Looking to re-design a business' website using WP – a few novice questions

  • custard87

    (@custard87)


    11 years, 11 months ago

    Hi there,

    I have been asked by a friend to help him maintain update his personal business website. His current site was built for him by someone who no longer works for him but I have access to its files via FTP and have been updating it using my limited knowledge of HTML/CSS/JavaScript etc.

    However, I would like to re-design it from scratch and have heard excellent things about WordPress. The learning curve is a little intimidating but I like a challenge!

    I have tried to use various ‘lookup’/’whois’ engines to find out who is hosting his website and the best I can find is ‘ns1.si-eios.com’ which I assumed meant the company was ‘Server Intellect’ who I contacted and they said they met the minimum requirements for WordPress.

    My two questions really would be, firstly, whether or not I went about finding who hosts his site the right way or whether I’m mistaken. Secondly, could I install something on a personal computer or say sign up for a free WordPress account that would allow me to make a mock up of what I hope to achieve with his website without messing up what he currently has? I don’t want to mess with any thing until I’ve learnt my way around WordPress a bit more.

    Apologies for my lack of knowledge. I am highly proficient with tech in other areas and have some limited programming experience and have read through the very helpful guides on here, I just wanted some re-assurance that I’m going about things the right way.

    Thanks in advance to anyone who is kind enough to offer any advice.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Moderator Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)

    (@ipstenu)

    🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist

    11 years, 11 months ago

    Secondly, could I install something on a personal computer

    Yes 😀

    You have to run a ‘web server’ from your computer, which you can do with MAMP or XAMMP or a few other tools. Check the local host forums: http://wordpress.org/support/forum/localhost-installs

    I have tried to use various ‘lookup’/’whois’ engines to find out who is hosting his website and the best I can find is ‘ns1.si-eios.com’ which I assumed meant the company was ‘Server Intellect’ who I contacted and they said they met the minimum requirements for WordPress.

    That was the right way around it.

    Thread Starter custard87

    (@custard87)

    11 years, 11 months ago

    Thanks for the reply Ipestenu! I’ll look into the local host thing. I’m new to it obviously but from what I can tell that’d be perfect for building a mock up.

    As for the hosting provider, they seem to be the right company but if not I’m sure I can convince my boss to switch to a WP-friendly one if he likes what I come up with and it would make my life a lot easier!

    Moderator Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)

    (@ipstenu)

    🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist

    11 years, 11 months ago

    You don’t have to pick a WP friendly host, so long as they meet the requirements for PHP and SQL (and hopefully diskspace and bandwidth, though those are variable).

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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