If you’re a blogger, imagine not having to struggle with using WordPress again. Even with WordPress being the most popular and used content management platform on the internet today, there are still always going to be other solutions. Just like how some bloggers and site owners continue to use Blogspot, Joomla, or even Magenta to power their sites, some users might enjoy the opportunities that lie within Microsoft products and services as well.
For example, Microsoft Office 365 now supports many blogging platforms, and with many of its software solutions being accessible via the cloud, it might be a blogging tool that comes quite in handy.
Today we are going to explore the process of creating a blog using Office 365.
The Familiarity with Microsoft
You may have grown up using Microsoft Word for writing articles, documents, and memos. You know the shortcuts, you’re comfortable with the format, and you generally prefer this software over others.
Something you might not have known is that you can now you can use Office 365 to convert content to HTML text. With Microsoft having phased out their popular FrontPage site design software, it was only a matter of time before they made Word into an easy to use blogger and content creation solution.
Microsoft has also added an extra security layer for users with the latest security tools to help you stay compliant with regional laws and regulations. If you’re still concerned about security, using a third-party cloud access security broker (CASB) for more protection, especially when securing data transfer from your blog site to the cloud.
Write, Copy, and Paste
You have several options when working with Microsoft Word. First, draft your blog; copy and paste your draft into your blog platform’s editing interface. If the interface refuses your paste attempt, then paste directly into your blog platform’s editor to bypass the previous step. Alternatively, use an HTML cleaning tool such as html-cleaner.com to make blog text pasting easier.
As a last resort, take a screenshot and paste to the blog like an image. This technique also works for Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft programs. However, you will not be able to edit an image without returning to the original document. You can likewise eliminate the risk of plagiarism since readers cannot copy images. If illegal copying is a problem, posting your blog content as an image can be a solution.
Blog Directly from Word
You can go directly from Office 365 to your blog account without having to copy, paste, or use an image.
- Open Microsoft Word and navigate to File > New Menu.
- Click Blog Post, then click Create.
- Click Register Now and follow the steps to create a username and password.
- If a pop-up registration does not display, click Manage Accounts > New from the top of the page.
- The New Blog Account window will appear next. Choose your blog from the drop-down menu. If not shown, select Other.
- Click Next.
- Log on by entering your blog post URL followed by your blog account username and password (the same information you use when normally logging into your blog).
- If you’re not certain what needs to appear in the URL section, consult the Microsoft blogging help tool.
- Next, click Picture Options and decide how you want images uploaded to your blog. Use your own images or your blog provider’s image hosting service. You can also choose not to load any images.
- Click OK to allow Microsoft Word to access your account.
You can also create an interoffice blog. Choose your account settings. Next, find the Delve option and begin your blog with Office 365. (Note that this access level will not allow you to post to an outside blog.) From here, you can share your content with co-workers or send instructional videos.
Now that you know the steps, you can successfully maintain your blog with Office 365.
WordPress, Microsoft, or Whatever…
No matter what solution or site builder you decide to use, make sure you always focus your time and efforts on creating high-quality content. With more sites on the internet now than ever before, it’s about quality over quantity. Publish content less often, but make sure it’s really great and worth your audience’s time.