Do you remember Geocities? AOL’s Hometown? In the early days of the internet most websites were simple, static HTML. The sites were hard to update and difficult to maintain, requiring either knowledge of HTML coding or the use of site builders with limited options and even more limited visions for design and creativity.

As the internet has grown, so has the ability of everyday users to create original, dynamic and creative websites. Key to that growth: the content management system (CMS).

Blogs — originally “web logs” — started the trend. With just clicks of the mouse, folks could quickly publish their thoughts, news stories and other articles. The publishing was made simpler and easier. In the past decade or so, the growth of the “blogosphere” has taken traditional media on a run for its money and readership.

But, you might think of a blog as little more than a place where someone shares their thoughts or uninteresting life details. Who really wants to know what movies I’ve seen or what I think about my neighbor’s barking dog, you ask. A blog, however, can be so much more.

WordPress, an open source CMS originally created as a blogging platform, is powerful enough to manage all your website’s operations, including a blog. If you have a business or a non-profit, having an area on your site (you don’t necessarily have to call it a “blog”) where you can easily post and maintain important news and updates about your activities can be an integral part of your online strategy. New content, updated regularly, often results in increased readership and keeps people coming back for more. WordPress also allows you to easily maintain and update static pages on your website, such as “About us,” “Contact us” or other standard, must-have pages.

What is WordPress?

Started in 2003, WordPress has grown to become one of the largest self-hosted blogging platforms in the world. Its functionality and easily customizable options have also made it a CMS of choice. Businesses, non-profits, newspapers and magazines — all sorts of organizations use WordPress for their online content management. A whole host of plugins and other tools can extend the functionality of WordPress, turning it into a fully-functional social media community. (CLT Blog is a phenomenal example.)

How much does it cost?

The internet… it’s amazing. WordPress is free. More appropriately, WordPress is “open source” software. Hundreds (if not thousands or more) of people are working around the world to make WordPress better each and every day. As an “open source” project, you are free to use the platform, as WordPress.org says, “for anything from your cat’s home page to a Fortune 500 web site without paying anyone a license fee and a number of other important freedoms.”

Who uses WordPress?

Fortune 500 companies are using “free” software? Yup. Pepsi, Best Buy, OnStar, Nikon and UPS are just among a few. WordPress.org has a showcase of those and others.

What about some non-profits? WordPress can be found there too.

More locally, I’ve used WordPress to create sites for QNotes and the Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality. I also use it for my own websites. See my portfolio.

What can I use a ‘blog’ for?

If you own a business, a blog can be perfect for posting occasional articles about new or featured products, along with chit-chat about cool happenings in your industry. Non-profits can use blogs to post media alerts and news and information about upcoming events, issues and causes.

How do I get WordPress?

WordPress can be hosted on your own server (downloaded from WordPress.org) or you can use a hosted version of it at WordPress.com. I recommend hosting the site yourself so you retain 100 percent control over branding, design and other elements. WordPress has some requirements, including a server with PHP and having access to a MySQL database.

Need help setting-up a new site using WordPress, or integrating WordPress into an existing website? Check out my services or contact me today.

Simply put, social media connects you to others and others to you using interactive, easy-to-manage and community-driven technologies.

Some of the most well-known examples of social media, or social networking, are sites like Facebook and MySpace. Others include LinkedIn, Hi5, Connexion, Gay.com and others. Experiencing fast growth in popularity is Twitter. In fact, many would argue that Twitter has become an integral part of online outreach and social networking.

In the early days of the internet, websites and online companies operated much like traditional, print, radio and television media. Information flow was one-way. The company — be it a newspaper, television, clothing store or mechanic — imparted information to the reader/customer, but the reader/customer had no way of communicating back. Blogs and social media have changed that landscape, allowing online media to become a two-way street: Website operators dole out information to readers, who in turn create feedback for the operators. Taken up a notch, social media allows that information to be shared with friends, or distributed via other social networks.

So, how can social media grow my brand, you ask? It’s simple, really.

First, you need an online presence. (Learn why a website is important here.) But, having a website is just merely the beginning. Without adding in a healthy dose of social media, you’ve thrown your online outreach back to the days of one-way communication. If you allow commenting on your site, readers discuss articles and conversations among readers can increase site traffic. Or, you can allow readers to share information on your website with social media sites like Digg, Reddit, Del.icio.us, Facebook, Twitter and a host of others. Allowing readers to distribute your content for you (read: free advertising) opens your business or organization up to exposure to more potential clients and supporters.

Once unleashed on social media and networking sites, your website can be shared over and over again. Person A posts to his profile. Person B reads Person A’s profile and reposts to her profile. Persons C and D read Person B’s profile and both repost to theirs. From here on out, it’s exponential growth… viral marketing at it’s best: so cheap it might as well be free.

Do you need a website? Here’s the short answer, and it’s always the only answer: Yes.

Did you know: Google processes over one billion search requests each day? The World Wide Web has over 1.67 billion users and over 500 million of them speak English? Facebook says it has more than 300 million users worldwide and Twitter sees 65 million “tweets” in one day (or nearly 2 billion in a month’s time)… with each social networking site having the potential to send people your way, if you have something for them to visit? (P.S. — See my tips on social media here.)

In today’s instant and mobile communication-driven world, having an online presence can mean the difference between having a good idea, company or non-profit and having a great idea, company or non-profit.

Take a moment to think back 20, 25 or 30 years ago. When most folks needed a service, where did they turn? The phone book. If your business or non-profit didn’t have a listing in the phone book or, better yet, the yellow pages, you were cut off from potential customers, clients and supporters. The same is true of the online world and websites today. When folks want information, they turn to search engines like Google. Having information about your product, activities and causes on a website you can control, maintain and update means you’ll have vital information about your company or organization available to potential customers and clients 24/7 and 365 days a year.

Without a website, you’re dead in the water.

But, maybe you knew all that. Or maybe you’re new to all this web stuff. Whether you just don’t have the time or the knowledge, I can help. Check out my services, leave the tech work to me and focus on your passions — the work that has already made your company or non-profit successful — and be assured: together, we’ll take your dreams to the next level.

Twitter. Facebook. Myspace. LinkedIn. YouTube. Flickr.

The list just keeps on growing. Signing up for all the sites is easy. Getting them to work together, like they should, with your already-existing online presence and brand is the trick.

Integrated social media and networking is the key.

When someone visits you on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or any other social media or networking site, they should be able to access either your website and/or blog or your other social media sites. Your personal, business or organization “network” should talk among and with each other, allowing readers, supporters and potential clients, supporters or customers to connect to you and for you to connect to them.

When working with a client, Matt stresses the importance of the interconnectivity of social media. When you post a new story on your website, that should automatically be fed to your RSS feeds and Twitter. In return, Twitter should update your Facebook. With just one click of the mouse, your news updates can reach multiple audiences at the same time.