There are many features of WordPress that I love. In terms of social media platforms, though, the advantages are clear.
It’s more meaningful than Facebook.
The content on WordPress – and I assume on other blogging platforms – is as varied and interesting as you’ll ever find. Books, history, poetry, literature, Indie authors, self publishing, photography, travel, food, music… you name it, there are multiple blogs right there waiting to be discovered and read. There is no end to the talent in this place.
There’s no clickbait, drivel or game requests.
Enough said.
You can engage exactly as one does on Facebook.
You can like a post, you can leave a comment. You can even like as many posts as you want to, and WordPress won’t stop you from doing so. How’s that for a positive, helpful algorithm?
Sharing posts is easy.
What’s on WordPress doesn’t have to stay on WordPress.
With one click, you can share posts on WordPress using the reblog function, or directly onto any of the other social media platforms.
Going ad-free with a custom domain is cheap and easy.
It doesn’t cost much to have your own domain name that adds to your personal branding, and eliminate all advertising from your blog altogether. It works out even cheaper if you pay for two or three years instead of one, and as a business expense, you can claim it as a tax deduction. This can be done from the WordPress menu, so you don’t even have to Google how to do it.
Sorry, though – wordynerdbird.com and mrbooksquirrel.blog are already taken. Have fun thinking up something cooler!
There is no instant messenger, nor is there an inbox.
There are benefits to not being quite so available all the time.
I know. It’s a shocking thought, but I’m brave enough to say it.
Many bloggers do have links to their other social media accounts on their blog, so you can still send a personal message or have a conversation there if you wish to.
There’s no drama.
Well… there might be on some political blogs, or perhaps some celebrity ones, I suppose. I don’t follow or read those, so I wouldn’t know.
Generally, though, you follow and read what you want to, and the rest sail blissfully past without even making a blip on your radar.
Block style formatting.
I found using the new “blocks” editor intimidating for about half a day, and have absolutely loved it ever since. It makes designing a great-looking post super easy. If you don’t like where an image or some other content is, you can move it around without fuss. Need a sub-heading? No problem. Formatting a list? Easy as. You can even save a particular block as a reusable one, so you can add it to subsequent posts with one click. This is great for themes and otherwise related posts.
The Reader page on WordPress is brilliant.
It lists all the posts from the blogs you follow, so that you can scroll through and see what’s on offer. It means that people who follow your blog will actually be able to see when you make a new post, and click through to read it with ease.
If you want to find something new, you can search for a topic or click on the “Discover” tab.
There are, however, just a couple of things that frustrate me.
As I commented yesterday, I wish it were easier to get people to engage and respond. Perhaps they don’t perceive the value of that like they do on other social media platforms. Perhaps it’s a different type of audience. I just don’t know what the answer is there.
The WordPress app.
While the website uses “blocks” for content, the app is a dinosaur. Editing a post using the app is a nightmare because of the different formatting – you have to convert it from blocks to “classic” and it all just ends up looking wrong.
It’s disappointing, because an outfit as big and professional as WordPress should be able to furnish their users with an app that is easy to use and which fully complements the website editor.
Consequently, I do all my posting via the website, even on my iPad or phone. It’s far easier and the results are better.
The Verdict:
WordPress wins, hands down. With just a little more audience interaction, it would be darn near perfect.
WordyNerdBird 
First, I agree with much of what you’re saying here.
But.
Yes, there’s a but.
I don’t find the new editor accessible to my screen reader, next, I don’t find the WordPress “customer Services” people very helpful or knowledgable about accessibility issues, and lastly, I too cannot get people to comment on posts, and even those I follow regularly and share posts from don’t hardly ever recipicate.
Don’t want to be all negative though. By enlarge I love WordPress blogging. I just wish when I have a problem with accessibility on my blog, as I’m doing now, the Happiness engineers would bring me some joy.
There should definitely be people available and able to help you. It’s not as though all the world is fully sighted or disability-free.
I agree with you, but I spent an hour in chat with someone, tried all their suggestions which I already knew were not relative to my issue, he then informed me he had no knowledge of screen readers and said he’d send my message up the line to a supervisor.
Still waiting…
But.
I’ve an ace in the hole. I’ve someone who helps me with my blog and so until I hear from someone or figure out the issue, which ever comes first, I go forward.
Oh, and I’m glad the new block editor works for you. I mean that kindly. It’s not accessible to screen reader users at all.
Anyhow, I still love blogging, just have to drink wine sometimes while doing it to keep sane.
Wine is like a very concentrated salad, if you think about it!
I can get on with that. So when I go to the store today should I tell them I want a concentrated salad LOL. I’m going to tell my wine distributor that. I think he will like it. I love it.
Get Outlook for iOS
________________________________
I can make most things into a salad 🙂
Well you were inspiring a blog post. LOL. And that’s one of the things I enjoy about blogging. When you comment and talk with other people, and you get inspiration for work.
Get Outlook for iOS
________________________________
Absolutely right!
Many times, when I read other’s works, I’m inspired by a simple thing like a phrase, quote, or just a word or two in their writings.
These small things can and have lead to many wonderful writings.
I agree with Patty that the new editor is inaccessible to those of us using screen readers. WordPress says they’re interested in accessibility, and there used to be a WordPress accessibility blog, where you could leave comments on issues. I stopped blogging in 2016 for health reasons, and when I came back in 2018, I found that things had actually gotten worse. In fairness, I had a couple of positive experiences where a Happiness Engineer actually went into my blog and fixed something for me. The chat is cumbersome, though, and not useful most of the time. I use the HTML editor, but I have to start with the Quick Draft or I don’t get an edit field for the body of the post. I downloaded the app to my desktop, but it’s useless.
Donna.
I don’t want to get off on too much of an accessible rant on this lady’s blog, but your first mistake is having your blog set up in the way you do.
And.
If you’re using internet explorer that’s your problem with what you’re doing.
I have someone working on my issue now. They wrote yesterday to say they’d be emailing me first of the week to discuss some things they’ve found and will work with me to fix them.
Take out that app on your desktop and use the app on a smart device. It is wonderfully accessible and with a Bluetooth keyboard it is a fun experience.
As to the commenting, you seem to be doing quite well here.
“Wine is like a very concentrated salad, if you think about it!”
Haha, this made me laugh, yes a concentrated FRUIT salad!
I could use some of that concentrated fruit salad tonight LOL.
Get Outlook for iOS
________________________________
Hmm, so the fruit has to concentrate so the wine drinker can’t Is that what you’re telling me. 🙂 Be kind, this was my first thought of the day.
Concentrated salad. Like concentrated juice LOL. But of course, you cannot concentrate very well when you drink concentrated salad LOL.
Get Outlook for iOS
________________________________