Picking the right tool for the job: SharePoint vs Wordpress

2013-04-05

SharePoint is a sophisticated platform that supports a whole range of functionality, although it is perhaps best thought of as a Web content management system or document collaboration platform. This doesn't mean it is always the best platform out of the box for specific contexts or use cases.

One SharePoint consultant, Joel Oleson, has been bravely blogging with SharePoint, but has decided to migrate to Wordpress:

"Microsoft has never invested a lot in their blogs. It’s ok to say that SharePoint isn’t the best blogging platform. In fact I don’t shed a tear when I say it’s not the best wiki either. There are point solutions out there that are better than SharePoint and most SharePoint consultants will stand up and admit it. Maybe that’s even a good litmus test for your SharePoint consultant. Tell him you want to stand up a public blog and ask him what you should use.

I’ve had a great run with this blog on the SharePoint platform, but it’s driven me a little crazy over time."

(Note: The link to his specific post about this is currently broken)

This isn't actually news to the Microsoft community. In 2010, Microsoft itself migrated Windows Live users to Wordpress.com - back then, they said:

"As we looked at customers’ blogging needs and what different companies were providing, we were particularly interested in what WordPress.com is doing. They have a host of impressive capabilities – from a scalable platform and leading spam protection, to great personalization and customization… So rather than having Windows Live invest in a competing blogging service, we decided the best thing we could do for our customers was to give them a great blogging solution through WordPress.com."

Incidentally Microsoft's own blogs - e.g. the Office blogs - use Telligent. Meanwhile, Yammer and Skype also use Wordpress.

There is nothing wrong with picking the right tool over vendor "brand" loyalty. I wish there was more of this in the industry.