Wordpress as a Web Site Design CMS Tool. Good Idea or Not?

There is a lot of talk in our industry today regarding Wordpress.

Wordpress is a tool on today’s market that allows you or your developer to create an Online BLOG and it can also be used to create a Wordpress Web site.

And though we do have customers using Wordpress on our Servers for their BLOGS, what I want address in this blog is using Wordpress as a CMS for your Web site design. 

If you are considering having a Wordpress Web site design take the place of your existing HTML/CSS or PHP site, please take a moment to consider the following information.

First, your Web Site is your number #1 online resource.  If your site is down, whether it be because of your host, or possible issues with the platform you choose (Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.) you are literally out of business until your site appears back online for your guests to find.

There is a lot of talk about Wordpress Web sites in our industry today.  Before you decide to put all your eggs in the Wordpress Basket, please take time to read and then verify the information I have presented below.

Wordpress is constantly updating their platform software.  Whether it is due to Security Issues, Bug Fixes, or Enhancements to their platform, the software is continually in a state of flux.

In 2009 alone there were 15 total releases (Details Below).  Every time a release to the Wordpress platform software update occurs, your hosting company MUST go in and update not only your Wordpress Software, but also all the Plugins you use for your Blog and/or Web site.  If your Wordpress Software and Plugins are not updated in a timely manner, your Web site will become a prime target for hackers.  All this updating costs both time and money. 

And yes, Wordpress has provided automation for some of these steps, but they must be invoked, and verified by the supporting Host to make sure nothing went wrong during the update.  IE: by a human.  So be prepared to pay more for your hosting if you are using a platform such as Wordpress that requires frequent updating to the underlying platform software and Plugins that support your Web site or Blog. 

Secondly, we believe most important consideration is the Security issues that Wordpress has continually had to deal with since their inception.  Wordpress is an Open Source Platform.  An Open Source Platform is just what it sounds like.  The platform source code that makes Wordpress function is open to any developer to be able to see how the code is written and how it works. 

On one hand, Open Source is great for designers to be able to build cool and cutting edge Plugins, BUT on the other hand, Open Source is just that – OPEN - and Hackers love to find ways in to modify your Web Site or Blog to include their advertising or Viruses to support their causes. 

Security Issues are well known, and even noted by Matt Cutts of Google in the following Video. 

• http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/seo-for-bloggers/
  Click Here and scroll over to 41:53 seconds on the video (It's a very long video!)

A traditional Web site design with HTML/CSS is protected by the operating system, NOT an application platform such as Wordpress. An operating system protected Web site is much more of a deterrent to Hackers trying to use your Web site as a conduit for their unsolicited hacker code.  We all know a thief is more likely to go through an open window of a house, than to break into one that has a security system.  Same concept goes here for Hackers, and Open Source application platforms such as Wordpress.

Mark and I both owned our own inn for 9 years.  We know there are risks you must take as an innkeeper, and others that are unnecessary.  As we’ve pointed out in previous posts, Wordpress as a Blog product is an acceptable alternative if you choose to take on the cost to continually install the updated releases. But do keep in mind that Blogging is not your lifeline to the public, and if your Blog is offline for a few days while your hosting company repairs any Security Issue damage, it’s not Business-Threatening, but more of an inconvenience.  But if your Web site is offline for a few days, you are looking at lost revenue.

Our Opinion at this time in regards to building a Web site in Wordpress, is that we feel it is too much of a risk in an already risky environment, to recommend it to any Innkeeper as a Web site solution.

Be careful, 5K+ is not a small investment for a new Web site design, and you want to choose the most stable platform to support your business.   For now, and until Wordpress is no longer having multiple releases every year, we strongly recommend Innkeepers choose a traditional design and platform, and not Wordpress to build their new Web site.

Finally, if once you’ve read and studied the information provided, you are still seriously looking at Wordpress as your Web site design tool, we highly recommend that you take the Wordpress Editor out for a test drive before you make any decisions. 

Wordpress offers you the ability to change your site content, and add pages to your site.  But then, there are also products available like Contribute, Easy Edit and SnippetMaster, etc. that you may use for the same purpose on a traditional HTML/CSS Web site.

We’ve had customers move to Acorn IS with Wordpress Web sites who have struggled and been frustrated with the Wordpress editing tools.  So make sure your skill levels are appropriate for using Wordpress as an Editor for your Web site changes and new page additions. 

Oh, and don’t forget, you will need to include SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on each of these pages. If you yourself are adding pages, then you are going to be responsible for the Metas, Content, Internal Links, etc.  Defaults won’t work for good Organic Placement in Google.

