www.blogger.com

[bwglaw]

Hi All...

I created a blog at http://www.blogger.com some time ago and have only just managed to devote some time to add some news-worth materials.

Our blog can be found at:

http://handsonaccess.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think. Bearing in mind I am no web designer but tried to create it to incorporate with the http://www.handsonaccess.com branding.

I certainly would recommend every business to have a blog of some kind, especially if you are dependant on the internet to promote your business. Its FREE!

[DarrenC]

I don't like Blogger.com for various reasons, main because it's restrictive. I used to have a blogger.com blog, until I found out about www.wordpress.org and haven't looked back, especially with all the cool plugins you can use.

Darren

[bwglaw]

I don't like Blogger.com for various reasons, main because it's restrictive. I used to have a blogger.com blog, until I found out about www.wordpress.org and haven't looked back, especially with all the cool plugins you can use.

Darren

And you had to rate the content poor?! Did not ask if Blogger.com was good, but the blog we created! :(

[james.hill]

I don't like Blogger.com for various reasons, main because it's restrictive. I used to have a blogger.com blog, until I found out about www.wordpress.org and haven't looked back, especially with all the cool plugins you can use.

Darren

Speaking of wordpress is any of you lot want someone to design you a great professional looking business blog using wordpress I know just the man =D. If anyone's interested I'll dig out his website address or pass your details onto him.


--- LATER EDIT ---

The website is www.tamba2.net for those who are interested.

[bwglaw]

James, PM his details when you have found it. Thanks Jonathan

[Admiral Collections]

I don't like your font Jonathan.


Nic :wink:

[DarrenC]

Johnathan, sorry my mistake!! I love your blog, great colours I thought I was voting on bloggers effectiveness as a blog!

I know someone who is very good at wordpress theme designs, so if you need a contact just drop me a PM.

In my opinion Wordpress is the way to go - you can use it as a cms (content management system) and I have found it great to work with on the travel rants site.

Darren

[bwglaw]

I don't like your font Jonathan.


Nic :wink:

*sob sob* wot, don't like the font?!... It is in ARIAL - one of the accessible sans serif fonts.

Which font do you prefer? Verdana? Times Roman is not sans serif and is inaccessible.

I am planning to add a blog to our site rather than being tied down to Google's blog. Having a dilemma whether to have a FORUM or BLOG - for the handsonaccess.com website Im more in favour of a BLOG - more professional

[bwglaw]

Johnathan, sorry my mistake!! I love your blog, great colours I thought I was voting on bloggers effectiveness as a blog!

I know someone who is very good at wordpress theme designs, so if you need a contact just drop me a PM.

In my opinion Wordpress is the way to go - you can use it as a cms (content management system) and I have found it great to work with on the travel rants site.

Darren

This is probably what I will do Darren. I did find bloggers.com restrictive because to create the theme, font etc I had to learn code so quick. There is no 'palette' for the novice! Have seen Wordpress and I may well go that route, especially when no DB is required

[clairemackaness]

Why use a blog tool? I have a blog on my site and I just make it look like I've used a tool. That way you have complete control.

[DarrenC]

Johnathan, with Wordpress you do need a database.. but it is very easy to setup. I'm not technical at all and I set up a blog within 10 minutes..

[clairemackaness]

with you usual publishing software you dont need anything!!

[DarrenC]

Claire, true, but if you wanted to change the design of your blog, you'd have to go through each page, where with something like Wordpress you could change it and it'll change the complete blog.

If you only have a few pages, then this isn't a prblem.

[Coding Monkey]

I'm truly not impressed with WordPress. I'm certainly aware that a large development company is producing something far better that will be available next year.

[clairemackaness]

A blog is only one page isn't it?

The thing I like about doing it yourself is you can integrate it into your website better, which in my opinion is much more professional.

[Coding Monkey]

A blog is a collection of pages, but you can limit it to display, say, 5 entries on the first page. It will create individual entries every time you create a new entry and archive it. You can also edit it to integrate into the design. As all the information is stored externally, it means you can archive pages, have comments on them and have a large amount of power over the manipulation of text and design at a later design.

No self-respecting programmer would use WordPress/Blogger etc, but develop it themselves. Far more control and power. And helps me sleep at night

[bwglaw]

Why use a blog tool? I have a blog on my site and I just make it look like I've used a tool. That way you have complete control.

Have only just started using Blogs and understanding how they work...I am now looking for a blog to go on our site and we are putting out a tender to anyone who can do this along with making alterations to our site in XHTML/CSS/ASP

[bwglaw]

No self-respecting programmer would use WordPress/Blogger etc, but develop it themselves. Far more control and power. And helps me sleep at night

Quite right, but then again a complete novice is most likely to use an open-source blog with the reassurance that there is support in the event of any bugs, security issues etc. I am wary of getting a non open-source blog because the developer may go out of business the next day, or you are tied to that developer who may appear to be rather unreliable. An open-sourced development is likely to have more resources.

As you know I am going to put a blog on one of our sites. If you can recommend a particular kind or develop it for us at a realistic price then we may be interested.

[Coding Monkey]

I was going to add that afterwards that for the average person it would simply be a cheaper experience to use an already existing known brand.

I think we'd be stumped by that ASP/PHP concept if you wanted us to develop you one. The ASP syntax isn't hard to comprehend, but I cannot stand people trying to do things (badly) because they don't fully understand it, and therefore would never want to become that person and do it to a customer.

[bwglaw]

Well said Tom. Would it be fair to say you specialise in PHP programming? Don't worry...there will be a PHP project for you from us shortly ;)

[Coding Monkey]

I think that would be a fair comment. I've never had the problem arise before where ASP was the only available format, as it's often the case of creating the entire system from scratch rather than optimising one.