Introduction, link & My experience
For this assignment, I created my own WordPress Site. I found it to be difficult to create the site. I struggled to figure out how to change the different features on my website. However, once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed the designing process! I started by deleting everything off of the site that I did not create. I created an about page for my website which can be accessed on the top right corner. Then, I chose a theme that I felt was visually pleasing. I found it pleasing because of the images and the overall readability of the theme. I also changed a few other features of my design. I chose a background to add to some of my text, which was white for the headers and blue for the buttons. I changed the content of the text from the theme to my liking. I also added additional CSS by coding the text on the about page to be blue and a different font size.
Ways to use this platform
There are several possibilities for ways I could use this platform. One way that I could use this platform is showcasing my projects, either my personal projects or projects for Hacking the Humanities. I would also find it useful to display a research project, or use it to store useful information and notes. I can see lots of possibilities for using this site!
Benefits & drawbacks
Hosting your own website, rather than using another platform, can be extremely beneficial. This is because you’re fully in control of the site. You can manage spam comments, and curate what’s on the site completely to your own liking. You can also design it perfectly for your intended purpose. However, there are several drawbacks as well. By using a social media site or a different service instead, there is a lot less management required. Instead of starting completely from scratch, there’s already a website to work with. There’s also a lot less upkeep, since it would be managed by someone else. I think that deciding whether to host your own website or use another platform depends on your personal goals and time commitment.
Hi Matilda! I’m really impressed by how thorough your whole website is! Your homepage looks great, and the overall theme is consistent. I hope you’re enjoying life here at Carleton and feeling comfortable exploring the Humanities! I totally agree with your point about website maintenance. Building an independent website definitely takes more effort to keep everything running smoothly, whereas on social media, we rarely have to worry about the technical side.
I really like the theme of your website, Matilda! I am also a huge fan of how consistent the entire thing is, and how as you scroll down on the homepage it tells a bit of a story about the purpose of the domain. I totally agree that there isn’t necessarily a “right answer” when it comes to either choosing a pre-made service or hosting one’s own domain, as it totally depends on the task at hand. I also concur that setting up one’s own website is much more taxing!