An online site builder is an all-in-one, “no-code” platform that allows you to design and launch a website directly from your web browser. A site builder provides the software, the hosting, and the security as a single, combined subscription. There are many site builder options – more info»
Examples include:
- WIX
- Squarespace
- Weebly
WordPress is a content management system or CMS and was not considered a site builder when first created. However, with using the appropriate plugin such as Elementor an hosting arranged by a group like Lakekit, WordPress becomes an excellent site builder with more user freedom at less expense than with most other site builders.
At its simplest, WordPress is a tool that allows you to build and manage your own website without needing to know how to write code. It is the world’s most popular Content Management System (CMS), currently powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. – statistics»
Think of it as the “operating system” for your website. Just as Windows or macOS lets you run programs and create files on your computer, WordPress provides the framework for you to create pages, upload images, and publish blog posts through a user-friendly dashboard.
First, it is user-friendly. You can edit your site using a visual interface that feels a lot like using a word processor.
It is highly customizable through “themes” (which change the design) and “plugins” (which add features like contact forms or online stores). You can build anything from a simple blog to a massive e-commerce site.
It is also open source, meaning it is free to use and constantly improved by a global community of developers.
Lastly, it is search engine optimization (SEO) ready. It is built with high-quality code that search engines like Google tend to love.
It’s important to note that there are two ways to use WordPress – more info»
WordPress.org (Self-Hosted): You download the software for free but pay for your own web hosting and domain name. This gives you 100% control over your site. (This is how Lakekit uses WordPress, with many free available options sufficient for our network.)
WordPress.com (Hosted): A service that hosts the site for you. It’s easier to start but offers less flexibility unless you pay for higher-tier plans.
The components include three layers: the infrastructure (what keeps it online), the engine (the software), and the layout (what the user sees)
Infrastucture – includes a domain name (website’s address like www.yourname.com), plus web hosting (the server that stores your files and serves them to visitors).
Engine (Software and Data) – includes a number of commmon components:
- Core files – common to all WordPress sites
- Themes – control page layout (appearance)
- Plugins – add functions and features (special capabilities)
- Database – stores most of the data involved (users, content…)
Typical WordPress Site Page – includes four basic components, a header, a menu or navigation bar, the main content and a footer. You can easliy add many containers or sections for content on each page)
A server is a host computer that stores the core software, themes, plugins, and database attached to the internet for delivering webpages. When visiting Lakekit.net or one of the network sites, the webpages are delivered from the server. Lakekit uses a server from the hosting company, Siteground.
Most WordPress.org sites operate as standalone sites with its administrator performing all of the various administrative functions. But Lakekit.net is the base site for a special form of wordpress.org installation called a multisite or network.
With a multisite, multiple WordPress sites work through one installation of the WordPress software, all managed by a central network administrator. Each of the multiple sites, or sub-sites, act as a standalone site to a visitor. This form of network works best when the sub-sites have functions and interests in common. Lake organization sites fit this commonality well. With the Lakekit multisite, the network administrator takes care of many of the administrative duties associated with a standalone wordpress.org site. Network sub-site administrators then have fewer administrative duties than would have with a standalone WordPress site administrator. As a result, they can concentrate their attention on providing good content on their site.
Low Cost – The most immediate advantage is the reduced expense per site. Because all sites share the same core software and server space, the cost of adding a new site to the network is minimal, making it an incredibly scalable solution for organizations or departments.
Simpler Administration – From a technical standpoint, there are significantly fewer admin duties for each Subsite Administrator. In a standard setup, all administrator have to either log in to update the WordPress software, themes, and plugins for their site or pay somebody else to do it. With our Multisite, all of that is handled by us at the network level. When one of our Super-Admins updates a plugin, it is updated for every site instantly. This leaves subsite administrators free to focus on your content rather than technical chores.
Purpose-Built Design – A Multisite network allows for a site design tailored to the network’s purpose. The Super-Admin can curate a specific library of themes and plugins that are perfectly suited for the organization’s goals. As a subsite admin, you don’t have to hunt for tools; the best ones are already “plugged in” and ready for you to use.
Built-in Community Support – Finally, you are never working in a vacuum because help is available through the network. Since every site in the network is using the same set of tools, troubleshooting becomes a team effort. If you have a question about how to use a specific feature, there is a community of fellow site admins available on the Lakekit forum. This shared knowledge base turns a solitary task into a collaborative environment.
