It would have taken me 5 minutes at most to do the same thing in XSite Pro, the web design software I use for most of my sites.

People keep telling me WordPress blogs are better, so easy to use.

My experience has been: I could not even have a WP blog without Cathy Perkins, “the wordpress wizard.” I listen to her free weekly teleseminars and without those, and her expert help when needed, I’d be lost.

On the other hand, I’ve had very few issues with XSP. I can put up a web site in minutes. This one I put up in 10 minutes. The template came with the program. It was a matter of copying and pasting the copy I’d already written in Word. (And unlike copying and pasting from Word to a WP blog, I have little to no issues with formatting.)

What about search engine ranking with XSP vs. WordPress? Well, when I put in the keywords ‘develop your audience” into Google just now, my WP blog (this one, which I’ve been posting on for years) came up 3rd, and my NEW site (the XSite Pro site, www.developyouraudience.com) came up FIRST.

That’s because the search engine optimization is built into XSite Pro and it’s entirely controlled by me. Very easy to do, too. With a blog, supposedly it’s “built in.” There are plug-ins you can use to optimize. But that involves, again, a whole lot more work than what I have to do with XSite Pro.

AND, the work I did do on my new blog page, I had to know html to figure out how to format the look. I don’t have to know one thing about html to use XSite Pro. If you can use Word, you can use XSite Pro–they are that similar.

So, again, I have to say I much prefer XSite Pro web design software. It’s a very small investment to make for software that will save you gobs of time on creating a website. You absolutely do not need any webmaster with XSite Pro. Their support is fantastic if you do have problems. It’s honestly one of the best products and companies I’ve run across–period.

And I’m pretty picky.

I have to say, for me (as a non-techie person who doesn’t WANT to mess around with figuring out how, for instance, to upgrade a blog)–hands down, it’s XSite Pro web design software (version 2) .

As far as I can tell, XSP can do anything a WP blog can do with the WP plug-ins that are available. Yes, some of those plug-ins are very cool, as I learned from Cathy Perkins, the WordPress Wizard .

Last week, using the HeadSpace plug-in, I posted a blog and optimized it and in a few seconds, when I checked Google for the keywords “best self-publishing company,” my site came up #4 on page 1!

However, it didn’t stay there. I have no idea why. And, I had to add keywords in around 3 places to optimize the site.

But the clincher for me was what happened when

I “upgraded” my blog. If it was up to me, I’d stay with WP 2.2 forever. However, the older version opened me up to hacks (happened twice), so I had no choice.

Cathy Perkins’s class with the “pre-flight checklist” was invaluable as a guide. Nevertheless, when I took the plunge, all sorts of messy things happened with the blog.

Depending on when you view this, it still might not look right. The header was messed up (Cathy fixed it), the sidebar categories were gone, and other things were not quite right

Without Cathy’s expertise to guide me (from her classes, free and paid), I don’t think I could manage WordPress.

On the other hand, with XSite Pro, all I have to do is put the keywords in the space provided, add a description, and it’s all optimized for search engines and humans.

With just a few mouse clicks, I can put in audio and video, add the “Share This” info, create RSS feeds, even put my site into a form that can be read on mobile phones! I can add sticky notes and all sorts of cool things. (I have a sticky note about my Abundant Gifts free book sale if you want to view a sample.

And though I have NO training in design or software, I was able to play around with my own header with XSP to create some variations.

So, my position is: WordPress is great IF 1) you like to keep up your own blog, 2) you’re jazzed by cool plug-ins, 3) you like to learn all the time and you have the time and will to maintain your blog OR 4) you have someone else to keep up with all the WP changes and maintain your blog.

If you would rather focus on creating content, don’t mind learning a few things ONCE that you can use forever (at least for the next few years until XSP does another major upgrade), prefer to have control over your own site (without having to spend a lot of time maintaining the tech stuff), all without sacrificing any search engine advantages–get XSite Pro.

I still think it’s one of the best products I’ve ever come across. I used one little feature–the email cloaking “widget wizard”–and cut my email spam by at least 80 percent.

I can even get a report that tells me how readable my copy is, how I can optimize it further.

As you can see, I could go on and on about XSite Pro! In addition to the main site, here’s a link to a webinar that explains how it works.

Lynette talked about the security issues with WordPress blogs and what to do about it. (Lynette says “regular web sites” such as  sites created with XSite Pro web design software are not necessarily any more secure, but I’m going to check on that with XSP.  So far I’ve NEVER had a problem with my XSite Pro sites, only my blogs.)

