Simplified Wordpress Case Study

Last week I’ve spent some time helping Batixa (my girlfriend) to update her blog da batixa (located at cor.delaranja.com) to Wordpress’s latest version. By using K2 as a template and a few plugins we managed to create an easy to manage personal space that explores some of Wordpress’s easy-to-use features.

Easy to manage sidebar with Widgets
K2 supports widgets. This widget thing is very useful because it lets the blog owner manage the things on the blog’s sidebar without knowing how to edit a web page. Previously she had to edit the template and mess around the html and php stuff. Now it’s much easier.

Pages
Using the Pages functionality of Wordpress we created a Photos page by getting all the javascript code from her Flickr account. And we also created a Library page based on her LibraryThing catalog. Because the data is on the services (flickr and LibraryThing) each time it is updated the blog is also updated. By using the K2 template all new pages are automatically added to the top menu.

Header image
Updating the header image is another thing that K2 makes very easy to do. We can choose to upload just one picture (via admin area) or several making it possible to rotate between all of them.

Plugins
To get tags on Wordpress we used the Ultimate Tag Warrior plugin and to manage the blog’s RSS feed (and get readership numbers) the new feed is now hosted by FeedBurner.

Removing spam comments automatically
Akismet is one the most useful Wordpress plugins. It’s a plugin but it comes by default when you download Wordpress. Akismet is a collaborative effort to create an effective comment and trackback anti-spam tool. I have also used in another blog and I can say that it works almost perfectly.

Wordpress as a Content Management System
Wordpress is such a powerful tool and has so many plugins that some people have been using Wordpress as a light Content Management System. The results are very good. Just look at the VentureBeat website. Besides the beautiful design, VentureBeat has all the normal features that such a publication needs.

If you’re looking for the ease of use of Wordpress but can’t (or don’t want to) install the source code from wordpress.org, then register for the hosted version at wordpress.com.

If you’re looking for more flexibility and customization, download the latest Wordpress version and install it on any simple shared hosting account.

September 21, 2006 | Tags: tech

comments

4 Responses to “Simplified Wordpress Case Study”

Hugo on September 22nd, 2006

I couldn’t have said it in a better way.
Hugo on September 22nd, 2006

I totally agree with you. WordPress forever
pictures on July 10th, 2008

Thanks for the information.. Fixed my site with not problems.. Thanks again..
cubrikaska on October 3rd, 2009

Bravo, me parece esto la idea admirable