Why WordPress is best for blogging
When I first began blogging my single most difficult decision was not what to write or how to write it, but which “blogging engine” to use. Should I go with TextPattern, Blogger, TypePad, Mephisto…? After experimenting with numerous systems both hosted and self-hosted, I chose to go with WordPress. Why? Simply because it’s the best; simply because when it comes to blogging, nothing comes close to WordPress - it’s free, it’s open-source and it rocks.
At this stage, perhaps I should let you know that I am in no way affiliated with WordPress; I don’t work for them, I don’t get paid by them, and they’ve never contacted me about promotion. Now that’s out of the way, let me tell you why WordPress is the best choice for blogging.
THEMES
Not that Themes are peculiar to WordPress, but the ease in which they are implemented in WordPress makes setting-up and choosing a layout/design for your blog an absolute cinch. Implementing a new theme is just a click away. If you’re looking to create your own theme, a great place to start is WordPress Theme Development (in fact, If you’re just interested in learning how WordPress works, then that’s a great place to start) or Create Your Own WordPress Theme or 4 Blank WordPress Themes. To view and download themes (there are thousands to choose from), try the WordPress Themes List and Get New Themes.
INTERFACE
Whether you’re posting, editing, adding a new link to your blogroll, or checking out who’s linking to you, everything is easily accessible from within your WordPress Dashboard.
PLUGINS
Again something not unique to WordPress but, if you’ve dreamt of a plugin to do xyz, the chances are that someone has already written it, and it’s available free of charge from the plugins repository.
Here are my top 5 WordPress plugins:
Optimise your blog for search engines; add/organise keywords, etc.
Allows commentators to edit their own comments. How many times have you hit the submit button, only to spot an embarrassing typo? You can choose how long the comment is editable for - default is 30 min’s. A great plugin, and something to make visiting your own blog an even more pleasurable experience.
FeedSmith (formerly FeedBurner Feed Replacement)
Forward your RSS feeds to FeedBurner. Options to route Posts and Comments feeds.
Want to see who’s visiting your blog and how they get there? Automattic Stats shows you at a glance who’s visiting, where they’re from and what they clicked. You can continue to use Google Analytics for more comprehensive statistics, but for day-to-day tracking, the WordPress stats available via your Global DashBoard furnishes you with more than enough information to sate your stats appetite.
Effortlessly embed Youtube, Google video, IFILM, Metacafe, MySpace and Vimeo video in your posts.
WIDGETS
WordPress widgets - the jewel in the WordPress crown. Widgets remove the need to hack individual files, inserting snippets of code here and there to get extra features and functionality. Before widgets, upgrading your WordPress installation could be a tricky manoeuvre, fraught with danger - you upgraded and lo and behold you lost all those little snippets of code. However, the great thing about Widgets is that not only can you download hundreds of them, you can also take all those little snippets of code and widgetize them. You can create your own “Text Widgets” and use text and JavaScript inside them. If you want to include PHP code inside of them, then just download the Samsarin PHP Widget.
Creating your own widgets is not too difficult either. Create a WordPress Recent-Posts Widget is a great post that covers all the steps in making a widget. Though this post deals specifically with creating a Recent Posts widget, the steps involved are equally applicable to the construction of any WordPress widget; and here are some great off-the-shelf widgets.
COMMUNITY
The WordPress community is like many other open-source communities - lots of people willing to lend a helping hand, completely free of charge. If something goes awry or you have a question, try the WordPress Support Forums, WordPress for Beginners, WordPress Documentation, and Planet WordPress - an aggregation of blogs talking about WordPress.
If you use WordPress and you’re a fan, why not vote for it at WebWare 100.
I’m always on the lookout for WordPress tips, tricks and resources. If you have something you’d like to share, let me know.
20 Comments, Comment or Trackback
digital artist
I agree! Wordpress is the best blogging software. I am using it too. Easy to use user interface and many features (cool plugins too).
May 30th, 2007
Tara
Wordpress is great, I messed about with Joomla and Drupal first but Wordpress is much simpler for a non techie like me.
May 30th, 2007
johno
Tara
Thanks for reminding me! I also experimented with them, but forgot to mention.
May 30th, 2007
Aaron :: miLienzo.com
WordPress is superb. I tried a couple of blogging platforms before WordPress which were terrible in comparison.
At work we pay a managaed service a tidy sum (£500k+) each year to run our content management system, and in many respects, and I really mean this, WordPress is better! … not to mention free.
May 30th, 2007
johno
Aaron
You make a very good point. WordPress used as a CMS has a lot going for it. And even if the service you talk about has features not available in WordPress, for £500k+ you could pay someone to write a few widgets!
