Slides for Chapter 2, Part B of Web 2.0 and Social Media for Business: Business in a Connected World 3rd Edition, 2016 Dr. Roger McHaney, Dr. David Sachs http://bookboon.com/en/web-2-0-and-social-media-for-business-ebook

1. Web 2.0 and Social Media
Business in a Connected World
© McHaney and Sachs 2016 Blogging for Business

2. Decision
Primary decision for
businesses: whether to host
their blog(s) internally or to
use hosting services.
Blog Environment
Hosting Options
Include cloud services or
setting up own internal
server.

3. System Configuration
Organization needs computing hardware and software in-house.
Internal Hosting
Advantages
 Provides a business with flexibility and
freedom.
 Ensures organization possesses data and
information associated with Web site.
 More easily integrated with business Web
site.
 Allows organization to develop internal
expertise with the blog administration.
Disadvantages
 For small businesses, upkeep might
represent a challenge.
 Requires internal technical expertise and
software/hardware platform.

4. Internal Hosting Software Examples

5. Internal Hosting Software Examples (Continued)

6. Relies on Cloud Services
Uses third-party Web sites.
External Hosting
Cost Considerations
Good for startup businesses
attempting to control initial
costs.
Technology
Considerations
Good for small businesses
with limited IT infrastructure.
Individual Bloggers
They often take this approach.

7. Software
Upgrades done by vendor or
with minimal effort.
External Hosting (Continued)
Customer Support
Support lines and customer
service usually available.
SEO
Blog may be automatically
submitted to search engines.
Costs
Hosted blogs can be placed on
free Web sites or on sites that
cost a fee.
Con: Business data resides on
another organization’s hosting
platform

8. External Hosting Software Examples

9. External Hosting Software Examples (Continued)

10. External Hosting Software Examples (Continued)

11. General Hosting Solutions
Other Hosting Options
A general hosting company can offer instant
blogging installations for a low cost
These companies often
bundle domain name
registration into a
package together with a
set of blog development
tools and support for a
set yearly fee.

12. Other Hosting Solution Examples

13. Businesses
WordPress is blog platform of choice for many businesses.
Professional Blogging with WordPress
History
First released in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg. Grown from simple Web
site enhancement code to powerful content management system.
Usage
Downloaded over 100 million times. Believed to power 25% of top 1
million Web sites worldwide.
Content Management
WordPress most popular content management system on the Web.

14. Leading Blog Software: WordPress
WordPress is True Web 2.0
 Free, open source platform based on PHP and MySQL.
 Large community develops enhancements, fixes bugs, and contributes ideas for
new releases.
 Offers easy-to-use themes and templates that provide solutions for less
technical users and framework for technical users to create custom ones.
 Unique template system and plug-in architecture.

15. WordPress Open Source Philosophy

16. WordPress Advantages and Features

17. WordPress Advantages and Features (Continued)

18. Summary
 Blogs are a class of applications among the
first to become associated with transition from
static Web pages to social media and Web 2.0.
 Blogs have transitioned from online journals
and bulletin board systems to interactive
venues for facilitating communication and
messages.
 Businesses use these powerful tools to create
a community of customers, potential clients,
and employees.
 Blogging is a standard practice in nearly all
Fortune 500 firms as well as in many small and
medium sized businesses.

19. Contact: Roger McHaney, Kansas State University, mchaney@ksu.edu