How to Use WordPress as a CMS (Content Management System)

written 7 Nov 2006 in the earliest morning

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This article will attempt to explain to users how they can mod the popular, open-source blogging software WordPress so that it can be used for a complete Content Management System. This article assumes that you have working knowledge of how to Install WordPress (2.0 or better), some basic PHP knowledge, know how to write CSS/XHTML, and add plugins to WordPress. Enjoy:

  1. Download and Install WordPress. Complete instructions can be found on the WordPress site.
  2. Download the following plugins:
    • Filosofo Home Page Control. Allows you to change the default homepage for your WordPress install, in case you don’t want your blog as your default WP homepage.
    • Sidebar Tile Plugin. Allows you to edit your sidebar through the WP Manage > Pages tab in the WordPress Admin section of your website.
    • Improved Include Page. Allows you to call one page from another, very useful for an introduction on the homepage.
    • Secure Form Mailer. A very good contact form plugin for WordPress.
    • Search Pages. Extends WP’s search functionality to search through pages, not just posts in the blog.
  3. Install the Filosofo Homepage Control plugin.
    1. Using your chosen FTP software, upload the filosofo-home-page-control.php file into your WordPress plugins directory.
    2. Login to your WordPress Admin and activate the plugin by clicking the Plugins tab.
    3. In the WordPress Admin main navigation, click Options and then Permalinks.
    4. Choose “Date and Name based” from the selection of radio buttons.
    5. Click Options » Home-Page Control
    6. Using the dropdown menu on that page, choose the page you would like to serve as your homepage.
    7. In the text field below, set the virtual “folder” directory for where you want your blog to reside (as it will no longer reside in the root path of WordPress, you might want to enter “blog” here. Remember though, do not actually create a real directory on your web server, just type the name in here and WordPress will virtually create it.)
    8. Click Options » Permalinks
  4. Install the Sidebar Tile Plugin
    1. Upload the sem-tile-sidebar.php file into your WordPress plugins directory.
    2. Login to your WordPress Admin and activate the plugin by clicking the Plugins tab.
    3. Add the following code to your sidebar:
      <?php the_sidebar_tile(); ?>
    4. Click Write > Pages in the WordPress Admin.
    5. Create a page called Sidebar.
    6. Anything you put in this page will now appear in your sidebar. Of course, you’ll still see any information that is listed in your sidebar template, such as Search, Archives lists, etc.
  5. Install the Dagon Design Contact Form
    1. This process can be quite involved, but this is an excellent plugin for deterring SPAM. Complete instructions on how to install this plugin can be found at the Dagon Design site.
  6. Install the Search Pages Plugin

    7. If you’re going to use WordPress as a CMS, then you’ll probably be emphasizing the site’s pages as much as, if not more than, your blog.

    1. Upload the search_pages.php file to your Plugins directory.
    2. Activate the plugin.

Of course, you’ll still have quite a bit more work to do to customize the site to your liking, such as finding or creating the right theme to suit your content, and you’ll probably also want to create some type of navigation aside from the simple pages list that WordPress comes with by default. Luckily for you, there are lots of people out there who are willing to help (sometimes in exchange for money, sometimes not).

Oh, and I just so happen to be one of the former, so feel free to contact me if you have a project you’re looking to have completed!

Filed Under: how-tos & web design (ing)

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12 people chatting it up...

  • Fantastic! Everything I need on one page. One question remains…

    Can I be your girlfriend?

    - pussywillow | 01:08pm 7 Nov 06

  • [...] ClickNathan has written a solid article on How to Use WordPress as a CMS. [...]

    - Yummy Wakame - love at first web site » Blog Archive » Great jorb! | 01:21pm 7 Nov 06

  • I’m hoping to release this as an all-in-one plugin but I have to either rewrite some of the plugins or get permission from the people who’ve set them up thus far.

    So I guess the answer would be, “Nkay.”

    - nathan | 02:33pm 7 Nov 06

  • mmmm…. howto’s

    - bob | 03:03pm 11 Nov 06

  • More to come, mon signor.

    - nathan | 07:09pm 11 Nov 06

  • [...] How to Use WordPress as a CMS (Content Management System) usando o wordpress como um cms. para montar sites com o wp (tags: wordpress cms webdesign tutorial howto inspiration) [...]

    - blog do valdecir carvalho » Blog Archive » links for 2007-07-10 | 07:21am 10 Jul 07

  • Hi Nathan,
    you might like to review a plugin we have developed to this end that seems to be working fine - it’s called blogslot and allows a very flexible menu management for both static pages and categories - very useful for multilingual bloggers or more simply to better organize your side bar and other areas of your template - check it out at:

    http://blog.achille.name/wordpress/wordpress-plugin-for-content-management-blogslot/

    - Sante | 12:25pm 22 Jul 07

  • That plugin looks very useful Sante, I’ll try it out on my next site and if it works well, I may consider adding it to this article.

    - nathan | 01:49pm 22 Jul 07

  • Hi Nathan,

    Love the website, I’m getting started freelancing so your how-tos look like they’ll be very helpful.

    I’m thinking of setting up my portfolio site using Wordpress. Currently, do you think your method shown here is the best way, or is Sante’s plugin better? Or is there a new method you’ve found that’s better than both? I thought I’d ask since your last reply was a year ago.

    Thanks!

    - Andy Osier | 09:52am 8 Nov 07

  • Hi Andy,

    Good plan asking, as this article was written a few versions of WP ago. I should really update it, but just haven’t had the time. I actually haven’t had a chance to test Sante’s plug-in myself, so I can’t vouch for it.

    Good luck with your project!

    - nathan | 09:54am 8 Nov 07

  • Looks great, thanks. Can you give me any sample-sites or links, so I know ahead of time approximately what it will look like, if it will be worth my undertaking?

    Thanks again,

    Jeff

    - jeff | 10:00am 26 Jan 08

  • Hi Jeff,

    This information is a little out of date. It was written for WordPress 2.0.2 and their ilk, however it should still serve as a great basis to get started. Some information has already been incorporated into WP by default. For example, the Filosofo Homepage Control is no longer needed, as WordPress provides for this feature anyway.

    But as for examples, there is no one particular way of setting it up. This site, for example, is made based on the setup above. Also Bike Pittsburgh and The Lippis Report.

    And just about every other site in my portfolio, come to think of it. :)

    - nathan | 09:26am 28 Jan 08