I briefly considered not getting my own domain, and going with a service that set up your blog automatically.  That just didn’t seem professional enough.  So when I was sure I wanted my own site, I knew I would need some way to manage it.  Everywhere I looked I kept seeing the same two options, Wordpress, and another program called Movable Type.  The volume of reviews I read weighed heavily in Wordpress’s favor.  As an example, check out this comparison on Problogger.net.

Two things in that comparison resonated with me, and ultimately led me to adopt Wordpress as my blogging software:

• It was free.  Need I say more?
• It was easily installed, especially if your hosting company makes available a little life saver called Fantastico.

In addition to those points, the following heavily influenced my decision:

• The Wordpress site is FULL of information.  You want to know you have something to refer to when you need to.
• Since it is open source, everyone and their mother is making plugins, little applets that make Wordpress infinitely better.

Once I knew I could install it easily and without any initial monetary layout, the decision was easy.  I’m glad I did.  Wordpress has be so easy to use.  And very versatile.  Every day I learn a new trick that makes my blog, and blogging experience, better.