Our network administration is handled through a combination of our technical web services vendor (Northern Graphics OPS), and our team of volunteers from Wisconsin Lakes. The team’s combined tasks are:
- Managing WordPress and core updates
- Managing themes and plugins
- Developing starter sites for new Lakekit members
- Training and supporting subsite administrators
- Mapping domain names for new URLs
- Troubleshooting
- Administering multisite network settings
- Handling local and remote website backups
- Maintaining the Homebase (Lakekit.net) website
- Managing administration and billing
With our WordPress multisite, Lakekit subsite administrators mainly create and manage the content on their site’s pages. Content editing and selecting various settings is usually sufficient to provide a high quality lake organization site.
No! Building a WordPress site with Lakekit is easy, like moving into to a new house versus a fixer-upper. Let’s look at what is provided through the lens of a construction project.
The Land, Foundation and Utilities —
Before you can use WordPress, Lakekit provides you with the physical location and the legal address of your site. This is the “infrastructure” that WordPress needs and Lakekit provides:
- The Land (Web Hosting): is taken care of for you. Lakekit rents space on a powerful computer (a server) that stays connected to the internet 24/7. Without this, your “house” has no land on which to sit.
- The Address (Domain Name): Lakekit will register a name (like www.yoursite.com) so people can find you.
- The Utilities (PHP & MySQL): Lakekit provides these for you as part of the multisite. PHP is the software that runs your site features; MySQL is the database where your data and resources are catalogued.
The Framework —
With Lakekit, your structural walls and all utilities are provided through the multisite WordPress hosting. Specifically:
- The Walls & Plumbing (Core Files): With WordPress Lakekit provides the standard set of files that define how a website functions—how users log in, how data is saved, and how pages are rendered.
- The Control Panel (The Dashboard): WordPress provides a “central command center” where you can manage everything without ever touching the utilities (the code).
- The Expansion Slots (Plugins & Themes): WordPress provides the ability to plug in new features easily, similar to how a modern home has outlets ready for any appliance you buy later.
Page content is the text, links, images, audio, animation or video placed anywhere on a webpage. Both WordPress pages and posts have page content.
While Lakekit handles the “foundation” (hosting) and the “framing” (technical updates), as a Subsite Administrator you get to focus on your website’s aesthetic and the user experience. Here is what you are responsible for when “finishing out” your site:
Choose the “Look”:
- Your main job is to turn a blank room into a comfortable space. Using WordPress and Elementor, you arrange page layouts to create a flow that makes sense for the visitor.
- You are responsible for the Media Library. This means picking high-quality photos, videos, and graphics that set the mood of the site.
- You add interactive features, such as things like “Contact Us” buttons or “Sign up” forms is like adding a doorbell or a guestbook for visitors to use.
Design the Content:
- You get to decide the “vibe” of your site. With a solif foundation and walls, you can control:
- Color Palettes: You choose the colors that represent your brand or personality.
- Typography: You select the fonts—deciding if the site will feel formal, modern, easy-going or playful.
- Customizing the “Trim”: You tweak the headers and footers to ensure the “branding” is consistent throughout the site.
Host Dynamic Content:
- As a subsite administrator, you are the host and can create content:
- Posts: These are for news and announcements. They are timely, engaging, and keep people coming back for more.
- Pages: These are the more permanent places on your site. You ensure the pages are clear, informative, and easy to find.
Create User Roles:
You decide who has access to administer your site and what they are allowed to change.
To understand the difference between Pages and Posts, it is helps to look at how they behave on a website and how they are organized in the “back end” of WordPress.
Pages (The Static Framework) — Pages are designed for content that is meant to be more permanent and “timeless.” They provide the essential structure of your website.
- Non-Chronological: Pages are not organized by date. An “About Us” page is just as relevant two years from now as it is today.
- Hierarchical Structure: You can nest pages within one another. For example, you can have a main pages, with “child” pages, like Membership with Services and Pay Dues sitting underneath it.
- Navigation-Focused: Pages typically appear in your site’s main navigation menu at the top of each screen.
Common examples include About Us, Contact Us, News, Records, and Membership.
Posts (The Dynamic Stream) — Posts are entries listed in reverse-chronological order (the newest content appears first). They represent the “live” or active part of your site.
- Time-Sensitive: Posts are tied to a specific publication date and time. They are often used for news, updates, or articles.
- Categorization: Unlike pages, posts use Categories and Tags. This allows you to group related content (e.g., all posts about “News” or “Life Updates”) so users can browse by topic.
- Optionally Social & Interactive: Posts may include a comment section to encourage discussion, but it is not necessary. Posts can also be automatically pushed to your members by email or by your site’s news feed.
Common examples include news articles, press releases, and weekly updates.