Wordpress is really quite a light platform and to run it on your server you
will only need, PHP, MySQL and Apache's mod_rewrite module. Wordpress also
comes with its acclaimed five minute install, where after you have uploaded
the Wordpress files to your server it will take less than five minutes to
install. Unless of course you run into trouble, but with the simplicity the
Wordpress install offers that is unlikely.
When it comes to the development
of Wordpress there is quite a following. There are literally thousands of
different Wordpress Themes (or skins) out there and chances are there is a
specially designed one for the subject your blog will be on.
Wordpress also has a large number of Plug-ins (modifications or widgets)
available for the user to download and add to their Wordpress Blog. Some of
the more helpful and popular ones will be outlined below:
Google XML Site Maps: This Wordpress mod will create XML Site Maps for you
and then tell the search engines your site has been updated. It's a great
Wordpress plug-in that will no doubt bring visitors to your website.
Share this: Allows a reader to share a Wordpress article or post over a
variety of different mediums.
All in One SEO Pack: This is truly an excellent Wordpress plug-in that
performs such an important task. When you are writing a post there is an area
available for you to enter Meta data to appear on that specific page. You are
able to choose the pages title, description and key words, which will
certainly help with getting your pages indexed by search engines.
Wordpress also has a built in RSS feed which will allow users to subscribe
to your blog. They will be notified when a new post is made, or if selected
when a new comment is made. On this blog my RSS feeds will send out a summary
of new posts and users are able to choose which posts they will come and read.
So why use Wordpress? You may be asking yourself; well the answer is that
Wordpress provides a simple and clean Content Management Platform that can be
truly customized to suit any specific user's needs. Whether you are looking to
create a blog, simple website or a directory of some kind; Wordpress really is
the right choice for you.
