Medialoper

We're Not Who You Think We Are

That’s What I Like: WordPress

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WordPressI started publishing content on the web sometime after Tim Berners-Lee invented HTML and just before Marc Andreessen created Netscape. Over the years I’ve worked with a lot of different web publishing tools. Most of those publishing tools suck.

WordPress doesn’t suck. In fact, WordPress doesn’t even make me swear. That’s the highest compliment I can give any piece of software.

WordPress democratizes the process of publishing on the Web. That makes it a Long Tail enabler.

I’ve lost track of the number of website’s I’ve published with WordPress. It’s such a flexible tool that it’s become my first choice, even for simple prototypes. Part of the reason is that WordPress is so simple to install and maintain that I know I won’t ever regret using it. Then again, I also know that WordPress is sufficiently flexible that I can make it do almost anything I need it to.

True, it’s not a good fit for more traditional websites that require a deep hierarchy of information. That’s OK. When I need a tool to manage that type of website there are plenty that I can choose from. Unfortunately, most of them suck.

Here are a few things I REALLY like about WordPress:

  • It’s simple enough for a beginner, yet robust enough for a power user.
  • It has an extremely flexible templating system that puts some larger content management systems to shame.
  • The WordPress community is immense, creative, helpful, and friendly.
  • There are a huge number of community-created themes available. Many are extremely professional. It’s actually difficult to make WordPress look bad. Surprisingly, that can occasionally be a disadvantage.
  • WordPress has plug-ins galore. If WordPress doesn’t do something you want it to out of the box, there’s a good chance someone has created a plug-in to solve your problem.
  • Akismet is shaping up to be the ultimate blog spam killer. As a result, we can all go back to having conversations on our blogs.

If you’re curious to try WordPress out, you can setup a free account on WordPress.com. If you’ve got your own server you can download the source code from WordPress.org. Don’t worry, installation won’t kill you. The legendary 5 minute install is the real deal.

The whole Medialoper team owes a debt of gratitude to Matt Mullenweg and the rest of the WordPress team for creating and maintaining a great publishing tool.

So Thanks!

Update: I’ve just started doing a series of WordPress tutorials over at WPApprentice.com. If there are any specific WordPress issues you’d like to see covered, let me know.

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Comments

  2. Leroy Brown says

    It’s simple enough for a beginner, yet robust enough for a power user.
    That’s the biggest reason for WordPress’ success right there. It’s easy, so it gets many users just starting out, yet it’s extremely powerful so those beginners stay put once they’ve progressed to more advanced stages.

  4. CaptQuirk says

    Very nicely written review, Kirk. And to boot, I love the quote:

    In fact, WordPress doesn’t even make me swear. That’s the highest compliment I can give any piece of software.

  5. Jim says

    If you knew Kirk the way I know Kirk, then you know that’s just about the highest compliment he can give anything!

  6. Kirk says

    Glad to see everyone else loves WordPress too.

    Lloyd, you asked about what I don’t like. I sort of wish I could use WordPress for even more of the work I do. To do that WordPress would need stronger support for binary file management and a better tools for managing a more traditional web navigation structure. In reality, I’m glad that WordPress doesn’t have those features because they would make the system unnecessarily complex for the vast majority of users.

  7. Coconuts says

    Another reason WordPress is great (in my eyes): it’s provided me with a sort of gateway to understanding how some of the squishy innards of the internet work, something I’ve always been interested in but never really had a good angle to attack from.

    Of course, I also love how easy to use and good looking WordPress is, too!

  8. lyzazel says

    But don’t you think it’s overcrowded with features which you wouldn’t mostly use?
    Some bloggers would just need some lighter tool to work with. I dunno if I’m one of those, though.

  10. Kirk says

    I’m not sure WordPress is overcrowded with features. Most of the non-essential features are implemented as plug-ins. The core of the WordPress blogging system is all pretty essential.

    It would be hard to give up any of the core features and still call it a blogging system.

  11. Blaze says

    Couldn’t have said it better myself there mate. There’s so many good points to WP, one can’t work it out until they try it. I’m glad i did a few years ago! 🙂

  13. Allen Harp says

    I like WordPress as well. As a newbie it gives me an extremely professional looking presence that I otherwise could not have. It has helped in the startups of many new online businesses and services.

    Whats more…it rocks. It’s easy and intuitive to use. And the price! How can you beat FREE?

  14. SadieJane says

    I also installed a WordPress blog on my website, and have found it very easy to manage, and user friendly.
    On occasion I have wished it was easier to customize, so colors would better match my index page.

  16. Angie says

    I also agree that WordPress is great. The only issue I have ever had is when I add a picture, it only displays as a thumbnail.

  17. Jim says

    Angie,

    usually, there is an option when you are actually sending the picture to the editor as to whether you want the full-sized version or a thumbnail.

  20. Al Johnson says

    WordPress is great. It was easy to hack at the template I chose and turn it into my own, and for me it’s provided the perfect gateway to learning PHP. The 5 minute install worked first time, and in the process I learned a lot about setting a site and database up on a server, chmod etc. Matt deserves a medal, he’s a true internet pioneer and is empowering a lot of people.