5 Unique Ways to Use WordPress (Not as a Blog)
by Jason Unger, Founder
Insights / Website Development /
Photo by Souvik Banerjee via Unsplash
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 and integrated with PayPal.
Other features include:
- Job categories
- RSS feeds for listings
- Categorization by part-time, full-time and freelance.
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
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.
About Jason Unger
Jason Unger is the Founder of Digital Ink. He built his first website on Geocities, and hasn't looked back since. Digital Ink tells stories for forward-thinking businesses, mission-driven organizations, and marketing and technology agencies in need of a creative and digital partner.
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