It’s Thursday, so that means it’s time for a new Blogger Series article.
If you are new to my blog, I am currently running this series on Thursdays where I discuss topics around blogging to help people who are considering starting a blog as well as tips for getting the most from your blog.
Disclaimer: This article includes a Refer a Friend link that if used, and a paid account selected, both yourself and I will receive reward credits.
How Many Blogging Platforms Are There?
Lots.
I mean like seriously. There are loads. Some of the most common that you may have heard of are WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, Squarespace, Weebly and Wix.
There are new platforms being created as well as old ones that have been around for ages.
How The Heck Do I Choose A Platform?
Well, you can spend hours researching every single one, checking comparison etc. Totally acceptable but very time-consuming.
The best way is to figure out what you want. Here are some basic questions to ask:
- How technically-minded are you?
- Do you have any coding skills?
- How much time can you devote to blogging?
- Does cost matter?
- Do you want to be able to monetise your blog?
- Do you want to be easy to find / easy for people to leave comments?
- Do you want lots of flash and features?
Your answers can help you narrow down your choices. For example, if you are just starting out and are not technically-minded you might want something simple and easy to use.
If cost is an issue, you might want to consider the free options with upgrade options rather than straight to ones with hosting costs.
Purpose Is Important
See, now you know why I said in my first post that knowing your blogging purpose was something you needed to figure out early.
If you have high ambitions for your blog then you might want to start out with a lot of control, customisation and a paid option. After all, changing platforms can be a little difficult later on (not impossible, just not always easy).
However, if you are not sure if blogging is going to be for you or that you might not be able to commit loads of time to it, then starting out on a simple, free platform would be best.
My personal opinion is there’s no point forking out cash on a paid hosting account if there is a chance you won’t even stick blogging out.
If you want to be a professional blogger, then setting yourself up well right off the bat is a good idea. Otherwise, don’t throw away money needlessly.
What Are The Differences Between Platforms?
I’m not going to go through a full pro and con list of each individual platform. Mainly because most of this can be condensed down to the following:
Free blogging options (Con):
- limited templates
- limited customisation
- limited features
- not always easy to back-up
- you don’t own the blog so the blogging hoster (e.g .Google with Blogger) can technically close or suspend your account at any time and could even stop the service entirely
- can’t be monetised or run your own ads on your blog
- includes ads and/or banners of the hoster (e.g. Wix)
Free blogging options (Pro):
- they’re free so you can see if you are really interested in blogging without forking out cash
- most have some form of an upgrade option that gives you more features etc when you move to a paid version
- they have free templates and themes that are pretty decent especially for starting out
- easy to use with either simplified customisation options (e.g. WordPress.com) or drag and drop features (e.g. Wix)
- almost no technical skill needed
Paid-for blogging options (Con):
- cost obviously, you have to pay for hosting as well as your domain name and those costs can be quite steep when you are just getting into blogging.
- can take some learning and some paid platforms need some technical knowledge
- for some platforms, you need to manage the security of the site yourself
- some paid options have limited plans that mean you are limited to the number of pages (unless you pay for a bigger plan)
- integration to some services can sometimes be limited depending on the hoster
- can be complicated to set up
Paid-for blogging options (Pro):
- gives you greater control over your blog/website
- with many you own it, so it can’t just be shut down or suspended
- numerous plugins that can help boost your blog
- often have thousands more templates and themes
- additional features available on planned schemes
- some hosters include more detailed analytics to help you track your blog’s progress and growth
- some hosters have the option for eCommerce
- can be monetised and run ads
- often includes access to the technical support team
Which Platforms Have I Used?
I have personally used WordPress.com (this is what this blog runs on), I’ve also used Tumblr, Wix, Weebly and checked out Squarespace.
I am also semi-proficient in HTML coding and used to code my own websites back in the day.
While I did love the freedom and control of coding my own websites, it can become time-consuming.
Since my time is in short supply now, I just can’t justify coding my own when there are numerous platforms that work well enough.
If you would like to use WordPress.com <– this link is a Refer a Friend one from WordPress that will give both myself and you some reward credits. (Should you use it and get a paid account).
Why Do I Use WordPress.com?
This blog was started on WordPress.com Free account. I was new to blogging when I started (my coded websites had been websites, not blogs).
I wanted to see how I felt with blogging and so the free option worked well. In fact, after I started my blog I ended up drifting away from it several times over the first three years. I only got more committed and seriously with it back in late 2016.
So, I was glad I didn’t throw money away on a paid account right from the start.
I am now using WordPress.com Premium account, so I do pay for the account. I am happy with the plan I have and while I do have my sights set on moving to the Business plan in the future, currently the premium plan works fine for me.
Easy to use
I love how WordPress.com’s customisation is so easy to use. Everything from setting up pages, adding themes and widgets etc is not difficult.
Reader
I love the WordPress.com Reader. This is where all WordPress.com blogs are pulled together in an easily searchable place. You can add tags and find blogs with relatable content. I get many new visitors from Reader.
Also, if you find other blogs on WordPress.com you like, when you click “follow” they are added to your reader under Followed Accounts. It makes keeping up-to-date with other bloggers a lot easier.
Good themes
While there are thousands of paid themes, there are loads of perfectly good free themes.
You can check them out by select “demo” or just select “activate” theme and it changes your blog. You can change the themes as often as you want until you’re happy with it.
Set-up
Having tried other sites, I personally find WordPress.com the best for my needs. I love its quick set-up, I can get a new blog launched and looking ready in less than an hour now.
Upgradable
I like the upgrade options. I like having the ability to expand my features and customisation when I’m ready.
Mobile-friendly
It is already set up so that it looks good no matter what device you use. Nothing worse than viewing a page on your phone or tablet that is not set up for that.
Is WordPress.com right for you?
I can’t answer that for you. I recommend that you consider carefully what you want from your blog both now and in the future, then see if you can match your requirements to a platform.
Check out other people’s blogs. Who are your favourite bloggers? What platform do they use? Not sure? Ask them!
A quick note
Be realistic. I’ve seen too many new bloggers come to blogging with the idea of making big bucks because someone else did. Then they struggle to even get anyone reading their blog.
Blogging is not a quick, money-making scheme. It’s work but it’s fun. Yes, you can sometimes make money and yes some people manage to make a lot of money even in a short amount of time. But they are the exceptions.
Don’t make decisions based on thinking you’re going to be the next big blogger. Aim for that if you want, hell yeah! But don’t expect it without a helluva lot of work and some upfront capital.
Instead, come into blogging for yourself, for sharing your ideas, thoughts, recipes, poems, stories, gripes… whatever your blog’s purpose. 😉
Use this Refer a Friend Link to sign up for WordPress.com and get a paid account and both you and I will get reward credits. (no obligation!!)
To all those readers who are already bloggers, which platform do you use?
Happy writing
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A useful article. I feel more motivated to start a blog now!
Hi Trish, thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post useful, I am enjoying doing my Blogger Series for those looking to start blogging.
I really hope you do start a blog. It can be a wonderful thing. Especially if you start off slow and build up. 🙂
I went with WordPress.com because I wasn’t sure how dedicated I would be. I spent a lot of time studying blogs. Becoming a regular on many of my favorites and asking lots of questions. But still….I knew I had to create my own and see if it was something I’d enjoy and be good at.
I went with the personal plan. By doing so there are no advertisements. It’s only $4 a month. It was perfect for me. The best feature of all was the live chat help line. I can get on anytime and have their support team assist me in something that could take me all day. My problems are usually fixed within 20 minutes or less.
I try to tell others who are just starting out to do what I did. Start small and see if it’s for you. Blogging has turned out to be a lot fun. I enjoy meeting others and coming up with ideas to talk about. Down the road I might upgrade but for now I’m good.
Thanks for your comment. I think starting small with blogging is definitely the way to go. People often throw money in right away and blogging might not be the right fit for them.
I have to say I love WordPress’s support chat. They are so friendly, polite and always have an answer.
Thanks for this post. I’ve been battling this question for quite a few years and the questions you pose are incredibly helpful. I’ll be linking your post to some other writers I know who have been wondering the same.
Hi Gabrielle, thanks so much for your comment. I am so glad you found this post on choosing a blogging platform helpful. 😀
What a well laid out post! Thanks for sharing. I originally started my blog for free and have been upgrading over the years. Part of me wishes I started off with a paid option, but I didn’t realize then that making a living off your blog was possible. I mean, also, I was a teenager and couldn’t afford to pay for a blog, but still, lol.
Thanks so much Rachel. Glad you like it. I think starting off with a free account is good, especially just at the start to help feel your way around.
I would have lost so much money if I had started a paid version straight away. Or maybe paying would have forced me to stay focused early on. 😀
So would I! My blogging was so sporadic and sometimes I’d go months without posting. It’d be such a waste and discouraging.
I use wordpress because when I created my website http://www.ktdaxon.com, the plug-in came free with the hosting site. It’s easy to use and now just trying to figure out how to use it in terms of content. I started off doing writing only posts, but I’ve capped out at 61 blog followers. I’d love to gain more, otherwise it feels like a journal where I just talk to myself. Haha! Which I suppose that’s okay, writing practice at least.
Hi KT, sorry, for some reason your comment went into my spam box. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on why you chose your blogging platform. How long have you had your blog?
I did a lot of research and asked myself if this is something I wanted to do. I did not want to be one of those who paid a lot of cash for a hosting site and ended up not using it. I finally chose WordPress.com but I paid extra so that there would be no advertisements. I believe it’s called the personal plan.
I’m not a tech person and even if I was I do not have a lot of time to figure it out. Their help center is excellent. At the beginning I was always contacting them asking for this and that and in the end I received the type of help I needed.
A person needs to be honest with themselves. They also need to be in it for the long haul. I’m glad I’m at the age that I am. Had I been younger, with far less patience than I have now, I may have walked away.
With that mindset, my younger mindset that is, I tell people to go with the free plan to see if blogging is their thing. Test the waters. If it looks good go a little deeper. Buy the personal or premium plan.
Good info as always. Huge thanks!!!
I chose WordPress because other authors I know have so I thought I’d try it. Over the years there has been a lot of trial and error/experimentation. I also got on Tumblr because it could connect with WordPress (same reason why I joined Twitter).
I found most of the writers I like/followed were on WordPress and it’s easier to connect to people, too. It’s definitely a good platform for people to use either short or long term 🙂