Open Source CMS – WordPress

WordPress is another open source content management system that is primarily used for blogging. It provides anyone with a simple
and fast way to quickly publish content without the need to know html. If you have a web host that already includes Word Press you can install it in a few minutes with the click of your mouse.

Features

Fast Installation

You have the option of a free word press installation so you don’t have pay for hosting, however this means you can’t use your own domain name ie yourowndomain.com. Alternatively purchase your own domain name, then find a host that has wordpress already included.

Hundreds of Themes

This enables you to quickly change the appearance of your blog so it will integrate with your business or personal hobby.
You can also customize your themes if you have some web design skills.

Categorize and Tag Your Posts

WordPress allows you to categorize and tag your posts while you write them. Archives of your posts are created automatically
based on the categories of your blog. These archives are added to a global tag system which enables others to find and comment on them.

Web Editor

You don’t need to know HTML to add posts to your blog. The editor provided makes it easy to add text, images and videos.
You can subscribe to services such as Flickr to add and store images, or YouTube where you can embed your videos by just adding
some code to your blog.

The web editor also allows you to preview, autosave and spell-check your post before it goes public. The draft feature enables you
to save your post in draft form. This allows you (or multiple authors) to first check your post before publishing.

Privacy Options

You have the option of creating a public blog where the content is constantly spidered by the search engines or a private blog for
members access only that does not get spidered.

Great Support

If you ever need help or have questions about using or extending your blog ask in the forums. You’ll be amazed at the fast response time and how helpful the moderators and forum visitors are.

Integrated Stats System

WordPress provides fast stats on how many people are visiting your blog, where they’re coming from, which posts are most popular, and which search engine terms are sending people to your blog.

Automatic Spam Protection

Akismet is software technology incorporated in WordPress that blocks spammers from leaving spam comments on your blog.
It automatically deletes spam comments after a certain number of days.

Sidebar Widgets

Widgets such as Flickr, del.icio.us, and Meebo can easily be added to your sidebar without knowing HTML.

Create Regular Web Pages

WordPress has a feature that allows you to create separate web pages ie “about us” page within your blog. You can even create an entire web site using pages on WordPress, with a custom home page and your blog as one of the sub-pages.

Feed Stats

Your WordPress blog supports RSS (really simple syndication). This is a way for people to subscribe to updates on your blog using
feed readers such as My Yahoo or Bloglines.

Multiple Authors

WordPress allows multiple authors to post or distribute content form anywhere in the world. All they need is a computer and an
Internet connection.

Monetization

You can easily add AdSense ads to your blog with a plug-in. By placing ads in strategic locations on your blog it will allow you to
make money. You can also make money by including links to affiliate programs related to the topic of your blog.

Resources

Themes
http://themes.wordpress.net/

Documentation
http://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page

Forum
http://wordpress.org/support/