Why I Left WordPress For Ghost CMS

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of content management systems (CMS), WordPress has long been the dominant player. However, as the needs of bloggers and content creators continue to change, new alternatives are emerging that challenge WordPress’s supremacy. One such alternative is Ghost, a modern, open-source platform designed specifically for blogging and content creation. In this article, we’ll explore why Dave, a long-time WordPress user and advocate, decided to make the switch to Ghost for his Profitable.Tools website. We’ll delve into the similarities between WordPress and Ghost, examine where Ghost excels, and discuss the areas where WordPress still holds an advantage. By the end of this comprehensive comparison, you’ll have a clear understanding of both platforms and be better equipped to decide which one might be right for your blogging needs.

Start [00:00]

The Shift from WordPress to Ghost

As we begin our exploration of the transition from WordPress to Ghost, it’s essential to understand the context of this shift. Dave, the creator of Profitable.Tools, has been a long-time advocate for WordPress, using it extensively in his business and content creation. However, he’s noticed a growing demand from his audience for information about non-WordPress options for building blogs and websites.

Key points to consider:

• Dave has received feedback from viewers like Michael, who expressed frustration with WordPress and a desire to learn about alternative blogging platforms.
• The video aims to address this demand by exploring Ghost as a potential alternative to WordPress for bloggers and content creators.
• While Dave still uses and values WordPress, he recognizes the importance of exploring other options to provide a more comprehensive view of the available tools for his audience.
• This shift in focus represents a significant change for Dave’s channel, which has previously been heavily WordPress-centric.

Introduction to Ghost CMS

Ghost is presented as a modern alternative to WordPress, specifically designed for bloggers and content creators. Here’s what you need to know about Ghost:

• Ghost currently has approximately 3 million users building blogs on its platform.
• Unlike WordPress, which has evolved into a multi-purpose CMS, Ghost remains focused on blogging and content creation.
• Ghost is described as a “sports car” compared to WordPress’s “SUV” analogy, emphasizing its specialized nature and streamlined functionality.
• The platform is particularly well-suited for content creators looking to host blogs and offer subscriptions or membership sites.

Notable Ghost Users

To illustrate the growing adoption of Ghost, Dave highlights several prominent companies using the platform for their blogs:

• Buffer
• Unsplash
• Ulysses
• DuckDuckGo
• Duolingo
• OpenAI
• Fastmail
• Airtable

The fact that these well-known companies have chosen Ghost over WordPress for their blogging needs suggests that the platform offers significant advantages for certain use cases.

Similarities between WordPress & Ghost [02:26]

While Ghost positions itself as an alternative to WordPress, there are several key similarities between the two platforms that make the transition easier for users familiar with WordPress.

Open Source Nature

Both WordPress and Ghost are open-source platforms, which means:

• The source code for both CMSs is freely available on GitHub.
• Users can download and install the software on any server they choose.
• The open-source nature allows for community contributions and customizations.
• This transparency and flexibility are crucial for developers and users who want full control over their websites.

Hosted and Self-Hosted Options

Like WordPress, Ghost offers both self-hosted and managed hosting options:

• Users can choose to install and manage Ghost on their own servers for maximum control and customization.
• Alternatively, Ghost provides a hosted, managed version for those who prefer a more hands-off approach.
• This flexibility allows users to choose the option that best suits their technical skills and resources.
• The ability to switch between self-hosted and managed options provides scalability as a website grows.

Theme Ecosystem

Both platforms offer a variety of themes to customize the look and feel of websites:

• Ghost, like WordPress, has free and premium themes available.
• Users can customize existing themes or create their own from scratch.
• The theme marketplace for Ghost, while not as extensive as WordPress’s, still provides ample options for customization.
• The ability to upload custom themes gives users full control over their site’s appearance.

Familiar Backend Interface

Ghost’s backend interface shares many similarities with WordPress, making the transition easier for users:

• The content management area is organized similarly to WordPress, with sections for posts, pages, and tags.
• While Ghost doesn’t have categories built into the UI, it offers alternative ways to organize content.
• The streamlined interface removes many of the complexities found in WordPress, focusing on core blogging features.
• Users familiar with WordPress will find the learning curve for Ghost relatively shallow.

Where Ghost Wins [03:43]

While WordPress has long been the go-to platform for bloggers and content creators, Ghost offers several advantages that make it an attractive alternative for many users.

