Weblogs are an easy way to get content up on the Web. Using templates, you can post to the blog quickly without knowing HTML, CSS, or design. They also offer tools like comments, automatic RSS feed generation, and much more. Using blog software to manage your Web site is a smart move for anyone who wants to handle a lot of regularly updating content.
Blogs are one of the simplest examples of content management, as they take basic content and do things like add HTML tags and hyperlink URLs so you don't have to. With these software programs, you'll have your blog up and running in a matter of minutes.
06/25/09
1. Movable Type
MovableType is the blog I have chosen for my own use. It is a publishing system that you run on your own Web server. It can be difficult to install, but once you have it up and running, you'll find it fabulous. There is a free (for non-commercial use) version of the tool, with all the features you expect from blogging software: templates, uploading images, publicity features, pre- and post-date entries, and more.
2. WordPress
WordPress is a publishing platform that relies on PHP and a database to make your blog entries load quickly and update immediately. I love the password protected posts feature, and it was really easy to install and use. My big issue with it is that it doesn't easily support multiple blogs without multiple installations.
3. Lyceum
Lyceum is a multi-user multi-blog application based on the WordPress platform. In a nutshell, it is WordPress with a few enhancements. If you like WordPress, but want to host more than one blog on your server, this is a good choice.
4. Blogger
Blogger is one of the easiest Weblog tools available. It takes about 5 minutes to sign up for a Blogger account, you get a tool for writing your blog, space on the Blogger server if you need it, and built-in templates so your pages have style right out of the box.
5. TypePad
TypePad is the online version of MovableType. It gives you all the features that we've come to expect from MT, but in a hosted option where you don't have to worry about maintaining the software.
6. Radio Userland
Radio has one thing that no other blog tool I reviewed had - an actual desktop tool for creating your blog. Radio offers all the features of your typical online Weblog, including promotion and linking, but the software runs on your desktop. And if you need to post and you're away from your computer, you can even use email to post a message to your blog. The cost is reasonable for the feature set.
7. Greymatter
Greymatter is another blog that you host yourself. I favor these types of tools because they are more secure with your passwords, and often offer more flexibility. Greymatter lives up to this as "the original opensource weblogging software". If you're looking for a no nonsense Weblog tool with lots of features, this is where to start. I had it installed on my Web server in about 30 minutes.
