WordPress Publisher Blog launches

The folks at Automattic have launched their WordPress Publisher Blog, which will:

“cover features that are often overlooked, we’ll highlight plugins that extend WordPress functionality, and we’ll showcase interesting sites being built with WordPress.”

So far the blog has three posts (one of which is sticky – which plugin are you using Raanan?). It’s hard to tell from three posts, but it seems like this blog aims to achieve what a lot of us WordPress bloggers are already doing.

So, are we going to become redundant, or will the WordPress Publisher Blog just join the club? It seems that this is another move by Automattic to take control of the WordPress user community, similar to their creation of the WordPress plugin directory. With the plugin directory, WordPress became the hub for the plugin community, and now they want news and reports on WordPress to come from them too. Makes sense, and I guess they could catch up pretty quickly since they are WordPress.

Anyways, it will be interesting to see how their blog pans out. If they do a good job, I think there might not be much of a point in continuing to invest time and energy in this kind of blog.

WordPress Publisher Blog

Ryan

They may become successful, but a corporate blog like that will never have the same character that a single person blog will have.

I used to be a big F1 fan and visited f1.com daily. Later,the FIA purchased the site and turned it into the “Official F1 site”, but it has never been the same and I rarely visit it anymore. I now visit unofficial F1 sites as they’re far more informative because their motivation is providing news and entertainment, not self-promotion like the official site.
Raanan Bar-Cohen

Hi Miriam,

Thanks for writing about our new blog. I always enjoy reading your excellent coverage here.

Our plan for the Publisher Blog is to focus on large WordPress installations that are doing lots of custom work and to help connect publishers with the resources they need to be successful.

> one of which is sticky – which plugin are you using Raanan?

No plugin used at this point — it’s logic in the template code.
Lynne

I for one, really enjoy your blog. Although I don’t always comment, I find your information very useful and easy to understand. I am someone who knows a little bit of code, but not enough to get to far without asking for help. I appreciate how you write and hope you continue on with this blog! 😀
Darren Hoyt

“It seems that this is another move by Automattic to take control of the WordPress user community”

It’s what struck me too. This development seems to confirm it: http://wpcandy.com/wordpress-is-only-protecting-themselves/. I hesitate to make assumptions or judgments when it comes to Automattic, so I’ll wait and see.

“If they do a good job, I think there might not be much of a point in continuing to invest time and energy in this kind of blog.”

Say it ain’t so! Those of us who use WordPress every day will always have useful tips to share and be making discoveries that the WP Publisher blog hasn’t covered. They’re still only one blog. I think there’s room for everyone.
Miriam Schwab

Ryan – There’s something to what you’re saying about corporate blogs. They’re often “stiffer” since they have to be more careful about what they publish. We non-corporate bloggers can be a lot freer with our opinions and personalities on the web.

Hi Raanan – it’s nice to see you here, and I’m really glad you like this blog! Your goal for the new blog sounds interesting. I really like seeing the different types of sites people can create with WordPress, so if you’re showcasing them that should be interesting.

Lynne – I’m so glad this blog helps you! Thanks for commenting, and I hope you stick around. (By the way, I love the purse your sister sewed that you posted about recently. It’s so pretty!)

Darren – I saw that post about WordPress in the domain name, and I’m going to be writing about it in the next day or two. I have a bit of a background in trademarks, so I have an opinion on the matter (of course, I also have opinions on matters where I have no background…)

As for whether there’s room for everyone: you’re probably right. One blog can’t cover the ground that the rest of us cover, I guess. In any case, I’m not stopping yet!
Lynne

Miriam – Thanks! By the way, have you thought about publishing any help on how to upgrade to WP 2.3.2? I need to do both of my sites, but don’t have a clue where to begin.
Ryan

Lynne – Deactivate all of your plugins. Download WordPress 2.3.2, then copy it directly on top of your current files. Once you’ve done that, go to your admin panel and (I think) it will ask you to click okay to update your database. That’s about it.

Your wp-config file (contains your database info.), uploads, plugins etc. will remain intact and should (in theory) function fine after the upgrade.

Obviously backup everything up beforehand in case something goes horribly wrong.
Miriam Schwab

Ryan – thanks so much for responding to Lynne’s question. Lynne, you can also check out this page for detailed directions for upgrading: http://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress. Also, I’ve written quite a bit about upgrading here on this blog, so check out all the posts tagged with “Upgrade”: tag/upgrades/.

Did you use Fantastico to install your blog? If so, then the upgrading directions are different. To upgrade with Fantastico, deactivate all plugins, back up everything, then log in to your Control Panel, select Fantastico, Click on WordPress, and select the blog you want to upgrade and click upgrade. Then go back and reactivate all your plugins and hope for the best.
Lynne

Thanks to both of you! I did spend yesterday getting the upgrade done. I went fine, although I had to get some technical assistance on my main blog.
Miriam Schwab

Lynne – even though I have upgraded so many times, I still get nervous every time. It can be a nerv wracking experience.

WordPress Publisher Blog launches

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