Site Runner Blog

Tag: websitehosting

  • Cross Posting WordPress to Social Media

    Cross Posting WordPress to Social Media

    As we work towards a Publish Once Propagate Widely strategy it is nice (essential?) if on publish the post is pushed out to the required social platforms automatically.

    Goals:

    • The post is propagated with it’s featured or first image
    • -> ActivityPub (Mastodon)
    • -> Facebook
    • -> Instagram

    Solutions:

    • WordPress ActivityPub Plugin (Facebook usage is shrinking and open protocol social is what is replacing it)
    • A solid OpenGraph Tag plugin to pop the rich links (we are testing a few Opengraph is the best so far and VERY simple)
    • IFTTT WordPress Post to Facebook Page* (requires a WordPress login and Facebook permissions for the page)
    • Auto post to Instagram from Facebook

    * There are WP plugin options Jetpack works ok but is an annoying thing to have installed and keeps dropping the Facebook API connection, others do not seem well maintained. Can also do RSS triggered integrations but they do not catch the Featured image

    Fediverse Reactions
  • WordPress self hosted versus wordpress.com

    WordPress self hosted versus wordpress.com

    We haven’t used any AI for any of the writing in this blog. I mean writing is fun so why take short cuts.

    For a question as important as this though I imagine people will search for themselves. So instead of trying to convince anybody with our own biased thoughts here are some hopefully less biased thoughts from Claude:

    Complete Control & Ownership

    • Full ownership of your website, content, and data
    • No risk of platform shutdowns or policy changes affecting your site
    • Complete control over your domain and hosting environment
    • Can’t be suspended or banned by a third-party platform

    Unlimited Customization

    • Install any theme or plugin – no restrictions on what you can use
    • Full access to edit PHP, CSS, HTML, and all code
    • Create custom functionality and modifications
    • No limitations on design or feature implementation

    Better Performance & SEO

    • Choose optimized hosting tailored to your needs
    • Implement advanced caching and CDN solutions
    • Full control over site speed optimization
    • Better SEO capabilities with unrestricted plugin access
    • No forced branding or ads from hosting platforms

    Monetization Freedom

    • No revenue sharing – keep 100% of your earnings
    • Run any type of ads or affiliate programs
    • Sell products/services without platform fees
    • No restrictions on e-commerce functionality

    Professional Features

    • Advanced backup and security solutions
    • Multiple staging environments for testing
    • Integration with any third-party services or APIs

    Cost Effectiveness (Long-term)

    • Often cheaper than premium hosted solutions as you scale
    • No per-user fees or transaction costs
    • Choose hosting that fits your budget and needs
    • Bulk pricing advantages for multiple sites

    Developer-Friendly

    • Full database access for migrations and development
    • Git integration and version control
    • Custom development environments
    • No restrictions on server-side functionality

    Privacy & Security

    • No forced data sharing with platform providers

    Complete data control

    • Implement your own security measures
    • GDPR/privacy compliance on your terms

    Fediverse Reactions