5 Odd And Unique Uses Of WordPress

September 20, 2007

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A customized WordPress installation can handle every kind of task it is given very comfortably. Thanks to its unmatched flexibility and an ever increasing repository of Plugins, we are able to set up WordPress to do things that it isn’t supposed to do.

You may disagree with me and say that every use of WordPress other than as a blog is its misuse, but trust me, WordPress is more robust, intuitive, and flexible than many of the free services and CMS out there. We trust WordPress because we know it so well, and it has never let us down.

The other day I was searching for a way to integrate Tumblr with WordPress, and came across some unique uses of WordPress. People have devised ingenious ways to turn WordPress into full-fledged CMS and whatnot. Here are some of the best ones.

WordPress as a tumblelog

What is a tumblelog? Tumblelogs are used to make short and quick posts to publish and share links, videos, images, quotes or whatever little scribbles you want to make online.

How do I use WordPress as a tumblelog? Though you may choose to go with tumblelog services like Tumblr, or download a tumblelog CMS, turning WordPress into a tumblelog or a mini blog is surprisingly easy. Install a tumblelog look-alike WordPress Theme such as Typographic and you are pretty much set to run your own hosted WordPress powered tumblelog with search functionality and all other WordPress goodness. Learn more about turning WordPress into a tumblelog.

WordPress as a photoblog

What is a photoblog? Photoblogs are different from regular text-based blogs in that they focus mainly on publishing photos.

How do I use WordPress as a photoblog? Again, you may stick to a photoblogging service like Flickr, or download a photoblog CMS such as Pixelpost, but nothing is stopping you from extending WordPress to function as a photoblog. Yet another photoblog and PhotoQ Wordpress Photoblog Plugin are the kind of WordPress Plugins that let you do just that, with grace.

WordPress as a link directory

What is a link directory? A link directory is a collection of links to web pages sorted by categories and sub-categories.

How to use WordPress as a link directory? Free directory scripts are good and all but they run separately from WordPress, therefore, not our cup of tea. As always, someone has got a WordPress Plugin that adds a nice web directory feature to WordPress. From the Plugin page:

The WP Link Directory is the first and the only one link directory plugin on the Internet for Wordpress admin to store and maintain a set of links in classified categories.

WordPress as a magazine or a news website

What is a magazine or a news website? Here is what.

How do I use.. you get it.. As a blogging platform, WordPress is already quite suited for running daily or frequently updated magazine/news sites. Max Limpag has written an excellent article on how to use WordPress to run a magazine, news website.

You’ll also love this beautiful magazine style WordPress Theme.

WordPress as a CMS

What is a CMS? A CMS is a bloated software package, to manage published content on the web, that is too technical and unintuitive to be of any use to a layperson like me. Example: PHP-Nuke.

How to use WordPress as a CMS? WordPress is the nearest lightweight sibling of the heavyweight content management systems. With little tweaking, and having right Plugins and Themes installed, you can change WordPress into a versatile yet lightweight CMS. ZMAng at Blog Helper has published a detailed guide for using WordPress as a CMS.

With the power, flexibility, and extendability of WordPress at your disposal, you can pretty much change it to any form you like. You are only limited by your imagination!

Have you come across any other unique uses of WordPress?

This post was written on all things WordPress day.

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Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, content, free, guide, links, list, marketing, mini blog, online, quotes, search, top, tutorial, tutorials, wordpress

20 comments so far and counting

pelfSeptember 20th, 2007
I’m not sure if this is any different, but I will begin working with a web developer next week to convert a static turtle research website into a more dynamic site-cum-blog =)

We have plans to retain most of the pages, but add a blog to the site to encourage discussion and participation from ex-volunteers who have participated in the week-long turtle research program.
adamSeptember 20th, 2007
i think guy kawaskis truemors thing is built on top of wordpress, that’s certainly different to the average blog
Michael MartineSeptember 21st, 2007
Great round-up/breakdown of the possibilities. I have used it as a CMS for ecommerce, among other things. WordPress is delightfully flexible.
WillSeptember 21st, 2007
Hello Mohsin. Great article. I really love the power and flexibility of WordPress. With the right theme design and a little php it will do pretty much anything you want it to.

Also, thanks for the link!
MohsinSeptember 21st, 2007
pelf, I’d love to see that project.

adam, are you talking about this guy? Can you point me to whatever he has created on top of WordPress?

Michael, this looks amazing. No one can tell if your ecommerce site was built with WordPress!

Will, you are welcome. And thanks for all the info about changing WP into a tumblelog. I am going to use this information someday
WillSeptember 21st, 2007
I glad that you found the post helpful Mohsin.

I believe Adam was referring to Truemors; it does run on WordPress.
Website DesignSeptember 21st, 2007
I’ve seen wordpress used often as an entire website. All pages and everything done through wordpress due to the easy to use back end. The funny part is a lot of these I’ve seen simply aren’t used for a blog at all.

Also I’ve seen wordpress used as a css gallery many times.
Webd360September 25th, 2007
The potential of Wordpress is amazing and thats why so many people use it. I’ve seen it used in many different ways and just the other day I saw a tumblelog for the first time.
AmitNovember 18th, 2007
Hi Buddy,

Some really creative ideas you have there, I really liked the 1st idea a lot !
I am using that Idea to develop some of the niche sites.
MohsinNovember 18th, 2007
It’s great to know Amit. I hope you do well with your projects.
carollionMarch 17th, 2008
Mobicue is a recently launched microblogging service. it’s really simple to use (particularly for camera phones), you can update photos, videos, text instantly on the go. http://www.mobicue.com
devmarks.comSeptember 27th, 2008
Hi,
today I launched devmarks.com. Another site who uses wordpress NOT a blog system.
It is a community driven website for web designers & web developers. So if you want to promote your own sites or other interesting design or development related articles, feel free to register and post them.

Hope you like it and we see you over there: devmarks.com

greetings,
thomas
CrydrorryOctober 20th, 2008
Hey,
I am, Steven
lots of great posts on here
look at my site:

http://QjoU5bngj.spaces.live.com/
JohnFebruary 16th, 2009
Very good post – not only because I enjoyed it but also because it gave me food for thought. Your post just sparked an idea for a woodworking project I’ve been contemplating. Thank you so much.

Stumbled it!