Here’s what Lynette wrote, and the helpful info she shared:

“If you haven’t heard already, there has been a bunch of attacks to
WordPress blogs lately. If you go to WordPress forums and search for
security or hacking you’ll see it has gone on since before version
2.5.1. The most vulnerable sites are those running version 2.3.x but
there has been some report from people using 2.5.1

“It is not clear that those running the newer version were infiltrated
before upgrading. The official WordPress word on this is, version
2.5.1 is secure.

“But you know, this is more about what we as site owners should do to
make sure our sites are not so easily hacked. Look, every software
has their weak points. The trick to surviving a web site hacking is
to take steps so you don’t go through it in the first place.
Prevention is better than cure.

“Also, having regular *web site* backups are super important.

“I talked about this to my friend Elizabeth lately on her podcast.
You are advised to listen to it. Here’s the link.

“Some of the things discussed in the podcast are:

“1. What can happen if a hacking occurs (even if it is not a
Wordpress powered site – so if you don’t run WP, don’t sit back and
relax yet)

“2. Some suggestions how to lock down your WP and sites.

“In addition, here’s a blog post I made earlier with resources how to
secure your site.

“Finally… what do you do to find out if you’ve been hacked and how
to fix it? Here’s a resource that will be super helpful.

“Till the next time, stay safe and don’t forget to backup, backup,
backup.”

Thanks, Lynette!

Carol’s question:

“I understand the difference between a website and a blog. Is XSite Pro for a static website or can it be used as a blog? You said you use Word Press for your blog. If I purchase XSite Pro, can I use it as a blog to post and update frequently?”

My answer:

XSite Pro web design software is not something you can use with or as a blog. A blog is a completely different kind of software platform. XSite Pro creates stand-alone web sites that you can make as small or large as you like.

I have just been looking at XSP V2, and I like it better than a blog in many ways.

The features are very powerful and easy to use (great documentation, with screen captures to walk you through each segment). A lot of what XSP does, you can do with WP plug-ins, I think–if you know how to get them and use them. If you tend to be techy, you might prefer WP blogs. My techy friend likes finding all these cool plug-ins. Me–I prefer to click a few buttons and let the program do it for me.

(By the way, their support is great, too. Fast turnaround, and clear instructions. I tested this recently because I just got a new computer, and needed to know how to get my stuff from old computer to new and integrated with V2.)

The ability to easily update content is one of the main attractions of blogs, and that’s why search engines love blogs. However, if you have a “static” web site where you can easily update content, you have the same search engine advantage.

With XSite Pro web design software, it’s extremely easy to update content AND optimize it for search engines at the same time. It’s just like typing something in Word, and then you click the Publish button and it’s on your site. But better–you have complete control over the keywords and page descriptions. With WP (which I like and do use), I have to trust that the search engines are picking up on the right keywords. Or, I use a plug-in (I think it’s called Header2 and there’s also one called SEO pack), but I have to go back and put the keywords in. I posted on both my blog and site last night, and with XSP it was much faster and easier to do. I find that XSP saves a lot of time.

Also, there are ways to add content automatically to your site, through RSS feeds and other ways I’m just learning about, with XSP. You can do that same thing with WP, I understand–again, IF you know the plug-ins and where to go. With XSP, it’s all in one place, there’s a manual to consult, and once you learn it, you get it working on all your sites.

Another thing that I like better about XSP is the control you can have over each page of your site. For instance, if you have an opt-in or squeeze page, you can make one page be that. With a blog, you likely need a whole new url to point to that squeeze page. And it’s another site to maintain, rather than a page over which you have complete control in XSP.

WordPress is good, and I have several WP blogs myself (this is one of them!). It just requires more techy skill and it seems like there are always upgrades and things you have to know. I listen to Cathy Perkins’s Wizard Weekly teleseminars on WP, and don’t know where I’d be without her help. I just learned I have to do all these things to my blogs before I upgrade to the new version so the sites won’t “break.” Yikes! And of course, I should upgrade because otherwise, something terrible might happen (what, I’m not sure. Something about security). So–I like  much better for all these reasons.

If you’re not sure about whether XSitePro web design software is for you, why not attend one of the upcoming webinars? No cost, and you’ll get a feel for the features. You can sign up here. http://www.wordstoprofit.com/xspweb.html Dates are July 2,4, 8, so do it now if you’re interested.

I just upgraded to XSP V2 and so am just exploring the new features, but so far I’m liking what I see very much! I was just reading about adding a “site search” for visitors. Very cool. I have one on my blog, but my site actually has more content, and I want people to be able to search it.

(My full review of XSite Pro is here, if you care to learn more about my perspective, having used V1 for some 4 years now.)