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What Is WordPress?
WordPress is a company that offers two services that are run out of two websites: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. WordPress.com enables you to set up and create blogs on their website. WordPress.org (run by the same folks) enables you to download the WordPress software and set it up on your own hosting site. If you are just starting out in the blogging world, I would suggest you start with WordPress.com.
WordPress.com is one of the biggest blog sites in the world. It hosts more than 3 million blogs and hundreds of thousands of posts. The site serves as a hosting site and a home for the open source version of the WordPress software.
Not only can you set up a blog in just a few minutes, but you can search for other blogs and communicate with other users who use WordPress.com. Using WordPress.com is 100% free.
If you are up for something a little more difficult and you want a little more freedom, learn how to install WordPress software on your own web host, which is covered in the second part of this workshop.
Software Versions
Like most software, WordPress has a version. A version number is a simple way for people using and developing the software to make sure they are all using and talking about the same thing. For this workshop, I will be talking about WordPress version 2.6. You will probably be working with a later version, so there might be slight changes to how the software works. As a rule of thumb, you should have the latest version of the software.
Five Reasons to Use Wordpress.com to Host Your Blog
- You are brand new to blogging - WordPress.com makes it easy to get up and running quickly while connecting you to a larger community of more experienced bloggers.
- You have low technical ability - WordPress.com is a nice and easy way to access some very complicated technology that you never have to worry about.
- You don’t want to spend any money for a blog - A Wordpress.com blog is free. You can’t save more money than that.
- You don’t care about bells and whistles - If you want a simple, well run, robust blog and don’t care about the latest gadgets or add-ins, WordPress.com is for you.
- You don’t need your own domain - WordPress.com blogs are all hosted under the WordPress.com domain. If not having your own domain isn’t an issue for you, then maybe WordPress.com might be a good choice for you.
Five Reasons to Create Your Blog Using WordPress Software
- You have your own domain - If you want a specific domain name, the WordPress software has no domain name restrictions.
- You want a different theme than the default themes - You can find thousands of WordPress themes all over the Internet. Running your own version of WordPress software enables you to use them.
- You care about bells and whistles - If you want every little add-on and the ability to control every little detail of your WordPress blog, you might want to download the software.
- You have good technical knowledge - Installing, configuring, and using WordPress software requires a good knowledge of some technical things.
- Your hosting service offers WordPress installs - My hosting service lets me automatically install WordPress. This gives me the best of both worlds.