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History Summary of Wordpress Releases
http://wordpress.org/development/category/releases/

• 2003 – 8 Releases
• 2004 – 11 Releases
• 2005 – 5 Releases
• 2006 – 6 Releases
• 2007 – 16 Releases
• 2008 – 11 Releases
• 2009 - 15 Releases (6 involving Security Vulnerabilities)
• 2010 – 2 Releases to date (1 involving Security Vulnerabilities)

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Detailed Wordpress History of the past 12 months
http://wordpress.org/development/category/releases/

February 10, 2009 (WordPress 2.7.1)
68 Ticket Changes

May 16, 2009 (WordPress 2.8 Beta 1)
200+ Fixes and New Features

June 11, 2009 (2.8 Release Jazzes Themes and Widgets)
Full Release of 2.8 Beta 1 Above

June 21, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.1 Beta 1)
Bug Fixes

June 26, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.1 Beta 2)
More Bug Fixes and Ticket Changes

July 7, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.1 Release Candidate 1)
Prep to Release 2.8.1 Beta 1&2 Above

July 9, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.1)
Release of 2.8.1 with Bug and Plug-In Security Fixes

July 20, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.2)
Fixes to Admin Security Vulnerabilities

August 3, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.3 Security Release)
Security Issues Fixed

August 12, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.4: Security Release)
Security Issue Fixed, Hackers found a vulnerability that provided access during login process

October 20, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.5: Hardening Release)
More Areas if Security that needed to be addressed up to keep hackers out.

November 12, 2009 (WordPress 2.8.6 Security Release)
Security Issues with Logged in Users

December 19, 2009 (WordPress 2.9, oh so fine)
New Features and Fixes

December 23, 2009 (WordPress 2.9.1 Beta 1)
Release 2.9 below triggered Bugs being fixed in this Beta.

December 29, 2009 (WordPress 2.9.1 Release Candidate 1)
Prep to Release 2.9.1 Beta 1 below

January 4, 2010 (WordPress 2.9.1)
Release including 23 tickets and Pingback Issues

February 15, 2010 (Wordpress 2.9.2)
Includes Security Vulnerability patches regarding trashed posts

Mark Kolb
Vice-President and Co-Founder
Acorn Internet Services, Inc.

Acorn's Snippetmaster Webinar is a Fan Favorite!

Acorn's own Sharon Rowe presented a "How to Use Snippetmaster" Webinar on January 12th. Snippetmaster is a content editing software that  can be installed in web sites, with the end goal of web site owner being able to do their own text and simple photo updates, and not have to go back to their webmaster to pay for the work to be done. You might ask, "Why would Acorn want to help us save money that we might otherwise give to them?" The answer is, we at Acorn have always wanted to equip our customers to do what the can for themselves.  Mark and Lisa Kolb, Acorn's owners, have posted the mission of Acorn Internet Services on our web site:

"The mission of Acorn Internet Services, Inc. is to educate our customers! (Knowledge is Power!)"

Having said that, I would like to share some of the feedback from our customers who attended the Snippetmaster webinar:

"It's not so scary anymore - I really think I will be able to make the little changes myself."

"Excellent. Covered most important parts of using Snippetmaster."

"This is my first webinar and I loved it, the fear is over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I think subject was presented well. From there, it just takes practice!

Thanks so much - really, really looking forward to my new site going live to use it!"

We will present the Snippetmaster webinar again soon- check out our Webinar Schedule to find out when!


Annie Buck
Pre-Development Manager
Acorn Internet Services, Inc.

Google Advertising - Parisian Love from the Super Bowl Ad Spots

We are always interested in anything Google is doing, and when Sharon Rowe, our Client Services Manager saw this as one of the Super Bowl ads from yesterday's game, she texted me, but it was too late and I had missed it!  So she searched on YouTube and found it.

Notice the following ways this Web Surfer made use of the various Google results...

• Organic
• Local Map Results on http://www.google.com/
• Google Maps on maps.google.com
• Web Definition
• Translate
• Use of Drop Down Search Suggestions
• Track Status (Airline)

It's the same ways your guests use Google!  Take a moment, watch the video and think about the many different ways your guests find you!







Lisa Kolb
President and Co-Founder
Acorn Internet Services, Inc.
"Educating our Industry One Client at a Time!"

Google adds "Nearby places you might like" to their Local Listings

Google has added a new section to their Local Listings, now making 8 different distinct sections.  It's called "Nearby places you might like..."  but it feels a lot like "Dare to Compare" to me. 

Step 1: Go to Google Maps http://maps.google.com/
Step 2: Key in your URL in the Search Box
Step 3: Click on MORE INFO beside your listing
Step 4: Scroll down till you see the "Nearby places you might like" Section

Google Maps and their Local Business Pages (Place Pages) are continually changing, this is just their latest update on their Local Information Display.

Want to Learn More?  Attend our upcoming Google Local Business Webinar.

