Software for blogging

 
A computer or laptop with Internet is sufficient for blogging. But if you’re a serious blogger and want to get the most of the blogging experience try to use other tools also.
For convenience I divided the tools into two categories, software and hardware.

 

Software for blogging

Why we need additional dedicate blogging tools? We can use the default editor provided by blogging platforms. It is simply like you have a hatchback car and want to try a SUV. The dedicated blogging software will give more comfort and functionality as compared to default xyz editors.
There are so many blogging software and plug ins available. Free blogging software/ paid blogging software, online blogging software/ offline blogging software, browser plug ins, embedded blogging software and dedicated blogging software.

 

Windows Live writer for blogging

Windows live writer is my favourite blogging tool. It is free to download from Microsoft site. It is come under the bundled software named Windows Live Essentials which include Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mesh, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live Movie Maker Windows Live Photo Essentials, and Windows Live Family Safety etc. Unfortunately it is available for Windows 7, Windows Vista operating system. I think it is the second best software Microsoft ever made free. First one is Windows Security Essential.

Main Features.

• Multiple blog account
• Multiple blog platforms
• Multiple blogs
• One click direct publish
• Can publish the content as draft in blogging platform
• Can show actual preview of the post in your blog before publishing
• Closely resembles Microsoft Office Word 2010\
• Embedded spell checker
• Insert video and pictures directly
• Built in pre-sets and effects for images
• Pixel aspect ratio for videos
• Pictures can be inserted as single, array or as photo album with slideshow and download link. (Photo album is stored in Microsoft’s Live Sky Drive which is a cloud storage program with 25 GB free data storage*)
• Numerous plug ins available for social network sharing such as Facebook notification, like, Twitter update etc.
• Built in tag creator
• Built in text wrap tools
• Save post locally in computers
• Good hyperlink tools with autolink, link to previous post option.
• Water mark for pictures
• Add ‘alt tag’ for pictures according to the tag
• Link pictures to any web address
• Word counter
• Interactive toolbar which automatically shows related tools for the current content, i.e. it will show photo editing tools if you select an existing picture.
• Nice text formatting and heading tools.
• Page break tool
• Insert photos directly from web or any photo sharing site including Facebook ( via plug in).
• Can add flash contents via plug in.
• Supports tables

Draw backs

• Not much compatible with Microsoft Office Word 2010. If you copy paste some formatted text and pictures from Word Windows Live Writer will discard the formatting and insert the pre-set formats according to the rules.
• No dedicated grammar checker
• The video embedding only allows direct upload and You Tube. (With plug in you can overcome this!)
• The formatted image will increase its size than original.
• Inserts too much codes compared to Blogger.

If you are on Windows 7 and do regular blogging this will be a good choice.
 

Word Processing tools

 

Microsoft Word 2010

My favourite word processing tool. It can be used for blogging purpose. MS Word 2010 has built in option for direct blog publishing. It is not matured as Windows Live Writer. If you are producing long posts regularly, Ms Word will be a handy tool. I usually depends on Word 2010 for grammar checking. The clip art function will be very handy for getting cool graphics for your post. I usually get most of the pictures via Office.com the default clip art provider in MS Word.Office.com will give provide clip art and stock photographs. Sometime I got stock photos from istock photo via Office.com. There are so many features to list.
Getting Microsoft Word 2010 is costly. You can get Microsoft Office 2010 starter edition with a lower price.
A combination of MS word 2010 and Windows Live Essential will do the job perfectly.
 

Free word processing software

Open source word processing tools such as Open office, Libra office can be used for blogging purpose. I think there is special plug ins available for direct posting in to blogging platforms.
Google Doc is another free application which is very useful if you are using Blogger.
There are a lot of plug ins and add ons available in your favourite browser ( Google Chrome and Firefox). Most of them are free.

• Scribe fire for Firefox.
• Pebble
• Blog this

Other famous Software for blogging

• Mars Edit for Mac
• W.blogger
• Movable type
• Drupal
• Sweet corn
• Roller
• Simple php blog
• Recent blog post
• Post 2 log
• Blog desk
• WB editor
• Qumana
• Ecto
• Creawriter
• Blogo
• Typo
• Emacs
• Gnome blog entry poster
• Drivel journal editor
• Blog tk editor
• Bleazer
• Mac journal
• My blog edit
• Deepest sender
• Flock
• News crawler
• Post 2 blog
• Qtm
• Thingama blog
• Zoundry raven

Speech recognition software

Speech recognition softwares are very funny to use. They are highly developing softwares. Microsoft voice recognition software is a very good one. It can be used for typing your blog. You have to use a good headphone and speech to your computer the computer type the word you said. But it is little complex because you have to train your computer to recognize your voice.
 

Paid Sharing sites

There are a bunch of paid sharing tools/ sites available to enhance your blogging experience. They offer inastant sharing of your latest article to your social networks, groups, forums, business networks etc.
Only wire
Hoof suite
Twiffer
Later bro
 
If you are using other softwares and services to enhance your blog please share it.