Author Blogging: Wordpress vs. Tumblr
For authors interested in starting a blog, this article is for you. There are many options out there, but today we are going to focus on two, Wordpress and Tumblr. Note, the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
WordPress is an open source blog tool and publishing platform. It has many features including a plug-in architecture and a template system. WordPress is used by over 14% of the 1,000,000 biggest websites.
Tumblr is a microblogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users. The service emphasizes ease of use.
Mashable recently wrote an article: Tumblr Now Has More Blogs Than Wordpress.
WordPress.com has long hosted the main sites of top brands such as the National Football League, CNN and TED. Most Tumblr blogs function much more like another social media presence — something like a cross between websites and Facebook profiles.
Reasons to Choose Tumblr:
- Built in community…since people can follow you, your posts will show up in their “dashboard.” Also, if you “tag” a post as “food,” anyone searching “food” on tumblr can see your post.
- Very easy to use.
- Great way to connect with fans/brands through their “ask” and “submit” options.
Reasons to Choose Wordpress:
- More customizable, robust options in terms of looks, plugins, and widgets.
- Good for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
- More flexibility with blog post format, better for long form blogging.
More resources:
- More in depth comparison.
- My personal tips on setting up a Wordpress.
- See what the lit community on Tumblr is like.
Now remember, you can have both if you want, you don’t have to choose. The idea here is to give you a better idea of the capabilities. It’s always good to try everything and then see what you enjoy more, as that will be the platform you’re more likely to stick with.
Inspired? Get started with Wordpress and/or Tumblr.
Post why you like one, the other, or both in the comments!
