WordPress

= WordPress = toc WordPress started in 2003 with a single bit of code to enhance the typography of everyday writing and with fewer users than you can count on your fingers and toes. Since then it has grown to be the largest self-hosted blogging tool in the world, used on millions of sites and seen by tens of millions of people every day. You can see more about open source systems at Open Source, Shareware, and Freeware.

Why use WordPress
WordPress is an open source content management system and web publishing tool that runs on MySql and PHP. It is opening the world of web publishing to a new range of users. The open source nature of the system allows new users to experiment and modify their own content cheaply. One only needs the hardware to run the system, and the patients to learn the tools available via WordPress. Free themes and plugins are available via the official WordPress site.

The open source nature of WordPress and its many available themes and plugins make the system perfect for users with expanding needs. Adding content or changing WordPress pages is easy. Users with growing needs can expand their web content in size, and complexity as their needs expand. Furthermore, WordPress works well with Google and other search engines. The system is designed for today's web, allowing even new users to easily make professional web sites that can be found by their audience.

Who uses WordPress
WordPress has become a common tool for entities wishing to publish content on the web. These users range from individual publishing personal blogs and web sites to major corporation. Some of the most notable users of WordPress are: Ebay, Yahoo, Ford, Sony, and The Wall Street Journal. New users of WordPress can find help through the on-line community of WordPress users or they can attend local WordPress conferences called WordCamp.

WordCamp
WordCamp is a conference that focuses on WordPress. These conferences are informal and offer information useful for all skill ranges. The Wordcamp goal is to educate people on how to use WordPress and all of its features. Conferences are organized and run by local WordPress enthusiasts and have low attending costs. These conferences depend on volunteer support so remember to be respectful and thank your hosts.

Example
The Tribune Media Group web site is a great example of a WordPress site.