Are you hoping to turn your blogging passion into a profitable career? Earning financial independence from blogging is not merely a far-fetched wish; numerous triumphant bloggers are making noteworthy amounts ranging from 6 to 7 figures by divulging their ideas and skills.
Harnessing the robust capabilities offered by the top paid and free blogging platforms is a crucial step towards gaining admission to their community.
With my expertise in marketing and blogging, I am familiar with the suitable platforms that can be transformed into a successful venture. This write-up will provide you with a comprehensive analysis of my top picks for blogging platforms and their respective advantages.
Let’s explore the possibilities that your blogging journey holds.
What Are the Best Blogging Platforms to Make Money?
The ideal blogging platform for earning money will depend on factors such as your budget, technical proficiency, marketing expertise, and objectives.
Included in the list of the top blogging platforms are hosting services, social media sites, and various options to meet your specific requirements.
1. WordPress.org
In my view, WordPress.org stands as the most widely used platform for online blogging. It operates as an open-source Content Management System (CMS) enabling you to create, publish, and manage online content.
To get started, first install WordPress on your domain for no fee. After installation, WordPress will guide you through the process of setting up your login. You can choose from a variety of design templates to determine your site’s appearance and begin blogging on the same day.
At no cost, WordPress.org is available. A vast group of developers work together to manage glitches, and each year, new features and complimentary themes are released.
Despite the availability of free basic platform and templates, there is also a vast market of premium WordPress site templates, tools and plugins that can facilitate your transition to a professional level in the future, regardless of whether you initially opt for the free alternatives.
If arranging your hosting is not an option, you can proceed to WordPress.com and skip that part of the process. However, if you have a preference for a customized domain, WordPress may not be the most suitable choice. Nonetheless, WordPress remains the most excellent zero-cost blogging platform.
How To Make Money With WordPress
WordPress doesn’t have a self-generated income. Its purpose is to simplify the process of creating a blog that can be monetized through various methods, such as advertisements, affiliate marketing, merchandise stores, and others.
On this list, there are a few blogging platforms that enforce hosting their advertisements, however, a self-hosted WordPress blog grants you complete autonomy. Consequently, all proceeds from your WordPress blog belong to you, and you do not have to be concerned about sharing profits.
Based on its versatility, user-friendly installation processes, and potential for scalability, WordPress is arguably the most optimal self-hosted platform.
If you are new to blogging, it can take some time to learn all the features of the platform. This is a disadvantage.
2. Ghost
Ghost provides an expert content management solution that streamlines the procedure of launching and maintaining your blog via a user-friendly website builder, editing software, publishing tool, and management system for paid subscribers.
Unlike WordPress, this platform tries to put all the tools you need in one dashboard so you can automate or background the more annoying tasks.
Ghost allows you to set up a blog on your own server, but subscribing to their service includes hosting that takes care of server backups, SSL certificates, and security.
Utilizing hosting services can help novices mitigate the risk of cyber attacks as they gain knowledge about blogging and developing their webpage.
The platform incorporates assistance for crucial tools that are frequently utilized, such as Google Analytics, Google Adsense, Paypal, MailChimp, Shopify, and Stripe.
How To Make Money With Ghost
Ghost is built to elevate your blogging operations. With this platform, you can access the analytical resources necessary to enhance your work if you have an expanding reader base.
Small business owners who lack the expertise or manpower to establish an online store or blog can reap the benefits of this platform.
For those who are new to blogging and still getting the hang of it, this may not be the ideal option to consider. This is because it is not a free platform for blogging, and as such, the highest subscription cost is $199 per month, making it the most expensive option on this list. Additionally, there are other hosting providers for Ghost that offer better value.
If you are not familiar with using these tools, the subscription may not be worth its full value. However, if you prioritize a business perspective, Ghost might be more appealing to you compared to WordPress. To test out its features without incurring any expenses, a 14-day free trial is available.
3. NewsBreak
The NewsBreak app disperses news content from both news websites and a network of independent content creators who are compensated for blogging on the platform.
If you’re interested in creating a news portal, the contributor network offers an opportunity for individual creators to earn money based on engagement. This is a well-liked blogging platform.
You can use this blogging platform for free. If you are a accepted contributor, you can publish your blog posts directly without any charge or link them from your articles on local news websites.
How To Make Money With NewsBreak
By becoming a contributor and completing the application process, you have the opportunity to make money through NewsBreak. So long as you meet the requirements, NewsBreak will provide direct payment.
All eligible contributors are assured a monthly payment of $1,000, and there is potential to earn additional income.
Local readers are highlighted when your stories are promoted to the website’s users. The platform grants contributors the opportunity to cover a variety of prominent blogging subjects, such as music scenes, politics, and food.
4. Medium
Medium is the optimal platform to commence your journey in making money via blogging.
Due to its vast number of committed users, Medium is considered the top platform for monetizing blogs. You can reach out to a substantial audience as it receives over 100 million monthly visits.
