Blogger vs. Wordpress

Blogger and Wordpress both offer very popular free services to set up your own website and get blogging on the internet.  Most commentators will agree that Wordpress is the way to go, and Blogger is a good second best for people who don't really know what they are doing.  But is that true? 



A Wordpress Website

There are a gazillion articles on this topic, so no need to rehearse the arguments again here.  But let's look at it from the point of view of the blogs-for-free or low-cost web presence community.  A community group, charity or campaigning blogger is going to have three things in mind.  Firstly, price is an issue.  If it will get you the same result cheaper then that has to be a consideration.  Secondly, is it easy to use?  Few people have the time or the inclination to learn html or to mess about with a website dashboard - they want it done reasonably simply and reasonably quickly.  And thirdly, the site should reflect something of the character of the group or issue being promoted - not an off-the-peg look or the issue or campaign will just look like every other website you have seen.

Let the contest begin
So how do Blogger and Wordpress measure up to these criteria?  They both offer a range of attractive templates and both have easy to navigate dashboards and tutorials to guide you.  The templates can also be changed and customised (to a point) and a range of interesting and impressive gadgets can be added to posts or to sidebars.  But while Blogger offers a good range of colours, Wordpress, it has to be said, offers a simple clean look and high quality finish that is very professional looking, and fits better with the popular minimalist style.

A Blogger Website

Price
So what is the cost? They are both free. Or are they? With Blogger you can choose a template, change your header, and sort out the colour scheme of the site and its text, for free.  You can also add video footage to any page or post or gadget and an infinite number of gadgets and feeds to a range of sidebars and footers.  You are limited to twenty pages, but can have as many posts as you like, and the mechanism for adding sidebars, gadgets and posts is very straight forward.

With Wordpress the 'free' stops fairly soon. If you like your template, then great.  But if you want to customise the colour or font, or add video footage for example, then it will cost you (about 30 dollars per function, and it's an annual charge).  Blogger also remains advertisement free, with the option of adding ads if you want to earn money from your site.  Let's face it, most community bloggers don't expect enough traffic to earn money, and they don't want to put off their supporters with flashing adverts asking for cash which may also compromise their image or undermine the integrity of a campaign.  So don't have them?  Well with Blogger you simply don't choose to have ads.  With free Wordpress you have to pay not to have them. Another annual charge of 29 dollars.

Wordpress Charges

Ease of use
While the Blogger dashboard is marginally quicker and easier to navigate, especially with its useful fast edit function on the home page, both are easy to get to know after a few hours of exploration.  The Wordpress site is clear and easy to use, but at every turn you are offered to enter areas that will cost you more money, which is frustrating.  With Blogger, everything is yours to try out, and if it seems you can't do something you want to, look up one of the Blogger sages like blogger hints and tips  to see how it can be done.

Customizing
If you get over the hurdle of cost, and learn how to navigate the dashboard, then customizing either website is easy enough.  With Blogger in particular you can change the layout, width and the colour scheme to make quite an impact on the original template if you want to.  With Wordpress you are more restricted with the template you chose, but with the paid version you will have those options.  The limitations of Blogger become clearer when it comes to adding gadgets other than the twenty or so developed by Blogger.  While the finished blog has a very well thought out style, adding externally made gadgets tends to upset the look, and there are limits to the kind and range of add ons possible.  Wordpress on the other hand offers an almost infinite number of add ons and you can really make a highly professional site with many different functions if you want to.  It will cost you, but it can be done. 

And the winner is..
Put simply, if you want a template for free, have no intention of changing it but just want to get posting, either will do you fine.  Really, it is a matter of taste which look you prefer.  Blogger offers more colour and photographic backdrops which are very eye-catching, but a skip through the Wordpress free templates will be bound to throw up something that will suit you, and the range of 'looks' is greater.  Wordpress can (but not always) certainly give you a more professional and finished look straight away, and there is a snobbery out there that favours Wordpress sites as being a little above the rest.

If you want to individualise your site, but don't want to shell out any more money unnecessarily, then Blogger is probably the better option.  It immediately offers a whole range of customisations free of charge that are easy to apply, with a preview function  that allows you to see before you commit.  It also offers free video and photograph montage gadgets which can add to the impact of your site and allow your visitors to connect to youtube or your embedded videos easily.  You can change font and customise your header and generally learn to manage your site more easily, quickly and cheaply than you can with Wordpress.

