Wordpress: Pages vs Posts vs Portfolio

[Mark_Ch]

Hi All,

I'm looking to put pen to paper and design my main structual template for my website. I will be creating the new site in Wordpress.

My understanding of Wordpress is broken into the Static Pages, Posts and Portfolio.

Static PAGE
Static one off content.
No tags, categories or archived

Posts
content entries, which is listed in reverse chronological order.
Update post entry to maintain overall freshness of your website.
tags, categories & archived

Portfolio
?????

Question

• What are the benefits of a portfolio page over Static Pages & Posts
• When creating feature rich articles should i use static pages, posts or portfolio.

Thanks Mark

[DeanAndrews]

Posts are the default content type that is used for blog posts etc. They are dynamic content, with the first blog post displayed changing as a new one is added.

Pages are the default WordPress content type that is used for static content. Unlike posts these are not time-specific.

Portfolio or for that matter what ever you wish to name it are custom post types and taxonomy and can act as either, a good article to read here: Introducing Custom Posts and Taxonomies

[Andy.Drinkwater]

On each Wordpress site I have worked on, the Portfolio tends to be image-based and is used to showcase work or products. Unless you have a need to do this, the portfolio tends not to get used that much. That said, I am sure there are lots of people who do use it - I haven't or really seen many sites use it.

To answer your questions:

- What are the benefits of a portfolio page over Static Pages & Posts
See above. Pages are your main structural pages.

- When creating feature rich articles should i use static pages, posts or portfolio.
Articles should be sat in the blog section, which is populated through 'posts'.

I hope this helps.

-Andy

[Mark_Ch]

Hi All,

Thank you for your words of wisdom.

My reason for creating a portfolio was to get the best of both worlds (Pages + Posts). I'm looking to create an image based menu where users can see a graphical representation of an article. 'Eye Candy' and not heavy on text. This way the user is drawn into clicking an image to read the feature rich article.

Addiitonally, using categories and tags the user can fine tune what he or she is looking for. Here is a example of what I'm looking to create.

Your thoughts and comments would be much appreciated.

Thanks Mark

[Andy.Drinkwater]

I see what you are looking to do Mark but with most templates, when you create a post, it will allow you to set an image and excerpt which is then tagged into the main part of the site. It would be a bit of an odd way to do things if you were to use the portfolio option to link through to a blog post.

I don't really do much in the way of blogging, mainly due to lack of time, but go to my website and click on the Blog link to see an example of the posts populating this section. Is this what you are looking to achieve?

-Andy

[Mark_Ch]

Hi Andy,

Thank you for the information.

My initial goal is to create a rich visual menu for users to filter in readiness to read an article of interest.
That said and done, i believe you cannot create categories and tags on static pages, hence a custom posts would need to be created with the article.

I want the user to have visual and filter experience and cannot see another way of achieving this without using isotope.

Thanks Mark

[DeanAndrews]

In your case I would recommend not going down the post/blog route and use a custom taxonomy (ie portfolio) as using a post to publish your portfolio will also be available as rss and is also considered as time-specific.

[Andy.Drinkwater]

That said and done, i believe you cannot create categories and tags on static pages, hence a custom posts would need to be created with the article.

Correct - Well, without looking at other specific templates, then give it a go. Noting ventured and all that

-Andy

[DeanAndrews]

Re filter have you tried https://wordpress.org/plugins/evm-portfolio/

[Mark_Ch]

Hi All,

Thanks for the information.

Dean,

I have taken the example provided on the filterable portfolio from here. I believe your example and mine are talking about the same thing, hence using the same Portfolio Custom Post Type.

Would I have to keep the article written on the portfolio page updated more often then a regular static page for Google ranking?

Thanks Mark

[DeanAndrews]

A portfolio is not necessarily time-specific therefore it is not a post type such as a blog. A portfolio is just that, a portfolio of your work that you have completed (ie static) so why would you need to keep updating it. If you need to update/new articles then you would use the post type (blog).

[Mark_Ch]

Hi Dean,

As previously mentioned my knowledge of 'Portfolio' was limited. Now that you have advised the nature of a 'Portfolio' being static in design, I can simply write articles to my hearts content and publish them. Additionally, I will have the added advantage to set categories and tags and visual appearance.

I believe this is game, set and Match!

Thanks Mark

[DeanAndrews]

Excellent. Good luck with your new site.