Purpose-Built for Blogging and Newsletters

One of Ghost’s primary strengths is its laser focus on blogging and newsletter functionality:

• Ghost is designed specifically for content creators, with blogging and newsletter features at the forefront.
• The platform makes it easy to sign up subscribers and keep them informed about new content.
• Unlike WordPress, which often requires multiple plugins and additional setup for newsletter functionality, Ghost includes these features out of the box.
• This streamlined approach reduces complexity and potential conflicts that can arise from using multiple plugins in WordPress.

Modern Tech Stack

Ghost’s modern technology foundation provides several benefits:

• Built on a Node.js tech stack, Ghost offers superior speed and security compared to WordPress’s older PHP-based architecture.
• The modern stack results in faster loading times without the need for extensive optimization efforts.
• Users can avoid the common WordPress pitfall of spending significant time and money on speed optimization plugins and services.
• The improved security reduces the need for constant updates and patches, which are often necessary with WordPress.

Intuitive and Distraction-Free Editor

Ghost’s editor is a standout feature that many users find superior to WordPress’s Gutenberg editor:

• The Ghost editor provides a distraction-free writing environment that allows authors to focus on content creation.
• It offers a simple, intuitive interface that requires fewer clicks to accomplish common tasks compared to Gutenberg.
• The editor includes “cards” for easy insertion of various content types, similar to Gutenberg blocks but with a more streamlined approach.
• Features like snippets allow users to save and reuse content elements across multiple posts, improving efficiency.

Built-in SEO and Social Media Optimization

Ghost includes powerful SEO and social media features without the need for additional plugins:

• The platform offers built-in SEO settings for each post, allowing users to customize metadata easily.
• Social media cards for platforms like Twitter and Facebook are automatically generated and customizable.
• These integrated features ensure that content is optimized for search engines and social sharing without additional complexity.

Integrated Email Newsletters

One of Ghost’s most compelling features is its built-in email newsletter functionality:

• Users can send blog posts as email newsletters directly from the Ghost interface.
• The platform allows for easy segmentation of subscribers and customization of email content.
• This integrated approach eliminates the need for third-party email marketing services in many cases.
• The ability to preview newsletters across various devices and platforms ensures consistent presentation.

Membership and Subscription Features

Ghost excels in providing tools for creators who want to monetize their content:

• The platform includes built-in membership and subscription features.
• Users can easily create tiered access levels for content, allowing for free, paid, and premium memberships.
• These features are integrated seamlessly into the publishing workflow, making it easy to restrict access to specific posts or content types.
• The ability to manage memberships without additional plugins or services simplifies the process of building a sustainable content business.

Fast and Responsive Admin Area

The Ghost admin interface is designed for speed and efficiency:

• Users report that the admin area is significantly faster and more responsive than many WordPress installations.
• Design settings and customizations can be applied quickly without page reloads or long loading times.
• This speed improvement translates to a more pleasant user experience and increased productivity for content creators.

Affordable Managed Hosting Options

Ghost’s official managed hosting service offers several advantages:

• The pricing structure is competitive, starting at just $9 per month for up to 500 members.
• Higher tiers, like the $25 per month Creator plan, offer additional functionality at a reasonable price point.
• The managed hosting solution handles technical aspects like email deliverability, eliminating the need for complex SMTP setups.
• Users report positive experiences with Ghost’s support team, citing quick and helpful responses to inquiries.

Easy Migration and Data Portability

Ghost provides straightforward options for data migration and portability:

• Users can easily export all content to a JSON file, facilitating migration between hosted and self-hosted instances.
• This feature ensures that users are not locked into a single hosting solution and can move their content as needed.
• The simplicity of the export/import process reduces the barriers to trying Ghost or switching between hosting options.

Where WordPress Wins [11:56]

While Ghost offers many advantages, WordPress still holds several key strengths that make it the preferred choice for many users and use cases.

Extensive Ecosystem

WordPress’s vast ecosystem of plugins, themes, and services remains one of its biggest advantages:

• The WordPress plugin repository contains tens of thousands of free and premium extensions.
• This extensive library allows users to add almost any functionality to their websites without coding knowledge.
• The ecosystem includes a wide range of themes, both free and premium, catering to virtually every design preference and industry.
• The abundance of resources, tutorials, and documentation makes it easy for users to find solutions to common problems.