But finally, if your long-term plans are to build a permanent and highly impressive website, then Wordpress has fewer limitations (other than cost).  The potential is much greater, and in the long term it will not hold you back in technical or space terms if you have greater ambitions for your organisation.

Critics vs public
So what do the public and the critics think?  The critics certainly prefer Wordpress if you read their reviews on the internet.   But the critics are techies mostly, so they see the possibilities with Wordpress - and maybe they don't quite like the fact that Blogger makes them redundant because it gets non-techies up and running without their help, thank you very much.  And the public?  They prefer Blogger, by the millions!

Why have a Website?

The need to communicate is ancient, only the methods change.  The internet offers a fantastic opportunity to communicate openly and effectively with large numbers.  It is also becoming more affordable and technically easier to have a website.  But why have one?  Here are five good reasons. There are plenty more.

People can find you easily
Most adults now use the internet to research an idea, where to go, what to join or what to buy.  If you are not there they won't consider you.

Putting your best foot forward
A website can present what you do or are interested in, in the way you most want it to. Tell your story in the way you want it to be understood.



You can make sure you look your best

Getting to know you
People can be cautious about making first contact, or keen not to waste time on a pointless enquiry.  If they can read all about you first, get to know what you offer and what you do, they will be more confident that you are offering what they want, and call you to find out more.

Communicate accurate and up to date information to everyone who wants or needs it
If you are arranging a meeting, or an event or sharing important information you will want it to be clear, up to date and accurate.  If it is on your website with maps, phone numbers, details, downloads there will be fewer mistakes, less time lost and nobody overlooked.

One stop shop for everything
A website can tell the whole story about you - from what and where you are to what you do.  It can offer contact details, make it simple for people to book and attend events - and to select and buy goods and services.  Once your website is up, all that communication can be done from one, easy manageable place, and reach many more people than other forms of advertising.
 
So who might want to do all that?

Charities & community groups
Charity and community groups need to keep in touch with members and supporters, and a website is the easiest way of putting information in one accessible and up to date place where everyone can find it when and where they need to.  Let people know what you are doing, attract new members, draw attention to a campaign or publicise fundraising days or special events so everyone knows 'happening, where to find you and how to help if they want to.

Businesses

Websites are almost essential for businesses now that so many people rely on the internet to communicate and search for information and goods.  80% of businesses in Ireland now have a website, but until now the cost has been prohibitive for small businesses.  An affordable website is an easy and effective way of letting people know where you are and what you do.  It is a cost effective way of increasing your profile, making it easy for customers to find you or check out  where you are or what you sell.  In fact, not to have a website is a disadvantage, especially if you want to remain up to date and to catch the millions who prefer to do their shopping and enquiring online.

If you run a cafe or restaurant, show people your menu, have photographs of your tables and food to whet their appetites.  If you sell books or jewelry, feature them in photographs or inform people with up to date reviews or fashion advice that will help them chose what to buy.

Or if you are gardener, show examples of your work and put up testimonials from satisfied customers.  Bring people to your website with up to date seasonal tips on what to plant or grow.

Home
Many families now have websites to share photographs and memories with relatives near and far.  Or to keep a record of special days like weddings and birthdays so that everyone can share the moment with you.  Families grow up so quickly and precious moments seem to come and go so quickly.

Share your family photos with friends

Why not record them by writing about them and putting photos and videos where you can always find them.  Make a record of those special paintings or keep a diary of your pets. 


Weddings

And talking of weddings, a website will let family and friends know all of the arrangements at a click.  Without troubling you, your guests can see an up to date gift list, or download a map and information about where to stay nearby.  And on the day itself, you can post photographs and videos for those who were there, and for those who couldn't be.

Blog about your hobbies or special interests or a campaign
Last but not least, a blog is now the ideal place to set out your thoughts and views about a favourite hobby or a campaign for a special interest group.   You can let people know about your interests, put information and views out into the world, and link up with people who share your passion or feel the same about something.  Bloggers are now taking over the world of media as the place for up to date news.  Why not join them?"

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Look at www.David Jeffery.org for a combination of homeopathy and iridology practices in Cork and County Cork