
Click on "Settings" and "Reading"
Under "Front page displays," select "A static page" and choose the page you'd like to use

Using WordPress as a CMS is increasingly popular, especially because it doesn't require tech-savvy users.

A Job Board

If you're looking to start a job board using WordPress, it can be done.

Sorel Mihai, one of my favorite theme designers, has created JobPress, a WordPress Job Board.

JobPress allows for both free and paid listings, depending on your preference. Charging for listings is easy (view the settings page) and integrated with PayPal.

Other features include:

Job categories
RSS feeds for listings
Categorization by part-time, full-time and freelance.

Check out more about JobPress here.

A Storefront

Yes, you can sell products using WordPress.

Check out the Market Theme. It's a great-looking, minimalist theme that focuses on highlighting the products you have to sell and helps you sell them.

Features include:

Support for PayPal and Google Checkout
Affiliate support, if you have no products to sell
Compatibility with WordPress MU

Check out more about the Market Theme here.

A Portfolio

If you need a place to show off your work, WordPress makes a great portfolio.

Two great Portfolio themes are Sharpfolio, a free download from WEBRevolutionary, and Sorel Mihai's Portfolio theme.

These two themes work a bit differently — Sharpfolio works more like a "typical" WordPress site, while Portfolio has a custom settings page.

A Classifieds Site

DailyWP's Sorel Mihai comes through again with Classipress, a complete package for managing a classified ads site.

While there are some third-party plugins that attempt to do what Classipress offers, none of them do it right. Classipress requires no additional plugins, so everything works perfectly together.

Check out more about Classipress here.

August 28, 2008 | In Web | 7 Comments

7 Comments »

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Hi, URL to jobpress doesn't work anymore, here is another job board using wordpress:
http://www.thejobposter.com

Comment by wpfeed — December 27, 2008 #
Jason,
Jobpress doesn't seem to be available anymore, any idea how Sorel Mihai can be gotten hold of?

@wpfeed,

Thanks for the jobposter URL but how does one get details on the theme? All that is available at thejobposter seems to be the listed ads!

Thanks

Comment by Ben — January 7, 2009 #
Hey Ben — I found this email address on a portfolio site of his:
sorel.mihai [at] gmail [dot] com

http://sponsoredwp.info/portfolio/about/

I can't guarantee it works, but give it a try!

Comment by junger — January 7, 2009 #
hi guys,
i actually paid for the jobpress theme today and have not received anything from them….no response to 'contact us' and emails bounce….any ideas…what can i do?
i wrote at Sorel's id as well but no response
shalu

Comment by shalu — February 24, 2009 #
It looks like the Jobpress site is up and running again:
http://www.dailywp.com/jobpress-wordpress-theme/

Comment by junger — April 1, 2009 #
The OFFICIAL ClassiPress website is here: http://wpclassipress.com/

Comment by Pepsi — January 10, 2010 #
I am using Classipress plugin am quite happy, but personal messaging is missing

Comment by Hementh — February 3, 2011 #

Jason Unger