Unparalleled Flexibility

WordPress’s flexibility allows it to be used for a wide range of website types:

• While originally designed for blogging, WordPress has evolved into a versatile CMS suitable for e-commerce, portfolios, membership sites, and more.
• The ability to create custom post types and taxonomies allows for complex content structures beyond simple blog posts.
• Advanced users can leverage WordPress as a headless CMS, powering custom front-end applications.
• This flexibility makes WordPress a “one-size-fits-all” solution for many businesses and organizations.

Abundant Integrations

WordPress offers a vast array of integrations with third-party services and tools:

• Most popular software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools offer direct WordPress integrations or plugins.
• This extensive integration ecosystem allows for seamless connections with CRMs, email marketing platforms, analytics tools, and more.
• Users can often find multiple integration options for a single service, providing choice and redundancy.
• The abundance of integrations reduces the need for custom development in many cases.

Less Reliance on Third-Party Services

While WordPress often requires plugins for advanced functionality, it generally offers more built-in features than Ghost:

• Basic features like comments are included out-of-the-box with WordPress, whereas Ghost requires third-party solutions.
• WordPress’s larger ecosystem often means that free or low-cost plugin options are available for features that might require paid services with Ghost.
• The ability to handle more functionality within WordPress itself can lead to cost savings and simplified management for some users.

Easier Customization for Non-Developers

WordPress offers more visual customization options for users without coding skills:

• Many WordPress themes include extensive customization options accessible through the WordPress Customizer.
• Page builder plugins like Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder allow for drag-and-drop layout creation without coding.
• The block editor (Gutenberg) continues to evolve, offering more visual editing capabilities with each update.
• This visual approach to customization makes it easier for non-technical users to create unique website designs.

Larger Community and Support Network

The WordPress community is unparalleled in size and activity:

• Countless forums, blogs, and social media groups are dedicated to WordPress support and discussion.
• Regular WordCamps and meetups provide opportunities for learning and networking.
• The large community means that solutions to common problems are often readily available through a quick search.
• This extensive support network can be particularly valuable for beginners or those managing complex websites.

Conclusion [15:57]

As we conclude our exploration of WordPress and Ghost, it’s clear that both platforms have their strengths and are suited to different use cases. Dave’s decision to move his Profitable.Tools website to Ghost reflects a growing trend among content creators who are seeking specialized tools that prioritize blogging and content creation.

Key Takeaways

1. Ghost excels as a purpose-built platform for bloggers and content creators, offering streamlined features for publishing, newsletters, and memberships.
2. WordPress remains unmatched in its flexibility and extensive ecosystem, making it ideal for complex websites and users who require a wide range of functionalities.
3. Ghost’s modern tech stack provides superior speed and security out of the box, reducing the need for optimization efforts common in WordPress.
4. WordPress offers more visual customization options and a larger community, which can be particularly beneficial for non-developers and those seeking extensive support.
5. The choice between Ghost and WordPress ultimately depends on the specific needs of the user, with Ghost being particularly attractive for those focused primarily on content creation and distribution.

Future Outlook

As Ghost continues to evolve and gain popularity, it’s likely that we’ll see further developments in its ecosystem and capabilities. Dave’s plan to explore integrations between Ghost and visual builders like Webflow suggests that the platform may become even more accessible to non-coders in the future.

For content creators and bloggers, Ghost represents an exciting alternative to WordPress that prioritizes their specific needs. However, WordPress’s vast ecosystem and flexibility ensure that it will remain a dominant force in the CMS landscape for years to come.

Ultimately, the emergence of platforms like Ghost serves to push the entire industry forward, encouraging innovation and specialization that benefits users across the board. As content creation continues to evolve, having a diverse range of tools and platforms to choose from ensures that creators can find the perfect fit for their unique needs and workflows.

Whether you choose to stick with WordPress, make the switch to Ghost, or explore other alternatives, the key is to select the platform that best aligns with your goals, technical skills, and content strategy. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each platform, you can make an informed decision that sets you up for success in your content creation journey.

To learn more about Dave’s experiences with Ghost and stay updated on his journey, be sure to follow him on Twitter, join his Facebook group, or visit his website at ClientAmp.