Twice this week I've tried to update my flash palette site. I'm tired of it turning into a headache every time, and I've wanted to move to more of a blog-based site anyway. This morning I purchased a template for wordpress and went through the installation steps. I've done something wrong because it tells me there's a database error. I've gone through and checked my mySQL database info and it looks like that's not the problem.

I'm going out of town this afternoon and really don't want to leave it the way it is, so I thought I'd just redirect to my blog until I could get it fixed. That's not working, either.

I spent the extra money to have them install it for me, but it won't be done for a few days and I REALLY don't want to leave it this way for that long!

If anyone has any suggestions I'd sure appreciate it. They said this was a simple thing but I'm obviously not smart enough to figure it out.

Hey Lisa,

I don't know much about mySQL databases but I would highly suggest against using a blog as your business website. Blogs are far to standardized and I've never seen a blog that I didn't know was a blog (even after people spent thousands customizing it) - In our business especially WE NEED TO BE UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT and having the clients first point of contact *our website* be so similar to what they can also get with wordpress/blogger/xanga or whatever is a move towards commoditization and will really devalue your service and product.

My 2 cents,
DJ

Hey DJ! I appreciate your input. I get what you're saying, but I don't think my flash palette site was setting me apart from anyone, either. My hope is that doing this will help my SEO because I blog all of the time, not to mention my latest work is always blogged.

I absolutely agree with you about them all looking like blogs, but when you have a template website and those look the same as well, without paying a ton of money for customization (which I can't do right now) I'm not sure what other options are out there?

I did look at show-it sites last night, but I'm not sure I'm ready for a monthly bill for a site quite yet...

It's all good .... I agree with you that templates also commoditize photographers and it's super important to put your most recent work up so keep going in that direction and when the time is right I think a unique site is the way to go.

Rock on!
DJ

Yep, that's my plan! I'm hoping I can get something customized next year, until then this will fill in the gap. If only I could get it working, lol!

Lisa, I would strongly suggest to try Showit Sites. In that way you can have a flash website that is uniquely yours.

It comes with some very nice templates that can get you up and running in no time, and then you can begin at your own pace to customize your site whichever way you see fit. If you take your time you can have a very professional site t display your work that will set you apart.

They have 30 days free trial going. And after that is just $39 a month.

As far as mySQL - you have to edit config.php in Wordpress. Who hosts you? if godaddy, you change 'localhost' to whatever server info they gave you.

David, I checked out showit sites, and I think the idea is fantastic, but I'd prefer to host it wherever I choose. That's the drawback for me.

Matt, I did rename the config file and it didn't work. I purchased a Prophoto template I can customize, and ended up paying for the handheld installation. One less headache for me.

Hopefully this will do for now.

Hey Lisa - You can still use your own host. You simply upload your index.html file to your own host and you're good to go.

Dood
As you know, I've been completely hosting my site on Showit's rock-solid servers but am looking into the possibilities of having this merge seemlessly with MobileMe. What (if any) are the benefits of hoting the index.html on our own host?

I didn't realize that!

Yea - cool - really the only difference is if you want to have full C-Panel control or other backend stuff.