If there’s one thing I love as much as writing blog posts, it’s reading them. And learning about a topic like WordPress is conveyed much more efficiently on a blog rather than on something like a textbook.
But make no mistake, I carefully select the blogs I frequent — not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry blogger makes it to my reading list. The main things I look for in blog are: a blogger (s) who knows what they’re talking about, consistent posting frequency, and (above all) high-quality content and depth.
So without further ado, I present to you 10 of my favorite WordPress blogs: handpicked masterpieces that are well worth the read.
WP Beginner
WP Beginner is another hugely popular blog that focuses on (you guessed it) WordPress from a beginner’s perspective.
The reason you read WP Beginner will almost certainly not be for a perfect writing style or flawless grammar but rather its clarity. The posts are structured so well, and all of their tutorials are comprehensive and in-depth, without being difficult to understand or overloaded with information.
WPMU Dev
WPMU Dev is one of the largest producers of WordPress plugins and themes. It has a gigantic user base and (more importantly) a successful and very high-quality blog.
The content ranges in topics from simple WordPress usage tuts, to complex development guides, to fun bits like this one posted by founder James Farmer on April Fool’s Day.
Recently, WPMU Dev has become very consistent and regular with at least one post every day. There are quite a few different writing styles featured on the blog — due to the large pool of contributors.
WP Explorer
WP Explorer does a little bit of everything: it’s a combination of WordPress news, tutorials, coupon notifications, and theme/plugin reviews.
But whatever it does, it does well. Despite its somewhat irregular posting schedule, WP Explorer provides great content worth consuming. On the blog, megatutorials aren’t as common as, say, list posts or brief WordPress hacks.
With high profile authors like Tom Ewer and AJ Clarke contributing, WP Explorer’s RSS feed is definitely one you want to add to your current email subscriptions.
WP Tavern
WP Tavern isn’t exactly the most popular WordPress blog out there yet, but it is quickly becoming the premier source for WordPress news.
With multiple posts per day, WP Tavern is the place to go if you’re interested in keeping your finger on the pulse of everything that’s happening in WordPress: newest plugins, major updates to popular tools, and more.
ThemeShaper
ThemeShaper is a popular blog about WordPress that’s been around for quite a few years. It has continued to thrive for a good reason: its content quality and depth are hard to beat.
This blog focuses mostly on development topics — for both newbies and experienced WordPress tinkerers alike. One of its most prestigious posts is a mammoth guide to building a WordPress theme.
Beginner developers would do well to give ThemeShaper a second glance.
Code Tuts+
Envato’s far-reaching network includes a popular series of blogs on web dev and online business topics, known as “Tuts+.” One of the most popular sections of this blog series is Code Tuts+.
Code Tuts+’s content centers mainly around in-depth code tutorials. Most of these tutorials have something or the other to do with WordPress developement. One or more posts are published every day.
Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine is another high-profile blog.
Rather than focusing just on WordPress, Smashing Magazine content falls under JavaScript, email design, and graphical design topics. Titles centered around typography, UI & UX, and mobile design processes are frequently found.
Smashing Magazine does well to stick to a fairly regular posting schedule — expect fresh content at least once every two days. A whole horde of writers contribute to the blog, so you are assured of fresh perspective in every post.
ManageWP
ManageWP is one of the top providers of advanced WordPress dashboard management. Its blog, too, has turned out to be a megasuccess.
The majority of posts on the ManageWP blog are list posts — most often of the best plugins for a certain function or the best themes for a certain website niche.
The blog’s posting frequency is consistent and more than satisfactory.
WP Lift
(Note: In the interest of full disclosure, I have written for WP Lift in the past.)
WP Lift has long since been one of my favorite blogs about WordPress. Its posts are in-depth, succinct, and well worth the read.
The range of topics explored on WP Lift is quite varied: you’ll find everything from weekly theme roundups, to coupon notifications, to development tutorials, to quick WordPress usage tips.
The blog has accumulated over 10,000 subscribers since its launch in 2010, and deserves every single one of them.
WP Mayor
WP Mayor is another distinguished WordPress blog.
WP Mayor’s content focuses on WordPress from a user’s point of view (not a developer’s), covering topics like WordPress hacks, plugin/theme lists, and usage tips.
Occasionally, they also review select themes and plugins — such as X, the fastest selling WordPress theme this year. Although the posting schedule isn’t 100% reliable, you can expect 2-3+ new pieces per week.
Bonus: Torque
And now for my personal favorite: Torque!
Torque covers everything WordPress: breaking news about updates on major plugins, speculative pieces on controversial issues, and even good ol’ fashioned plugin lists.
Wrapping Up
They say that knowledge is power, and there are few better ways to gain knowledge than through educational blogs.
I might be a bit biased (never mind — I’m definitely biased), but my favorite source on this list is Torque, with WPMU Dev blog coming in at a very close second. The content quality at both these blogs is truly unmatched.
What other worthy blogs and websites do you think I might have missed? Add links to your favorite WordPress blogs in the comments below!
Jonathan John is a WordPress enthusiast and freelance blogger. He loves comparing WordPress plugins and themes, sharing the latest Automattic news, and helping non-techies get the most out of the world’s favorite CMS.
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