I’m even considering offering WordPress sites to (small?) customers who want a web site and blog - just use WordPress and add some extra pages (through WordPress admin) - a cheap and reliable database-driven system.
May 30th, 2007
David Airey :: Graphic Design Edinburgh ::
I was quite fortunate in that WordPress was the first blogging platform I used, so I can’t comment on others such as Blogger or Typepad.
Web design isn’t the largest part of what I do for work by any means, but if a client asks about content management I’d certainly suggest WordPress as an option. I find the user interface very friendly.
There’s one plugin that I’d place above all those you mention, and it’s one you use yourself - subscribe to comments. For me, it’s the single most important plugin available.
May 31st, 2007
johno
David
Web Design makes up for about 70% of my work these days, and in recent years it’s become increasingly more competitive - principally through price; and that’s why something ready-made and stable like WordPress is beginning to look more and more attractive. Next month I’m creating a web site for a Japanese design agency - it will be my first using WordPress for the entire site. Perhaps I’ll post about it somewhere when it’s finished, and let every one know whether or not it was successful.
Interesting that you mention the Subscribe to Comments Plugin - I’ve taken it so much for granted, that I had forgot it was a plugin at all!
May 31st, 2007
yuuco
I look forward to see your web site for Japanese agency!
May 31st, 2007
LaurenMarie - Creative Curio
Glad to know WordPress is so easy to use. This would be the platform I would choose if I were to start a blog. Still not sure if I want to yet. You didn’t mention Movable Type. Did you ever try it?
Ooo, glad to see the next and previous posts down at the bottom there!! Yay!
May 31st, 2007
David Airey :: Graphic Design Edinburgh ::
The thoughts you’re having about time / cost and WordPress as a CMS are very similar to mine.
You should definitely share the agency site project with us! I’d be very interested to see how a pro gets on.
I’ve just noticed your top commentators plugin. I hope you don’t mind the fact that I’m listed twice by changing my tagline?
May 31st, 2007
Horrorwood
I agree. Once you get the hang of it it really is very user friendly. Simple is best is my conclusion.
(Though it helps to have someone on hand occasionally to help you out of tight spots… :))
May 31st, 2007
johno
Lauren
I thought you’d be pleased with that. I’ll change the styling of those links when I get a free minute.
JcH
What are friends for
David
No problem - I was thinking of fixing it by changing the sql query, so that it it groups by, say, email address, rather than by “name”; but then, what if individual commentators use several email addresses? - so I left it. No problem for me - to see you there twice - perhaps I should change one of them to read “Graphic Design Edinburgh”.
May 31st, 2007
Lisa Y
Hello Johno. Thanks for leaving encouraging words on my blog.
Yes, I do agree that wordpress is good. I tried a few too over the last few years, including textpattern, joomla, blogger and find wordpress to be the winner. WP has come a long way and yes, the widget has been a godsend. I remember the many times when I have to open a html editor, update the sidebar, layout and then FTP like it’s out of fashion. lol.
May 31st, 2007
inspirationbit
I’m using SlimStat for my Wordpress stats that I can look at quickly whenever I need. I like them a lot. I tried different stat plugins, this one I liked the best so far.
I’ve worked with Nucleus CMS before - one of my clients was running a blog based on it. It’s okay, I guess… also has lots of plugins, not so many free themes, pretty easy to write the plugins for. But I do like Wordpress better. Btw, if you want to try various Open Source CMS/Blogging/Gallery, etc applications there’s one great website you need to visit, and try out any of these applications for free, online, without even installing them: Open Source CMS
Jun 1st, 2007
johno
I’d never heard of SlimStat before. Looks pretty comprehensive. Have you tried Google Analytics? I’m a fan, but for the day-to-day, I use the WordPress Automattic Stats plugin.
And thank you for the Open Source CMS link.
Jun 1st, 2007
inspirationbit
You’re welcome, John.
Yes, I do use Google Analytics, as well as Aw-Stats, but on a daily basis, I find SlimStat much more user-friendly.
Jun 1st, 2007
Julia Temlyn
I completely agree– Wordpress is simply the best! I wish I’d switched sooner. I also love that you can use it for a CMS, which is what I’m working on for one of my sites. Wordpress is amazing!
Jun 2nd, 2007
Lorissa
WordPress is great for blogging. I’ve used it for many client websites as both a blog and the site CMS. The ease of implementing plugins is something I am especially impressed by.
Jun 16th, 2007
David
I completely agree; Wordpress is great. I just started my blog this week and am just enjoying the ease of use. I really enjoy your blog by the way, keep it up.
Aug 31st, 2007
johno
David
Thanks for the compliment. I enjoyed reading your Talent VS Determination post. I never knew that about Francis Bacon!
Aug 31st, 2007
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