WordPress has laid claim as the best blogging platform on the Internet.
Today, USA Today gives WordPress thumbs up, “Wordpress creator Matt Mullenweg is many a bloggers best friend…” . This article could not have come out at a better time. There is nothing like hearing it all straight from the horses mouth.
I met Matt last September, at WordCamp. What a treat! Me in a room of about 150 WordPress geeks.
There are two different WordPress formats.
WordPress.com has in house hosting. In other words you do not need to get a separate host. This makes it very easy to set up. But also has it restrictions
WordPress.org is open source blogging software that is freely available to anyone to download. This requires setting up your own hosting account. Which allows you to do just about anything you want.
Lanna Wuthenow of “My Internet Stuff” gives the easiest explanation I could find.
See the difference for your self.
For a perfect example of each format, go take a look at TheCocktailCafe.com which takes advantage of both formats. The main site is on WordPress.Org and the connecting site, HappyHourStudio.wordpress.com is on wordpress.com. See the difference?
The benefits of using WordPress.com
- It’s free, no need to buy hosting.
- It is easy to set up. You can be up and rolling in 5 minutes.
- Plenty of themes to choose from.
- You do not have to worry about anything: security, setup, backups.
The downside of using WordPress.com
- You can not put up a custom theme.
- You can not change any of the coding.
The benefits of using WordPress.org.
- You can up load any theme you want.
- You can change the code in the back end.
- You can add plugins.
The downside to WordPress.org
- You need more technical skill to set up and run. Or will need to find a geek to help you.
- You will need a hosting account, which could cost you an average of $8.00 a month.
- You will need to handle your own backup, spam and support.
Which WordPress format is best for you?
Simply ask you self “What is the purpose of my blog?” If you plan to make money from your blog, you will be better off in choosing WordPress.org. Find yourself a good host and a theme you like.
If you are not tech savvy then connect up with someone who is. Ninjablogsetup.com will set your blog up for free if you purchase your hosting account through them. They will move your old blog to WordPress.org for a small fee. BecomeaBlogger.com has 10 video tutorials that will help you set up for your self. Wordpress.org has very good tutorials. I solved this problem by Googling “WordPress geeks” and found a geek club nearby. Once you get rolling you should be able to run things solo.
Because WordPress.org is open source, there are a lot of people that can help out. I would suggest Mark Mclaren at McBuzz.com he knows his stuff and gives excellent service and is very reasonably priced. Give Jeff at WordPressMax.com a whirl his focus is on Newbies!
If you plan to blog for fun and do not plan to monetize you blog, WordPress.com is for you. You will find over 70 themes to choose form. It is easy and you will have plenty of support. In fact I would use WordPress.com over Blogger wanted a free format that was for fun.
To sum it up.
“People might start with LiveJournal or Blogger, but if they get serious, they’ll graduate to WordPress. We try to cater to the more powerful users,” says Mullenweg, 25. -USA Today , January 28, 2009
If you have not checked out the video tutorials on Becomeablogger.com, Do so. You will get some reality on how easy this all is.
To your success!
Sheila
P.S. Next we will be looking at WordPress themes.
P.P.S. Follow the tutorials on Becomablogger and you will soon be blogging on WordPress. Try it out, its Free.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve used various blogging platforms over the years, and Wordpress is, of course, the one I ended up with permanently. I did a poll recently on my site and still found a large percentage of my visitors used alternative platforms. When will they see the light?! I’m assuming many of these visitors haven’t even tried wordpress yet!
I use Wordpress and I love it!
I started with Typepad, but after 7 months moved to Wordpress.org because I wanted to host my own site for the SEO rankings.
I also found that Wordpress allows me more options in the long run and the other two blogging formats.
I’m using my site as a static site as well as a blogging site. The theme I chose allowed me to have this look.
I too went to Wordcamp Utah in Sept. I loved it…. sitting there with all those Wordpress Geeks (mostly young me half my age.) I nearly had a cardiac arrest when Matt Mullenweg stood up to speak… so young. Where are all these new brains coming from?
I learned to appreciate all that Wordpress has to offer.
Yeah Wordpress! You’re the best.
Kathy
Insightful Nana
Your web page doesn’t correctly work in safari browser
WeageSype,
I am sorry you are having trouble. I did not have any problems when I used safari. Thanks for the heads up.
Sheila