Google Local Business Center -  Click to Register
February 16, 2010 - 8am AKT, 9am PST, 10am MDT, 11am CST, Noon Eastern.

Lisa Kolb
President and Co-Founder
Acorn Internet Services, Inc.

Free For All (FAA) Webinar Followup including Wordpress vs. Blogger Thoughts

We had a great time with many, many  innkeepers, both Acorn IS and NON-Acorn IS customers alike, on our FFA (Free For All) Webinar yesterday! Here are a few comments from the session:

“…Very well done”
“Thanks so much.  I will highly recommend your webinars.”
“I fully enjoyed the content and so appreciate Lisa sharing her knowledge.”

One question that continues to come up on these Webinars is what is the best Blogging Product? Wordpress or Blogger?  The attendees on the call have learned and now know that either “TOOL” (Wordpress or Blogger) will work properly as long as it’s...

A) installed correctly for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
B) the Blog writer has been taught how to write a great Blog post (content, links, titles, etc.) 

I’m constantly watching for any comparison on an Innkeeper’s Google Blogger Post vs. an Innkeeper’s  Wordpress Post and one of those comparisons dropped into my lap this morning via a Google Alert.

You can see from the snapshot information below, that one innkeeper has chosen Google Blogger and the other Wordpress.  Look for the ICONS to know which is which.

And though they are in different cities and states, the WEEKEND | ROMANTIC | GETAWAY words in these phrases tie these two posts with somewhat SIMILAR content.

The VOLUME of the search phrases are also somewhat SIMILAR.  (Remember, the higher volume of use a phrase has, the harder it is to get really high organic placement for that phrase).

As you can see, both Blogger and Wordpress are relatively similar in PLACEMENT for their various phrases.  And page 5 #1 or page 8 # 4 is not to be construed as "High Placement", only that this is where I located these posts for the phrases listed.

Keep in mind the discussion from yesterday’s FFA Webinar regarding Google Personalization, and how placement will alter based on your COOKIE information if you ARE NOT LOGGED INTO YOUR GOOGLE ACCOUNT, or will alter based on your preferences IF YOU ARE LOGGED INTO YOUR GOOGLE ACCOUNT.

Learn more here about PERSONALIZATION and how to TURN IT OFF!
http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=54048

For this test, I logged out of my Google Account and deleted all my COOKIE information, so I’d have as clean a test a possible.  And the results are below.

Some things to note.  There are over 200 things that Google considers in ranking any Web Page Post, Blog Post, etc.  I am not trying to say one of these is better than the other.  That is NOT the purpose of this exercise.  The purpose of this exercise is to show that both Google Blogger and Wordpress have the opportunity to place in the Search Engines in a similar way as long as A) and B) above have been achieved.

I’ve yet to see any PROOF that one product is truly able to out perform the other for basic Innkeeper Blog SEO (IE: Using a Blog to build links, add pages and list in the search engines for the chosen phrases).    It’s simply impossible to do an Apple to Apple comparison.  But we continue to search and evaluate the results as we see posts that have things in common, even though they are written with the 2 different products (Wordpress vs. Blogger). 

So – the choice of Wordpress vs. Blogger is up to the Innkeeper. 

• If you are a technical innkeeper, love bells and whistles, and are ok with additional Maintenance to upkeep the Security patches for Wordpress, then Go for it!  (Patches tend to be published every few weeks and you MUST make sure your Hosting Company keeps you up to date, otherwise you risk getting a virus on your Blog and the Server where it resides.  And remember, Automatic Updates aren't always "Automatic"!)  Once you make sure all the Plugins are in place for great SEO and you write a great post, it will work for placement!
• But, if you are an Innkeeper that isn’t overly technical, who wants to keep the cost down, and needs something that is easy to maintain, Blogger is a great choice also.  And, if you start with Blogger and feel you’ve out-grown it and want to move to Wordpress, the conversion tools are available to do so.

Final Note – As you look at these 2 examples, notice that the Google Blogger post is 1 year old, the other is only a few hours old (which you would think would carry more weight seeing that it is totally new and fresh content which is what Google is all about these days!).  The Blogger post is from an Acorn IS customer that posted this on their BLOGSPOT blog long before they became an Acorn IS customer. When they transfered to Acorn IS, we connected their Blogspot Blog to their site using a Sub-Domain.

This customer built this Google Blogger Blog totally on their own (No Cost) from an existing template. 

Remember, Google doesn’t care what your blog LOOKS like, they only care about the value of it’s content.   Finally, we are in the process of assisting this customer with their SEO settings that have been in place for over 1 year, now that they are with Acorn, we will refine that even more for even better placement on new posts.

Need to learn more how to write a great Blog Post?   Join our Upcoming Webinars.

Lisa Kolb
President and Co-Founder
Acorn Internet Services, Inc.