We all know what a Blog is and why Architects, Builders, Painting Contractors and Electrical Contractors et al should have one linked to their website. Read our earlier posts What is a Blog?, What to Blog About?,  Good Reasons Why an Architect (or other) needs to Blog and Do Engineers Really Need a Blog? But where to start is the next hurdle. Although there are several Publishing platforms such as Blogspot, Blogger and Posterous my favourite is WordPress.

Why use WordPress?

It is easy to use and includes tutorials for those who want to find their way around this brilliant publishing tool. WP has loads of free templates available for you to choose from either for personal or business use.

It doesn’t take long to set up and once you have signed up it becomes easy to add the regular posts about projects, products, activities and updates. You can then experiment by adding photographs using Flickr or Photobucket. If you want to add video content you can do so using Youtube. We will have a look at this another time.

Measure Your Marketing Reach

One of the most popular and informative features of this platform is the WP Stats System. It’s designed to give you up-to-the-minute stats on the number of people visiting your blog. You will be able to see where they’re coming from, which posts are the most popular, and which search engine terms are sending people to your blog. I am hoping that you can already see the value in using this tool.

Deathblow to Spammers

There is also no need to worry about spam because they use an advanced spam technology called Akismet. This tool will block spammers from leaving comments on your blog. You can have complete control over your blog with access to a Dashboard giving you plenty of scope to advance your skills over time.  

Help, I’m stumped!

An easy to use Documentation Tutorial system will help you when you want to do something but find it too challenging and there are Forums available with so many experienced people wanting to give you advice and help. It is a pleasure to use this publishing platform. Set yourself a goal and set up a WP Blog today!

More than a Blog

WordPress has a feature called ‘pages’ which will allow you to easily create web pages.  You could add an ABOUT page with your biography, and a link to that page would be automatically added to your sidebar. You can even create an entire web site using pages on WordPress.com, with a custom home page and your blog as one of the sub-pages. Add SERVICES, TEAM, ARTICLES and the rest.

Who is using this Platform in Construction?

That is a good question but I have come across a couple of construction related firms using WP including a very good Architectural practice based in south London who are at the forefront of the market in the use of innovative design technologies working almost exclusively in three dimensions through the life of a project.  Their journal about architecture and the process of making places is proudly powered by WordPress. Please have a look at the Studio Klaschka Blog.

Craig and Jonny founded a company called Design Fire Consultants and proudly use WordPress as their publishing platform to inform and educate clients about fire safety. There are various services  they provide as fire engineers to assist in achieving their client’s design aspirations. They believe that each scheme requires individual attention and focus  to provide the service required. A key fire safety objective for a building is to achieve regulatory approval. You can read more on their website.

Well, you can start a revolution by sharing with others about your business activities, services, staff and add photographs as well. If you need any further help with setting up a WP Blog please contact me. You might want to follow us on Twitter as well. See you or tot siens as we say in SA…..