Writing posts with Windows Live Writer [Hack Your Day]
I first heard that Microsoft has a desktop blogging app and said “yeah right…”. I wasn’t really referring to my disbelief in the existence of the product, but rather in the fact that it’s any good. First of all, I wasn’t very comfortable with desktop blogging software and second of all, I mean what good would a Microsoft blogging app be? I could post to Live Spaces? Yay…
Well, as it turns out, I was very wrong. I first tested the app about 3 months ago, and now I’m experimenting with using it exclusively. It worked when posting to blogger, and works perfectly for Wordpress as well. Finally Microsoft has realized that there are actually other companies out there. It recognizes popular platforms to the extent that the Wordpress logo is stylishly placed in the sidebar, I can add categories like I would in Wordpress and I can set publish dates. I can also go directly to my Wordpress dashboard and view recent posts and drafts (which can be added to Wordpress drafts as well).
One of the best features is being able to write in the environment your post will be shown in, ie: your blog template. This web layout for me only shows my header, with a small fault, but I think this is actually due to my css, not Live Writer. More importantly though, the width of the post is correct, which is essential when planning post pics and ads and so forth.
You can insert pics from your PC or the web, you can insert links, tables, maps, even videos, and they all work perfectly. In the end when I post, I see no difference between a post made form Wordpress and a post made from Live Writer. The great benefit it gives me and the way it helps me in my quest for the ultimate productivity ninja gold medal is that it lets me write when I’m offline. I can write multiple drafts, and post them as Wordpress drafts, or complete articles later on. This may help me steer clear of distractions, as sometimes when working that Stumble Upon button becomes very inviting…
I love that you can set your blog up so that images are uploaded to an ftp server automatically. This helps me in organization, and rids me of the need to open my ftp client. Also very helpful when working offline, since I won’t forget to find a pic and upload it. Oh, and once you entered your ftp server and username/password, you can browse for the folder, even create a new one, no need to enter it manually. A small, but nice touch.
If you work with multiple blogs, wither for guest posting or as owners, your productivity will again be pushed up. You can add multiple profiles, so you can post to any blog you have. The great benefit for guest posters like me is that I can switch the blog on the fly. So if I write a post and don’t know where I will publish it, I just save it as a draft and I can decide later. When you switch, the view automatically changes to reflect the new blog, and pressing publish will now publish to the current one.
The only shortcoming of the app is that if you have some pre-built code you use from the code menu in Wordpress you can’t really add it that simply here. I only use a few like the “more” tag and Adsense codes which I can either paste using Shortkeys, or I can actually recall them from memory (awesome). Also, I use a plugin for entering keywords and descriptions, which I can not use with Live Writer. I go to my admin panel a lot, and filling out this info is not a big thing, I can do it once a day, filling out 3 posts, which takes about 3 minutes, but the time Live Writer saves me is at least 30 minutes.
Overall, this application is a joy to use and I am still discovering cool new stuff. This is one of the best Microsoft programs I have ever seen, possibly Office 2007 is the only one that may come before it. Live Writer gives you a great environment in which you can work, but it helps you in productivity, organization and all other aspects of blogging.
Original post here: Daniel
Comments: