WordPress runs my site, but I’ll let SmugMug organize my photos and MailChimp do my newsletters.

Wouldn’t it be easier/smarter/faster/better if I had it all in once place, all under one roof, through one login and one account? Maybe.

But here’s the deal:

  • WordPress is the best for managing my online content.
  • SmugMug organizes my photos in ways I love.
  • MailChimp has features no other service provides.

Yes, WordPress can do all of these things. WordPress can also manage my events (but I’d rather use Eventbrite or even Google Calendar), load video (but YouTube or Vimeo stream it better), and even do pretty good forms (but Gravity Forms is just plain better).

[quote]Does your dentist also change your oil and repair your Mac? Well, sure, he could … but why?[/quote]

But I’m back to 72 logins, passwords, accounts, costs, and … mayhem! Passwords? Are you still using Sticky Notes? Or Word? Let the experts do that: LastPass. See what I mean?

[box type=”tick”]But what if I don’t know what the best product is for the job? Ask someone who’s passionate about it. [/box]

Two questions this morning and it’s only 9:30:

  1. Should we host our email where our website is hosted? 
  2. Why can’t I load my zillion photos easily into WordPress?

1. Email and Website Hosting

Since they asked, I’ll tell. Here’s my ideal domain, hosting and email solution. I can go on and on about why this is the best set up, but recently lots of people have been asking me, “Just tell me what to do. I don’t care so much about why. You’re the expert, just tell me what to do.” Here’s what to do.

  1. Domain registrar: GoDaddy. 
  2. Website hosting: WP Engine.
  3. Email hosting: Google.

There you have it. I won’t even bother with the why other than that’s what I recommend (and use). OK, fine, here’s one reason: change your MX records at your registrar, not your host.

2.) WordPress and your Zillion Photos

You have your website. You have your photos. Yes, you can certainly put lots onto your site. But when you get into lots of galleries and albums and collections and tags etc. you need something more powerful, something that can handle all of that photo goodness.

  1. WordPress for your website.
  2. SmugMug for your (zillion) photos.

If you then want your photos on your site, you can embed them into WP using some embed code from SmugMug. Website saved from photo overload and SmugMug happy with your new photos–your viewers will be happier too.

The case against the All-in-One scanner/copier/fax/printer

Maybe we should call it the All-in-None … 

I used to have a great scanner. I really liked it. I knew how to use it and it did an excellent job of very sharp, extremely high resolution images that were accurate to color. But we needed a printer. I had a printer. I liked my little B&W printer. Once in a while we needed a copier. My scanner could kinda work as a copier, but it wasn’t straightforward. But I do now only have one machine! That’s a good thing, right?

The Basket and the Eggs

Spreading your tools around also decreases the risk of having all of your eggs in one basket. For example, even though I love WP Engine, I have sites hosted at 4 or 5 hosting companies. Hosting companies go away, computers die, back up your data (Carbonite), spread it around, don’t have too many eggs–or at least get some more baskets.

I don't know how to make soap, I don't want to know how. But I want the soap maker to know how. [Nice, France]

I don’t know how to make soap, I don’t want to know how. But I want the soap maker to know how. [Nice, France]