Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org - Virtual Assistant Forums

Brianna Young · #1 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

If you're new to the blogging world, it will soon become apparent to you that there are two methods of Wordpress blogging out there.

The first is www.wordpress.com. If you want to create a free blog, this is a good way to go. The domain name that users will see when they visit is something like http://yourblog.wordpress.com. (Not a real bog) Keep in mind that if you are blogging for your VA practice, this method does not allow integration into your current website. You can link to your blog, but it is not part of your webspace, and readers will have to leave your website to visit your blog.

This is a good option if you want to dip your toes into the world of blogging without too much commitment. The blog is still customizable with themes and graphics, but again, you are not effectively driving traffic to your business website.

The second is www.wordpress.org. This method allows you to host your blog on your own domain. For example, www.yourVAsite.com/blog (Not a real site). This method of blogging allows your blog to become part of your website, helping to drive traffic back into your website. This method is also more professional looking, as it effectively connects your blog with your website's domain name. It can make it easier for users to find your website, and will help with search engine rankings if you keep it loaded with content.

This option involves an installation process, so it's a good idea to be comfortable with FTPing files, manipulating graphics, and fiddling with HTML code so you can get your blog and template just the way you want it. It's also more flexible as far as customization. You can create an entire website with Wordpress, much like my VA website.

Keep in mind, there's more of a commitment involved in this method, as it's much more difficult to remove the blog from your website than it is to cancel your Wordpress.com account.

Either way you go, Wordpress is an excellent blogging tool. There are hundreds of plugins that can help you create a dynamic blog or Wordpress-based website.

If you aren't interested in setting up a full-blown Wordpress site or blog, there are webby people out there who will do it for you for a fee.

Now, Wordpress has its own set of quirks, and I intend to post tips and advice for manipulating text, images, and files in Wordpress as times goes on. If anyone has any specific questions they would like addressed, feel free to ask!

I'm so excited to be the blogging moderator! Ask away!

ciboney · #2 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

I look forward to what you have in store! I know you will make a good moderator!

Gems Virtual Office · #3 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

OH you can count on my questions Brianna

I'm always having wordpress issues. I'm not the blog or website techy type at all

This was a good start, I've often wondered why some blog's are within the website and others are not(like mine). Now I know

Thanks

MaryH · #4 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

Brianna, this is a great article and gives a really good explanation of the difference between the two. I'm also not too skilled in Wordpress and may have some questions later on. Congratulations on your moderator position!

virtual writing · #5 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

I'll definitely be following this thread! But can I ask a dumb question? If I have a website, why wouldn't I just add a page on it for my blog? Why would it be better for Wordpress to host my blog page?

Tess · #6 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

Mary, assuming you have the skills and knowledge to add the blog directly to your website (ie - actually install it on the URL itself) then it wouln't be better - the hosted-for-you-option is simply easier for people who aren't familiar with the backend of a website.

virtual writing · #7 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008

Thanks, Tess. Forgive me for pressing a little further ... Is it true that in the context of WordPress my blog may be seen and read more than if it's just on my site? That is, if I'm looking to increase my site traffic, is a blog on WordPress likely to be more active (located in the midst of blog world there) than one on my site?

Tess · #8 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008

Sure thing!

Actually, it's the other way around - your blog should be first and foremost written for the purpose of sharing information with your visitors, etc. BUT it also serves an excellent purpose of doubling as an SEO draw. Because it's content that is likely to be fresh and regularly updated the search engines LOVE blogs - but a blog only 'contributes' to your website stats directly when it's actually a part of your URL (ie - installed directly on your site = www.yoursite.net/yourblogtitle )

When your blog is hosted at WP, or elsewhere like Blogger, etc. it's yourblogtitle.blogspot.com or yourblogtitle.wordpress.com

Your blog won't necessarily be indexed any faster one way or the other, but even if you link to yourblogtitle.wordpress.com from your website's main menu it does not count as a literal part of your website (according to the search engines.)

To clarify - if my blog is literally ON my website then my entire website is going to be indexed relative to the numerous search terms you might find on my blog. If my blog is hosted elsewhere and simply linked to my website then any searches being done that might bring people to my blog will ONLY reflect my blog content.

Does that make sense?

As far as getting more traffic and increasing readership - the best way to do that is to just keep investing time and information into your blog - make it a viable resource with well organized *original* content. As you write more, you naturally incorporate more keywords (bearing in mind that TITLE of any blog post becomes the natural 'page title' for that post - which has even more 'search value' than the text inside the post.). As you naturally incorporate more keywords your blog will turn up more and more often and higher up in relative searches (and this is true no matter where your blog is hosted).

Listing your blog and RSS feed in the blog and RSS directories is another way to help give more 'search weight' to your blog - and also has the effect of sending more readers your way.

The blogosphere is HUGE, not to mention the internet - the *only* true 'edge' that will set your blog apart and ultimately help make it a success is consistent posting of new and original content. By incorporating that content *directly* on your website, you increase the 'search value' of your site by association.

Brianna Young · #9 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008

Thank you, Tess! That is SO helpful!

And building on the comments about investing time in a blog:

This is super important! The blog won't do much for potential clients if it doesn't contain lots of relevant content. If the posts aren't interesting or if they don't offer readers a reason to come back for more, the blog isn't as effective as it could be!

It takes time to build your content, but making it a point to post regularly and relevantly will help increase readership.

I'll be posting more on blogging topics and content soon!

virtual writing · #10 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008

Tess you are a miracle of modern medicine! Thank you so much!
Maybe one of my stumbling blocks is that I'm always thinking in terms of getting actual people to read my site/blog/articles when I should be thinking more of getting spiders (search engines) to do so. The difference is slight, but significant.
But anyway, your explanation absolutely clarifies for me what has been a nagging question.
And, Brianna, I can't wait to discuss 'relevant content!'