I have talked previously of the advantages of hosting your own blog but only from the perspective of the blog itself. Owning your own domain and hosting package has other plusses, giving you freedom to create additional content for blogging and personal purposes.
All you need is enough free space on your host server to be able to install other software and the choices are endless. You may be thinking that this all sounds too hard and that you do not have the know how to install and manage anything more than blog software but, for a large proportion of the applications I talk about here, you already have the necessary skills. If you have installed and managed Wordpress, uploaded files to your own server there is often little else you need to know.
Expanding your blog site
The tendency is to go for additional applications that have a bridge via plugins to your blogging software. Even if the application is to be a part of your blog site, all it really takes is menu links to connect the two so a plugin is not necessary. The choice of application you use then becomes much wider and more likely to suit your own particular needs. This could be as simple as using the best gallery or forum software but you can broaden your horizons and add many other resources that enhance your blog.
Wordpress is touted as being a CMS (Content Management System) and it can certainly be used for more than just a blog interface. You can make use of static pages and plugins to expand its capabilities and uses. It does have limitations however and does not have all the same capabilities as some of the more complete CMS systems such as Drupal and Joomla. By using additional software alongside Wordpress you can create features for your site to suit your own needs and own niche. A few ideas:
- Install Drupal, Joomla or another CMS system and use only some of their features (e.g. groups, blogrolls, newsletters) or install other individual applications.
- Adding a wiki (TikiWiki) or forum could enhance communication with your readers and bring along more readers to your blog.
- Add your own choice of photo gallery or photo sharing capabilities. I will write a post about the options available soon.
- Many of the new Digg type voting sites are powered by Pligg, which you can download for free - you could find your own unique way to use this.
- If you add a blog directory application you could maintain a list of your own bookmarks or open it up to others to create a resource tailored to your own blog niche e.g. Dew-NewPHPLinks
- Add more value to the information you provide by adding Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) software. e.g. FAQMasterFlex
- Adding software that allows for password protection can allow you to create your own private community of friends and blogging contacts where members can feel free to talk more about themselves and add more personal information without worrying so much about revealing their identities or their online safety and security. This could even be achieved by using another installation of your blogging software and keeping this one members only.
- Make your own web pages - use software and online generators to help if you have no html knowledge.
- Use polling software with more features than available by plugin.
- Organize and get in touch with your blogging contacts and subscribers with mailing list software - PHPList
- Add a chat room with web cam e.g. Ray Community Widget Suite
- Create and host your own webring e.g.PHP My Ring
All of the software mentioned above is completely free. I have quoted applications that I have used or at least installed and looked at but there are many other alternatives. Most of them are part of the package offered by Fantastico Deluxe which is available free as part of some hosting packages and available via your CPanel. Fantastico allows you to easily install its included programs without having to upload, install and configure them manually. I will follow this post up with an article on Fantastico.
Personal Uses
Create a private area on your server, only viewable by family and friends or just for your own use. Applications you could use::
- Geneology Software - I use a reasonably priced commercial program TheNextGeneration
- Photo Galleries - here is a photo site I created for my daughter?
- Private blogs and communities
- Time management
- To do lists
- Host sites for family, friends or for non-profits
Resources
- OpenSource CMS - demos of many of the main CMS Systems
- List of open source software packages on Wikipedia
- SOURCEFORGE.NET - A huge number of open source applications:
- Hotscripts - remotely hosted scripts (free and commercial)
There are of course many business applications that could be used to help in organization, collaboration, networking, advertising and promotion.
Do you have any suggestions for any other uses for your server?
Popularity: 15% [?]
Sue your posts are often timely for my needs. Our computer guru has suggested we get our own server. My practice has expanded and I want all the other therapists computers networked so we can share online diaries. Given that we all use different soft ware, a server is a way around it.
…but as my cash flow king darling says, “nothing else just yet Megan, PLEASE.” Husbands are soooo boring sometimes!
And of course….my ears prick up at the extent of other bloggy stuff I can do when I host myself
Megan from Imaginif’s last blog post..Imaginif interviewed by Sydney Morning Herald journalist
I only spend $10 a month on hosting through Hostgator but and have unlimited domains and subdomains and masses of space to hold every site that I run for myself and for others. If used for business purposes it is tax deductible.
How about sharing the hosting costs with the other therapists too?
Have you considered using the sharing features of Google Calendar and sharing Google Docs with your colleagues, Megan? There are other online collaborative applications too. I will have a look in my notes (memory being abysmal) and let you know.
Hey, great resources available here. Now, if only my host could handle the extras I might consider something. I’m not ready to go to the next step with my hosting because I think my current host SHOULD be able to handle it!
jen’s last blog post..The great interview experiment - my turn
Hi Jen
I only have shared hosting - I do not have my own private network, which does cost a lot more. I doubt if it could stand the “Digg Effect” of having a huge amount of hits but do not expect that to happen anyway.
TheNextGeneration Geneology software you mentioned peeked my interest so I went to check it out and OHMYGOSH it looks awesome! I had been using the software that can be downloaded from ancestry.com but I wanted something that I could put online and share with my family - thanks so much for the link!!
Erica (Mom’s Journal)’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Bear Hug
There is a plugin that bridges Joomla with TheNextGeneration which means you can add much more content to a geneology site. I have not developed mine much but I intend to add articles on such things as the history of the surname, and the towns and cities they hailed from.