| With the increased interest in Blogging (web | | | | Available for free download at: |
| Logging), many web hosting providers now | | | | B2evolution is another advanced web log tool that |
| provide an assortment of free usage, open | | | | features an integrated XHTML validator. It |
| source blogging software packages. Among the | | | | supports recursive subcategories, cross posting |
| most popular of these blogging tools are | | | | and has a really cool integrated "skinning" system. |
| B2evolution, WordPress and Nucleus. Each of | | | | The "skinning" system allows you to create |
| these programs offer similar basic features, so | | | | multiple blogs in separate categories with different |
| the question arises as to which one is easiest to | | | | appearances for each blog. You simply "change |
| use and would be appropriate for the | | | | the skin" for the blog to create a totally new look |
| requirements of your particular website. | | | | and feel. |
| The answer lies in the true purpose of your blog | | | | The "skinning" feature, combined with the built in |
| website. If your primary goal is to share your | | | | multi-user administration management tool, makes |
| opinions and ideas with the general public, you | | | | the system robust enough for more commercial |
| would want to utilize a different blogging tool than | | | | endeavors, such as product promotion blogs. If |
| a user who was creating product blogs as a | | | | you have much to publish with multiple themes, |
| commercial sales effort. A blog for search engine | | | | this is the software you are looking for. |
| promotion would have entirely different | | | | Nucleus Blogging Software |
| requirements. All of these uses are viable reasons | | | | Available for free download at: |
| to create a blog, however each requires different | | | | Though Nucleus is an extremely robust blogging |
| features to be successful. | | | | tool in its own right, it also contains some |
| WordPress Blogging Software | | | | powerful features that can provide benefits in |
| Available for free download at: | | | | promotion of your blog. |
| It is hard to beat WordPress for general personal | | | | Nucleus offers the ability to optimize its URLS, |
| blogging. WordPress is an open source, | | | | creating simple page addresses that do not have |
| state-of-the-art personal publishing platform with a | | | | and "&" or "=" characters. This makes the |
| focus on presentation and usability. Everything | | | | pages search engine (and user) friendly. Another |
| related to creating and updating your blog is | | | | great feature is the ability to show the contents |
| available through an intuitive graphical interface. | | | | of multiple weblogs on one page. This could allow |
| With WordPress there is no need to compile your | | | | awebsite owner to manipulate the optimum text |
| work. You simply write your column. You then | | | | keyword balance on pages for better search |
| select the features you want and your blog is | | | | engine rankings. |
| instantly created and published to your website. | | | | Nucleus also provides RSS and Atom feeds that |
| If you are on vacation, you can schedule your | | | | can be extremely helpful when promoting a |
| uploads for some date in the future or even email | | | | website. If part of your blog's function is to work |
| your column to the server! The system allows | | | | as a search engine marketing and promotion tool, |
| multiple users with multiple blogs divided into | | | | Nucleus is an exceptional software package. |
| categories and sub-categories. This allows multiple | | | | Each of these blogging software packages offer |
| family members or friends to create their own | | | | the basic tools that you would need to create a |
| blogs along with yours. | | | | successful blog and all three are PHP - MySQL |
| Easy customization and the availability of many | | | | open source (free to use) packages. You should |
| "plug-ins" that provide more functionality (add new | | | | try to select the software that helps you achieve |
| features as you learn) makes this software a | | | | the long term goal that you have in mind for your |
| very good choice for most individuals. | | | | website based on the unique extra features |
| B2evolution | | | | offered by each. |