A New Blogger’s Guide to WordPress

For all those who are new to the world of blogging, WordPress is a great PHP-based CMS platform that can be effectively used to create extraordinary websites that communicate ideas or other forms of self-expression.  But before you know how to use WordPress in the best possible manner, it is important for you to understand how this blogging platform came about and how it benefits the millions of users that have made WordPress such a sensation.

The Genesis of WordPress

WordPress owes its origin to Michael Valdrighi’s blogging platform launched in 2001, b2 or cafelog.  Although this platform was considered by some to be far more advanced than its contemporaries, it failed to resonate with users and gain traction.  As the result the project was terminated just two years after its launch.  Of the 2,000 blogs that employed b2 / cafelog, many of the administrators running those platforms complained that b2 / cafelog was not very user friendly.  Just when all seemed lost, one of the b2 / cafelog users by the name of Matt Mullenweg began improving upon this very aspect.  Matt Mullenweg commenced the task of working on a platform that would take the codebase of b2 / cafelog and weave it into a blogging platform that would be much more accessible and user friendly for blogging enthusiasts.  Valdrighi and Mullenweg joined hands, and WordPress, as we know it today, was born in 2003.

Over the next few years, the team was dedicated to keeping up with growing interest of Internet users in the world of blogging.  WordPress added a hosting service as well as a system of templates designed to help users who neither possessed an interest in or the technical expertise to host their own website but were craving for an online presence.  Though it began with a cookie cutter approach, the templates began improving from 2005 onwards and can now be customized according to the needs of the users.

Little wonder then that the WordPress user base and popularity has been growing by “leaps and bounds”.  Today, WordPress is the world’s most used blogging and content management system (CMS) platform.  Initially it was used solely for personal blogging, but over the years the functionality and flexibility of WordPress has attracted the attention of many professionals in the corporate arena.

Equally Popular for Personal and Business Use

As much as WordPress is used by individuals for personal blogging, it is a platform that is also used extensively by countless corporations, start-ups and businesses looking to increase sales by expanding their foot print online.  What works best for business people and entrepreneurs is the versatility of WordPress.  Though it is essentially a blogging platform, it allows users to integrate the aspects of a regular website and a blog on a single platform.  As a result, while the traditional offering remains in place, business people benefit from the added advantage of built-in SEO tools.

To use WordPress, one does not need to have either HTML or PHP coding knowledge.  One can begin blogging on WordPress in a matter of moments, because it is so simple to use. The user dashboard is very easy to follow, and even a novice can turn his cherished desires of blogging into reality in a few minutes.  But even then, if one does hit a roadblock anywhere there is no reason to worry as numerous tutorials, FAQs and support forums are available on the WordPress website that have elaborate instructions on just about anything you may have in mind.

What sets WordPress apart from its peers among blogging platforms is that is gives users the flexibility to create customized sites that can be used for personal expression or business development.  With a number of plugin options, one can easily enhance the functionality of the WordPress blog, depending on the target audience.

Since the very beginning, WordPress has revolutionized the concept of blogging and is still making continual efforts to improve the blogging experience of its users across the globe.  It can easily be touted as an easily accessible and simple platform that has helped removed many obstacles that one may have faced earlier when creating an online presence.  Whether one is keen on maintaining a personal journal online or an entrepreneur looking to grab more eyeballs for an emerging business, WordPress is an ideal blogging platform to be used.

Prabu Mani is an electronics engineer.  Since 2004, he has been writing for various content development firms in India, including Mobius Knowledge Services, Writing-Counseling.com, and Status InfoTech.  Prabu also served as a business development manager for Streta Systems and Technologies as well as Sumeru Software.  He also has 3+ years’ experience in providing SEO services for international clients.

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