So They Say WordPress a Better Way to Blog

WordPress is free, open-source software and is the most popular blogging tool in the world because it is easy to use and completely customizable. You can choose from thousands of themes developed by the open-source community. Similarly, there are over 10,000 plug-ins and widgets to help further customize your blog. In fact, WordPress is so flexible that you can go far beyond a blog and create a complete website that doesn’t appear to be a blog at all.

The WordPress community is huge, and not only provides all the content (plug-ins, themes, etc.) for WordPress websites, but also provides reliable technical support and tips about how to make your blog better.

Wading through the seas of user-created content can get complicated, however. While it’s very easy to create a basic blog on WordPress, creating a complex, customized website can be more difficult. Because all the themes and plug-ins are open-source, some work better than others. Also, the different components don’t always blend seamlessly with one another. For example, say you install a theme, and then customize it. But the plug-ins and widgets you want to use don’t work well with your custom theme. You’ll have two choices: You can either choose a different theme and start over or look for plug-ins that will be compatible with your theme.

Two more cons: Some people claim that WordPress loads slowly (this issue can be solved by caching plugin though). It also appears to have security flaws, as WordPress users have been more susceptible to hackers in the past.

Is b2evolution Really More Than a Blog?

Like WordPress, B2Evolution is a customizable, open-source blogging tool. And like WordPress, B2Evolution gives you access to thousands of plug-ins/widgets to create a completely customizable website. But, B2Evolution isn’t quite as customizable as WordPress. Its user community isn’t as big, so it has fewer plug-ins and doesn’t have nearly as many themes. Instead, B2Evolution has “skins,” which are blog templates that you can use to quickly change the appearance of your blog. Skins are similar to themes, but usually don’t have as many style options. They’re great for beginners because they just require a simple download, but customizing them requires editing the code.

One thing that B2Evolution does really well is multi-blogging, which is how they are able to compete with the more popular WordPress. WordPress allows your blog to have multiple users with different permission levels, but B2Evolution allows multiple blogs to be linked to the same domain. You can have a single blog with many users and admins, or have several blogs linked together under the same domain without installing any plug-ins. Basically, you can create a blogging community.

While B2Evolution is considered more secure than WordPress, their online community isn’t nearly as active, which means less technical support is available when you need it.

WordPress or b2evolution: Which One To Choose?

It all depends on the purpose of your blog. Do you need the ability to transform it into an entirely different website? Do you want to create a community of blogs all linked to one another? How important is ease of use? Security?

Check out the chart below to help you weigh the pros and cons. While both blogging tools are easy to find, I’ve included a few web hosts for each. These hosts allow you to easily install the blogging tool from your control panel.

You want an audience? You can get it. Just follow these ten essential elements in designing and building your blog, and you’ll separate your unique voice from most of the inane blog chatter out there.

1. Research. Then Research Some More

It doesn’t matter if you’re just ranting and raving on something, or trying to create a new, sustainable energy source from a single strand of human hair. Do your homework first. Because people can smell when your opinion isn’t valid, when it’s uninformed or dated. Blogs are about the here and now – being current relevant in your content is what gets readers every time.

2. Find an Awesome Domain/Blog Name

Most bloggers fade into obscurity simply because their blog title is too dense, too long, or just confusing. Try to use as many key words in the title for the search engines, and don’t try to imbed a complicated joke. Also, avoid puns. Please. Unless your blog is about avoiding puns. Then use puns in every other sentence.

This doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with your blog name – just keep it within bounds. For more help, see our post on no-brainer ways to pick the best domain for your site.

3. Pay Attention to Formatting, Grammar and Voice

Be as creative as you like when writing your blog, but keep it consistent throughout the article. You don’t have to follow any set rules on grammar or punctuation; go ahead and break the rules a little if you feel like it.

But whatever you do, follow you own rules every time. Don’t get lazy and post blogs that aren’t up to standard. When you’re consistent in the way you write, and you’ll exude professionalism.

4. Be Enthusiastic!

You must have something to say first before you try to blog – and you need to have an opinion about your subject matter (love it? hate it? etc). Most bloggers are just there to fill space, or let the world know they exist. Don’t be that person. Think of yourself as an editor for a newspaper, or your favorite magazine. Would the editor in chief admire what you’ve written? Could it possibly be featured as an article? Most commercial article writers love what they do, and it shows within their writing.

5. Use Complimentary Imagery and Visuals

Like a musician writing lyrics to compliment his tunes, a good blogger will use the right images and WordPress skin to compliment his or her articles. If you are writing a comedic cook book, a picture of Julie Child wearing whipped cream may be in order (and, some Photoshop skills and an unwavering determination to not scoop your eyes out are required). If you are explaining why Dark Matter is just a crackpot theory created by lazy astrophysicists to fill in the blank spaces of their knowledge, then help out your argument’s credibility with charts, graphs, and a sober design that creates a more technical feel on the site. It all depends on what persona you’re trying to convey, and who your audience is.

