The latest multi–user version of WordPress is now out. WordPress MU 1.3 contains several MU–specific changes, as listed by Donncha:
- Better admin controls for the signup page. It can be disabled in various ways.
- Upload space functions have been fixed.
- The signup form is now hidden from search engines which will help avoid certain types of spamming.
- Profile page now allows you to select your primary blog.
- Database tables are now UTF-8 from the start.
- If you’re using virtual hosts, the main blog doesn’t live at /blog/ any more.
- The WordPress importer now assigns posts to other users on a blog.
- A taxonomy sync script is included in mu-plugins but commented out. It hasn’t been tested much but if your site has many hundreds of blogs it might be worth spending some time on a test server. Replicate normal traffic patterns and see if the server can cope with the upgrade process. If not, then look at the sync script, uncomment it and iterate over all your blogs with a script.
WordPress MU is the base of the code is used on WordPress.com, and allows anyone to publish their own hosted blog service quite easily.
One of the most effective ways of driving traffic to a blog is often a banner exchange that shares the same genere. This is the source of a large number of repeat visitors when quality content is presented.