Starting a blog can be quite the task to take on, especially when you're faced with so many blogging platforms to choose from. Whether you're just starting out and about to create a blog, or if you're looking to switch blogging platforms (since your current one isn't cutting it) it's important to really take into consideration what you're looking for within a blogging platform, as selecting the right platform undoubtedly impacts your online presence and success. We wanted to help you out by gathering our top 3 blogging platforms that are perfect for beginners, these top three platforms are listed in no particular order - instead we simply wanted to provide you with important information you should consider regarding each one.
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1. WordPress
WordPress comes in the variation of WordPress.org and WordPress.com. What's the difference? It's actually quite simple - WordPress.org is a popular website platform that is an open source software platform which is completely free to use. As long as you have a domain name and website hosting, you can utilize this platform to create your very own self- hosted website or blog. WordPress.com is a hosting service by the co-founder of WordPress - while there is a free plan for this platform, you're quite limited with what you can do with it. However, there are four additional plans that vary in price and you're bound to find a plan that works great for you. So what are the pros and cons of each?
WordPress.org
Pros
- Provides you with complete control over every aspect of your site
- There are a variety of plugins for you to select from that assist you in customizing your site to fit your needs
- You have access to a variety themes that help you design your website or blog
Cons
- Having complete control over every aspect of your own site can be overwhelming if you're not well versed in web design and web management. Because of this, making minor changes can sometimes be difficult as there is quite the learning curve.
- You're 100% responsible for managing your own backups, security, updates - everything. And again, if you're just starting out, this can be difficult.
Who is this platform great for? The Expert & The Beginner (if you have some time to spare to really learn about it) Unless you feel confident with CSS/HTML and managing your website - we recommend hosting your blog else where. But, if you're willing to put the time and effort into understanding how this platform functions, you won't regret it. It's a great platform for blogging since you have the freedom to really be in control of just about everything single aspect of your site.
wordpress.com
Pros
- Pretty easy to use and manage which is great if you're not too familiar with managing your own website
Cons
- You cannot run advertisements on your blog which is a huge deal if you're a blogger/influencer. If you're a creative looking to create a blog as a hobby - you're in the clear
- You can't upload your own themes
Who is this platform great for? The Beginner If you're just starting out and you want to start your blog quickly, this might be the platform for you. While it's easy to set up, we don't recommend it for individuals who are looking to blog professionally since it's limiting in the design arena.
2. Squarespace
Blogging with Squarespace we find tends to be the most user friendly experience. Why? Their LayoutEngine technology allows you to click and drag images as needed, and the entire process of getting to understand how their platform functions comes quite natural. Another reason Squarespace is great for beginners is because they have 24/7 support - you can reach out to their customer support team at any time with any questions you might have - so you're never alone in the process of setting up your blog or website. While Squarespace isn't a free platform - their plans are quite reasonable for what you're getting, especially because you have access to a range of analytics such as statics regarding your blog traffic, subscribers, popular content and more. These are invaluable pieces of information that can help you grow your blog and reach a wider audience. Pros
- You can easily import preexisting blogs from other blogging platforms such as WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger etc.
- 24/7 support
- Extremely User Friendly (everything is always just a few clicks away)
- Access to a variety of built in themes that you can customize to fit your needs
- Their templates are mobile and tablet friendly so you can be assured your blog or website will look great on any device.
Cons
- Their personal plan does limit you to around 20 pages - which you can easily exceed if you're utilizing your website for more than just blogging
- They are limited to features that are strictly built into their platform
Who is this platform great for? The Beginner & The Expert Squarespace is great for just about anyone as it allows you to create visually stunning blogs and websites quite easily since it's interface is straightforward, user friendly and perfect for those who have no previous experience or knowledge regarding HTML/CSS or website management. While it does require you to invest money to get your blog or website started, it's well worth it in the long run.
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3. Blogger
Blogger is a free blog hosting service that offers a fairly easy way to create a blog even if you're not the most tech-friendly person on the planet. This platform is owned by Google and it's quite the popular platform among bloggers. Pros
- Easy to setup
- Super simple design and it's easy to manage
- Cost Efficient (it's free!)
Cons
- Limited blogging tools without the ability to add additional features in the future
- Design options are very limited which can hinder how creative you can get with the design (and let's face it, aesthetics are everything)
Blogger is great because it's free and user-friendly, but it can look a bit unprofessional since the templates offered are often not the best quality. Who is this platform great for? The Hobbyist & The Beginner If you're looking to start a blog as a hobby, or if you're just starting out - it's a great platform to test the waters without any monetary investment. But once your blog starts to gain momentum, we do recommend you relocate your blog to either Squarespace or Wordpress to ensure that your blog looks professional and visually appealing. While we've gathered our top three blogging platforms for beginners we do recommend that you conduct your own research regarding each platform available to you before making any final decisions since everyone is different. We hope this blog post provided you with a bit of insight regarding the platforms we discussed, and as always the most important tip we can provide any of you regarding running a blog is to have fun!