6. Links, Links and More Links!

You want to connect your blog to as many articles and websites on the internet as possible. Relevant sites, of course. Hooking up with more established sites that rank high on popular search engines can help YOUR site rank higher as well – and it’s all about the SEO, baby. Create links using key words that easily describe what your blog is about. The more you repeat these key words, the higher up your blog site will be pushed on the search engine’s ranking – and the more followers you’ll find.

7. Promote Your Site

If you’re not going to promote yourself, why blog in the first place? Get your articles out there by posting on as many virtual communities as possible, including Facebook, MySpace, or other blogs that are relevant to your blog.

Be creative reaching out to readers: for example, if you’re writing a blog on how to build wooden boats, promote yourself on the Boy Scouts of America website. Follow the “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure” rule, only think of it in reverse. Who’s going to see your blog as an invaluable tool for their lives? Who’s going to see it as a waste of time?

8. Post Often. In Fact, Post Daily.

Your ideas should always be fresh. You want to create a loyal fan base, and you want them to tell their friends. Creating a blog is a commitment — and in some ways, it’s a job. But it’s all worth it if you are helping people get through their miserable lives. Don’t think of it as a means of becoming rich or famous, because those blogs inevitably fail. Just take it day by day, making sure you’re stressing really pounding on those current issues and entertaining your audience. Daily posts are ideal, but many very popular blogs get by on 3-4 updates per week.

9. Keep it Interactive

Allow comments. Give your readers as much freedom as they deserve. With that in mind, try to respond to your audience as often as possible. They’ll feel privileged to speak to the author of the site they are commenting on, and come back in the hopes of being able to speak to you again. And you always want them coming back for more.

10. DO NOT COPY OTHER SITES

We don’t need to really say why you shouldn’t copy other sites, but here are a couple of reasons: It’s plagiarism. It’s wrong. It’s immoral. It’s offensive to readers. It makes people mad.

Besides, a lot of search engines can and will block you if they think you’re copying other sites’ content. Why blog if you have nothing unique to say?


For more related readings:

The best part is, you don’t need to spend a whole lot of time making your blog look attractive and professional.

There are thousands – yes, THOUSANDS – of WordPress plugins that do everything from enhancing SEO and adding photo galleries to integrating your Tweets and selling eBooks. Talk about major time suckage. But chances are you only need a few magic plugins to take your blog from boring to whoa — that’s so cool.

Not sure where to start? We made a list of 8 popular WordPress plugins that boost your blog without tons of effort (it’s the same stuff the pros use). You don’t need to be a technology whiz, and you don’t need to have a lot of time on your hands.

All plugins are rated according to our Lazy Factor:

HeadSpace2 SEO: WordPress SEO Made Simple

This is an alternative to the All in One SEO Pack, a basic plugin for optimizing your posts for search engines. HeadSpace 2 picks up where the SEO Pack leaves off: allowing users to configure and define keywords, categories, and descriptions for all of your posts in one place. It’s the ultimate SEO plugin for new bloggers to supplement the more simple All in One SEO Pack.

Lazy Factor: 3 during setup; 1 after setup
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/headspace2/

Subscribe 2

Let’s face it: there are lots of blogs out there, and it’s easy for readers to forget to check in on a regular basis (oops!). So keep up with them via email with Subscribe 2. Once you download the plugin, an email subscription management box (sounds fancy, eh?) is added to your blog. Readers can sign up to get email notifications whenever you post a new blog (or, you can choose send HTML emails with multiple posts in it). Keeps ‘em coming back time and time again.

Lazy Factor: 2 if run automatically; 4 if you want to customize
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/subscribe2/

Thank Me Later

Show your appreciation to your readers – and keep in touch with this automatic email messaging system. Thank Me Later sends “thank you” notes via email to readers who comment on your blog. Bloggers can create multiple emails (and send them out at regular intervals, also customizable) to say thanks and remind them to stop by and keep up with the comments conversation! This plugin has one of the highest average user ratings on WordPress – 5 stars!

Lazy Factor: 3 with customization
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/thank-me-later/

Freebie Images

A blog is just a blog – unless it’s a blog with pictures. Maybe you’re not a design genius, maybe you don’t know a whole lot about image copyright, or maybe you just don’t have the right picture on your digital cam. No worries – get access to an entire gallery of stock photography for free. Freebie Images lets you search, drag, and drop professional photos into your blog post. This plugin cuts the hassle of finding photographs and avoids any potential angry emails from copyright freaks.

Lazy Factor: 2
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/freebie-images-free-stock-images-plugin/

Yet Another Related Posts

This is one slick way to keep users on your blog and get them to start clicking all over your page: Yet Another Related Posts. This plugin adds links to the bottom of your blog directing users to some of your previous posts that share similar themes. It’s all based on some crazy mathematical algorithm (much too smart for us), but all you really need to know is this: it’s dummy-proof. And it really makes you look pro.

Lazy Factor: 0
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/yet-another-related-posts-plugin/

Popular Posts

Toot your own horn and show readers your best work – this plugin lists your top blogs with the most comments in your blog’s sidebar. Install it and let it run on its own – no upkeep necessary means it’s easy for beginning bloggers to use. You can also customize the display if you really feel like getting down and dirty.

