The much awaited 2.7 was released.

Much-awaited because it is a giant leap for the backend admin interface, which should make it easier than ever to introduce newbie clients to updating content.

Also it has a built-in upgrade function for both the WP install and the plugins, saving a lot time. Talking about plugins, you can search and install them via the interface – no more searching for download links, unzipping, FTPing…

Plugin directory from within Admin dashboard

Anyway, this should have been called 3.0, but they are against “version number inflation”.

Another intriguing  features is the integration of Google Gears with WordPress when you click on the “Turbo” link in the top right. It crashed my FireFox 3 but worked on Chrome. Supposedly it speeds up posting and admin. We will write more on this later. 

Flash file upload now works, and here's another goodie: pretty Akismet spam comment stats

I would wait a few days for the inevitable security patches and aim to roll out installations in the beginning of 2009.

Blogging is perhaps the most effective marketing tool a small business or consultant has. Here's why:

- search engines love blogs and they immediately increase traffic to the website (100% increases within month is common)

- you can establish a reputation as an authority in your field

- blogs allow for instant feedback through the conversations with readers made possible via the commenting system

From a Wall Street Journal article of March 1 '05:

blogs with character are seen as more effective than some more traditional online-marketing strategies, such as static, brochurelike Web sites and electronic newsletters that may get blocked by spam filters

And from Lee Lefever of commoncraft (the blog of a Social Design Consultant):

Businesses are finding that the most effective way to communicate to the market is by giving employees and customers the opportunity to interact informally on the web [...] businesses are learning to communicate like people instead of businesses

Stoneyfield Farms is a nice example of a business adopting blogs. And it's good yogurt too, my kids love it. Here's their blog The Bovine Bugle, which chronicles daily life on a family farm in Franklin, Vermont, one of the company's organic milk suppliers.