Medium’s audience is dedicated to discovering high-quality content on the platform, increasing their likelihood of subscribing to exclusive content or endorsing creators via Medium’s membership initiative. Were you aware that Ev Williams, the creator of Blogger and Twitter, established Medium in 2012?
Creators on Medium have various opportunities to earn an income from their content. The Medium Partner Program is among them and allows writers to receive payment based on the number of readers and shares their articles obtain. The duration for which a member reads the articles also determines the payment the writers receive. This scheme eliminates the need for ads or affiliate marketing, as writers are directly compensated for the reach of their content.
Medium fosters a community of writers and readers where mutual assistance is prevalent. By using the platform, writers can reach out to other creators, obtain constructive criticism about their content, and acquire knowledge from each other. This is particularly advantageous for novice writers who strive to enhance their skills and establish a readership.
By using Medium, writers have the power to control their written output. Hence, they can decide to publish their work solely on the platform or on alternative platforms as well. Another option is the choice to monetize their content on Medium, or investigate alternative means of earning income.
5. Squarespace
Ideal for: Gaining entry to expertly-designed templates.
Squarespace is an ideal option for novices due to its simple-to-use interface, even without any prior coding or design skills, it allows you to effortlessly design a high-quality blog. As per Datanyze, Squarespace accounts for 14.93% of the market share in the e-commerce platforms sector.
Squarespace provides various templates that can be customized effortlessly to suit the distinct requirements of your blog. Additionally, the platform has a structure that is favorable for search engine optimization (SEO), which aids bloggers in obtaining higher rankings on SERPs.
By aiding in the optimization of page titles, descriptions, and metadata, the platform can enhance the visibility of your blog and ultimately attract higher traffic volume.
There is a range of templates available for selection, or alternatively, you can craft your own design. Using the drag-and-drop editor, it’s simple to adjust your blog’s appearance to be consistent with your brand. Additionally, the website is dependable and secure, which ensures that your blog remains functional without interruption.
For bloggers seeking to monetize their websites, Squarespace provides outstanding e-commerce functionalities, allowing them to sell physical or digital items without requiring third-party integrations.
Product pages can be effortlessly designed with personalized product descriptions, images, and videos. Furthermore, shipping and payment methods can be established with minimal effort by simply clicking a few buttons.
Using Squarespace guarantees that your blog will have a mobile-friendly layout that enables it to appear great on any gadget. Its flexible design allows your visuals and recordings to appear flawless on every display, comparable to wearing a refined and professional suit that perfectly fits your body – wherever you are.
Begin your blog on Squarespace now to benefit from its exceptional features and extensive customer assistance.
6. Wix
Ideal for: Utilizing the incorporated marketing and SEO features for generating traffic from search engines.
Wix is an incredibly user-friendly blogging platform, which is why it has gained the trust and popularity of over 200 million users across the world.
With Wix’s easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, designing and customizing a professional-looking blog can be done within minutes, even if you are a newbie in blogging and have zero coding skills.
By using Wix, integrating different income sources into your blog is simple. Google AdSense can be employed to present advertisements on your blog and generate income whenever someone clicks on them.
Using Wix Stores, it is also possible to promote and sell your own products or services directly through your blog. A store can be set up on your blog to sell a range of items including ebooks, memberships, t-shirts, mugs and many others.
With Wix, you have the option to select from a diverse range of templates and personalize your blog. Their integrated editor allows you to modify every element of your blog’s layout. As a result, you can develop an exclusive and sophisticated blog that embodies your identity and style.
Wix offers support to both novice and veteran bloggers. Hence, if you aim to commence your blogging venture and make additional income, consider using Wix.
7. Vocal.Media
If your goal is to earn money as a blogger, Vocal.Media is the ideal platform for you to utilize.
One of the best things about Vocal.Media is its user-friendly interface, which makes it an excellent platform to showcase your skills and earn a decent income.
The platform is user-friendly and requires no specific knowledge to begin with. The blog editor is uncomplicated and simple, facilitating the creation of professional-looking posts. Additionally, you are able to incorporate images and videos into your blog to enhance its appeal.
Vocal.Media offers an attractive commission system to writers, making it a highly lucrative option to earn income. The website compensates authors according to the number of readers and engagements their content receives.
At Vocal.Media, you can concentrate on creating quality content while we take care of earning revenue, advertising, and managing payments.
The Vocal.Media premium program is designed to assist writers in increasing their earnings.
By enrolling in the premium program, writers can increase their earnings per read whilst also receiving exclusive benefits such as access to unique tools like content promotion, analytical insights, and editorial assistance, which are not available to non-premium members. Furthermore, premium members have the opportunity to achieve wider visibility and exposure for their work.
Vocal.Media provides the ideal platform for bloggers who aspire to earn a decent income while expressing their ideas and personal encounters.
Vocal.Media boasts an intuitive interface, a compelling commission structure, a broad scope of subjects, a strong sense of camaraderie, and a premium program. Therefore, why not take the leap? Sign up with Vocal.Media now and start earning a living by pursuing your passions!