Lazy Factor: 0; 2 if you customize
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-popular-posts/

WPTouch (for iPhone users)

This little plugin instantly transforms your blog into an iPhone-friendly user experience (it works for other phones too, like Androids, Blackberries. Palm Pres – or any other phones designed for on-the-go types). WPTouch makes it easier and faster for readers to view your blog without having to modify your blog theme. Customize how your blog looks on mobile phones for a crowd-pleasing effect.

Lazy Factor: 2 with customization
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wptouch/

PollDaddy Polls and Ratings

Get interactive with an easy plugin that allows you to post polls for your readers to vote on: PollDaddy Polls and Ratings. It’s fully customizable so you can get the look and language you need to reach out to your readers. Polls can be created directly from your dashboard – and it’s unlimited: make as many polls, collect as many votes or comments as you want. Of course, it’s not automatic – you supply the poll, then PollDaddy collects data for you.

Lazy Factor: 3
Get it here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/polldaddy/

Here are 17 of the most usable WordPress theme in my collections. You may find some of them a bit old but their design is so practical and usable that it surpasses the years easily!

1) Arras Theme

2) Blue Rooster

3) Magazeen

4) Magazine Basic

5) Morning After

6) Blue Bubble

7) Premium News

8) Miniml Press

9) The Daily Grind

10) Vostok

11) Copy Blogger

12) Tipz

13) IsoTherm News

15) Magazine Gabfire

15) Arthemia

16) Mimbo

17) Freemium

Akismet

Descriptions:
Akismet checks your comments against the Akismet web service to see if they look like spam or not and lets you review the spam it catches.

I have no idea how Akismet works but it really filter out spam comments effectively! This is perhaps the very first and the most important plugin of your blog.

Link: Akismet

Google XML Sitemaps

Descriptions:
This plugin will create a Google sitemaps compliant XML-Sitemap of your WordPress blog. It supports all of the WordPress generated pages as well as custom ones. Everytime you edit or create a post, your sitemap is updated and all major search engines that support the sitemap protocol, like ASK.com, Google, MSN Search and YAHOO, are notified about the update.

A complete blog should always have a sitemap. It tells the visitors and search engines how your blog is structured and the location of each post and page (URL).

Link: Google XML Sitemaps

All in One SEO Pack

Descriptions:
Optimizes your WordPress blog for Search Engines (Search Engine Optimization).

“But I don’t mean to optimize for Search Engine”. Come on, you need this plugin not because you want to optimize for search engine but you want to make your blog sensible! A general mistake most bloggers has in common is not having the right title and description for their post. For most of the time the whole blog is tagged with the same title which is a deadly mistake. Imagine your blog as a magazine. Will you use the same title over all the pages with different topics? With this plugin you are able to customize the title and description for each post.

Link: All in One SEO Pack

Contact Form 7

Descriptions:
This is a contact form plugin, which is simple yet flexible. Contact Form 7 can manage multiple contact forms, plus you can customize the form and the mail contents flexibly with simple markup.

People hate email spams! Hate them so much! However we still love to hear from our readers. This plugin enables your reader to reach you without you revealing your email address. Even if the spammers try to spam the form, Akismet will be in place to filter them out. Thus this contact Form 7 is best coupled with Akismet.

Link: Contact Form 7

Subscribe to Comments

Descriptions:
Subscribe to Comments is a robust plugin that enables commenters to sign up for e-mail notification of subsequent entries. The plugin includes a full-featured subscription manager that your commenters can use to unsubscribe to certain posts, block all notifications, or even change their notification e-mail address!

This plugin gives conveniences to your readers to track the ongoing discussions in your blog. It is a must-have plugin to build relationship with your readers.

Link: Subscribe to Comments

Sociable

Descriptions:
Automatically add links to your favorite social bookmarking sites on your posts, pages and in your RSS feed. You can choose from 99 different social bookmarking sites! WordPress 2.6 or above is required for this plugin.

Blog is meant for people to read. There will be no point if others do not know about your blog. With Sociable plugin readers and you can easily submit your writing to social bookmark for sharing.

Link: Sociable

WP-PageNavi

Descriptions:
This plugin allows a better navigation by assigning pagination to your post. You can choose how many post to be displayed in one page and navigate directly to certain page.

This plugin is meant for better organization. With this plugin your blog will look neater.

Link: WP-PageNavi

Advertising Manager

Descriptions:
This plugin will manage and rotate your Google Adsense and other ads on your WordPress blog. It automatically recognises many ad networks including Google Adsense, AdBrite, Adify, AdGridWork, Adpinion, Adroll, Chitika, Commission Junction, CrispAds, OpenX, ShoppingAds, Yahoo!PN, and WidgetBucks. Unsupported ad networks can be used as well.

Only if you are doing advertising. By using this plugin you can easily embed whatever advertising codes in you post as well as page.

Link: Advertising Manager

Only with these 8 essential plugins, your blog is complete. Besides, additional plugins like WP-Polls and WP-PostRatings are great for additional function to collect feedback from your user. Perhaps I shall talk about it in another sharing.