Why WordPress is the best blogging platform
Blogging is designed to be easy, so don’t make yourself crazy when choosing your blogging platform. Here’s my simple, clear advice — Go with WordPress. For most of my clients–small business owners and solo professionals–I recommend that they have their own customized blog using the highly-customizable installed version of WordPress (This means you will install WordPress on your web hosting account.). Below are the reasons why I make this recommendation.
- WordPress costs you zero, zip, zilch, nada, rien! How’s that for an effective use of your business dollars?
- WordPress is intuitive. In my experience, it’s easier to find your way around the WordPress administration screen than it is to navigate any other blogging platform such as Blogger or Typepad.
- With WordPress, you have a world-wide support system. Every once in awhile, you’re likely to hit a wall with some feature that doesn’t work. Never fear, WordPress support is near. . . as near as the bottom of your admin screen where you can access user forums, where help, ideas, and solutions abound. If you choose another system, you may not be so lucky.
- Your blog can reflect the unique brand of your company. Having a distinct look and feel is crucial to helping your blog and your business stand out. Though WordPress does offer a hosted version of their system (available for no charge at wordpress.com), you can’t do as much customization which means your blog doesn’t seem as professional and this quality transfers over to your entire business. Check out my client’s blogs or my sites (I Do! I Do! Relationship Blog, LavenderLog) to see how unique each can look .
- You have complete control of your blog. If you want to add a feature, you can add it. If you’d like to take something away, you can do that too. WordPress offers you creative control and flexibility, which I think is incredibly important for businesses that are innovating and changing on a regular basis.
- Using WordPress makes you smarter. Yes, it’s true, you’ll gain IQ points when you blog with WordPress because you do need to learn to take full advantage of it’s power. Though my clients first feel a bit intimidated, after a walk-through of the system and a few tips, they begin to add plugins, try out different features, and generally start exploring all that WordPress has to offer.
So there’s my six cents worth. I’m a true WordPress fan. Just so you don’t have to take my word for it, however, I invite fellow fanatics to share why they think WordPress is THE tool of choice for business bloggers. Because I want you to get the full scoop, however, I also invite devotees of other blogging systems to share why they think their platform is better than WordPress.
Let the friendly discussion begin! 
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Hi Shonnie!
Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more! I do dabble with blogger but wordpress is by far superior because of the customisation capabilities and the infinite number of plugins you can get.
I’m still using 1.5 and it’s as robust as ever. i’m planning to upgrade to version 2 shortly but have already but up a test blog experimenting with the new features.
Have an awesome day!
Comment by Amit — April 16, 2007 @ 11:00 am
WOULD YOU USE A “HOTMAIL” ACCOUNT FOR BUSINESS?
Last year I began dabbling with a Blogger account, but never really put much effort into it, because I knew that CUSTOMIZATION would be key in branding a blog. My humble opinion is that using a hosted blogging account for business is like using an @hotmail or @aol email address. It is a bad idea because it conveys a less-than-professional image.
So I installed WordPress on my server, but still couldn’t master the customization aspect without assistance. Eight month’s later my business coach came across Shonnie’s “Simple, Successful Blogging Program, and in just the first few weeks into the course, I realize that her assistance will help me develop aBetterWestVirginia.com into a quality blog that is able to be adapted as it evolves.
Food for Thought: It’s funny, I use Microsoft Office 2003 and noticed that “blog” is highlighted as misspelled within Word. Perhaps someone should inform Microsoft there is a phenomenon known as Web 2.0. It’s not like Robert Scoble (“Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk”), one of the first wide-read bloggers, started a blog for their company.
Comment by J. Keeling — April 16, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Hi Amit,
Like you, I’ve kept my other two blogs at WP 1.+ because they work great. Thanks for your input. Definitely let me know when you’re up and running with 2.+.
Peace,
Shonnie
Comment by Shonnie — April 22, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Hi Jason,
I agree with you that using hotmail and aol accounts makes the “business” appear more like a hobby. A customized blog — which I think you can create most easily with WordPress — conveys professionalism and, personally, I want to do business with professionals, not just people who are dabbling with an idea or service.
Peace,
Shonnie
Comment by Shonnie — April 23, 2007 @ 1:34 pm