As a WordPress user, you are probably familiar with the Admin Dashboard, where you spend a lot of your time setting up and managing your site. However, did you know that there are mobile apps available that allow you to add and manage content for your WordPress site? These apps can be incredibly useful, yet many users ignore them.
If you’ve never tried the iOS WordPress app, let’s run through a quick overview of what it can do. When you first open the app, you need to set up your WordPress site to work with it. It’s pretty easy – you give it the URL of your site and the username/password, and it does the rest. You can also use it to manage a WordPress.com site or even set up a new blog on WordPress.com.
You can follow the same process to add extra sites, and the app seems happy switching between them. On the main settings screen, there are also options for controlling images and videos.
While there is a link to opening up the Admin Dashboard, the iOS app is really all about adding and managing content. Very easily, you can create a new post or page and just start writing. The post editor is a familiar interface for WordPress users, and at the bottom of this interface are settings for the post. From here, you can look at the published date (if it’s an existing post), status (draft, pending review, or published), as well as setting the Featured Image for the post.
Images can be added from the phone’s camera roll, taken directly with the camera, or supported by other popular iOS photo apps. The same goes for video – you can choose to upload a video from the camera roll or take a video right away with the phone and add it to the post.
The app shows you all of your current posts and pages too, so making an edit to existing content is just as easy. Nothing like fixing that typo as soon as someone shows it to you!
While the app is great for adding and managing content, it’s also handy for managing comments on your sites. It’s very convenient to be able to view and reply to comments wherever you are. If you have a busy site that attracts a lot of commenters, this alone is worth installing the app. You can also delete comments or mark them as spam if necessary.
Another useful feature of the iOS version is that it supports the Jetpack WordPress stats. If you use Jetpack on your WordPress site, the app taps into this, and you can choose to view the stats right on your phone. Jetpack is a plugin that offers a suite of powerful features for your WordPress site, including security, performance, and marketing tools.
If you publish lots of photos, the mobile app is brilliant for this kind of application. For example, if you’re traveling and want to document your adventures on your WordPress blog, you can easily publish photos of your day-to-day activities using the app. Of course, you need to solve the problem of getting online with your phone, but if WiFi is an option, it’s a lot easier than having to cart around a full computer.
Related to this is a new app for iPhone called Pressgram. Pressgram takes the idea of Instagram but with a twist – instead of publishing photos to a social network, it allows you to connect the app with your WordPress site and publish directly to your own site. This app is not out yet but will be available in the next few weeks.
If you don’t use an iPhone, don’t worry – there are WordPress mobile apps for other platforms too. Check out WordPress for Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone.
In conclusion, if you’re a WordPress user and haven’t tried the mobile app yet, give it a go. It’s a great way to add and manage content on the go, and it’s also handy for managing comments and checking your site stats. With the mobile app, you can stay connected to your WordPress site no matter where you are.
