Are you in search of the most suitable blogging platform to commence your new blog?
We are aware that it can be overwhelming to choose from the numerous blogging platforms available in the market.
In this article, we will suggest some of the most appropriate blogging platforms for newcomers and assist you in selecting one that suits your blogging requirements.
Do You Even Need a Free Blogging Platform?
Truth is that…
Blogging can incur high costs.
For experienced bloggers who have gained enough knowledge to distinguish effective and ineffective strategies, accepting and considering these expenses as a necessary investment is straightforward. In this business, spending money, earning money, and repeating the process is standard.
Suppose you are new to blogging and just starting out. Or if you are someone who has not yet determined the effective approaches and ineffective ones, what are your options?
Can I tell you something in confidence?
It is possible to conduct experiments with equal success on a free blogging platform and a fully-equipped self-hosted WordPress blog.
You can actually conduct better experiments on a blogging platform that is free because the learning process is not as difficult.
Are you willing to pay a substantial amount each month while enduring the inescapable challenges of blogging?
By utilizing free blogging platforms, you can validate the potential of your new blog topic, observe your competitors in the same market, and experiment with your ideas without investing any money earned through hard work.
Which blog platform is considered the best?
Actually, that is the issue:
No Blog Platform Is Right for Everyone
Bloggers have varying requirements, and various blog platforms cater to diverse needs. Essentially, the “top” option is determined by your distinct circumstances and preferences.
However, there are shared characteristics among the platforms we will explore (aside from being cost-free). Before delving further, let us examine them briefly.
- There’s zero maintenance hassle. The burden of maintenance doesn’t fall on you when you use a free blog platform. No worries about software updates, CSS or HTML tweaks, data backups, or gremlins hacking your server — they’re all handled by someone else.
- They’re easy to use. To varying degrees, each platform is user-friendly to newbies and beginners. With limited tech-savviness, you could get started today.
- Customization is limited. If you’re a micromanager who likes things to be customizable, take a deep breath: you will not have full control or unlimited options when you use a free blogging platform.
The final one can have advantages and disadvantages.
If you become committed to blogging, you may find that the confined possibilities for customization offered by free platforms will restrict you. However, as a beginner, these constraints can aid you in concentrating on what matters most – testing your concepts.
Okay, let’s move on from the introduction.
Are you all set to determine which platform is suitable for your blogging needs and kickstart your blogging journey? Let’s begin.
Choosing the Best Blogging Platform – What to Look For?
The fact that a certain blogging platform is popular does not guarantee that it is the most suitable option for your specific requirements since not all platforms are identical.
Prior to making a decision on a blogging platform, there are some factors that you should take into account:
The reason for your existence.
It is important to comprehend the motivation behind your decision to start a blog. Here are a couple of common reasons why individuals begin blogging:
- Demonstrate authority
- Make money blogging
- Write a journal
After figuring out the purpose of your blog, verify if your chosen blogging platform supports you in achieving it.
The convenience of operation.
When selecting a blogging platform, it is crucial to take into account its user-friendliness. If the platform is not easily accessible, you may expend a significant amount of time attempting to navigate it.
Transforming something into a profitable venture.
If your aim is to earn money through your blog, ensure that your blogging platform permits you to make money in the preferred manner since some platforms, such as WordPress.com, don’t permit monetization through Google AdSense or affiliate marketing.
Having understood the features to consider when selecting a blogging platform, it is time to explore the top choices available.
1. WordPress.org
The most widely used blogging platform is WordPress.org, otherwise identified as self-hosted WordPress.
Although originally designed as a blogging platform, WordPress.org has evolved into a comprehensive content management system that allows users to build various kinds of websites. With self-hosted WordPress, individuals can develop eCommerce stores, forums, niche social networks, and more.
In order to initiate a WordPress.org blog, you’ll need to have possession of a domain name and a web hosting arrangement, and then proceed to install WordPress onto your web host.
The cost of a domain name is not fixed and can fluctuate. Typically, a domain name will set you back at least $14.99 annually, while web hosting services have a starting price of $7.99 per month, which is required to launch a WordPress blog. The combined price of buying a domain name and hosting service is quite expensive, which is why we negotiated a special offer for IsItWP users with Bluehost.
By opting for the WordPress hosting, you can avail a free domain name, free SSL, and a discount of 65%. Thus, you will only have to make a payment of $2.65 monthly.
It is common to mistake WordPress.org for WordPress.com, thus, we suggest familiarizing yourself with the distinctions between the two.
Advantages:
- It gives you full control over your blog
- You can easily customize the look of your blog with free or premium WordPress themes
- You can also enhance the capabilities of your blog with WordPress plugins
- It’s easy to integrate with Google Analytics
Drawbacks:
- Managing your own blog comes with a bit of a learning curve
- Starting a blog requires a budget for a domain name and web host
- Managing security and backups is your responsibility
Pricing: FREE
2. Web.com
Since 1999, Web.com has been a well-liked website builder that allows users to create a variety of sites, including blogs, without any technical expertise, thanks to its simple drag-and-drop tool.
Web.com provides a plethora of pre-designed website templates for a speedy kickstart. It’s effortless to personalize the templates by just using a point-and-click approach. Furthermore, you can promptly integrate crucial components such as contact forms, picture galleries, videos, social media icons, and additional features.
The greatest thing is that you can commence at an incredibly affordable cost.
Advantages:
- The drag and drop builder makes it easy to design your blog
- You can add unlimited pages to your site
- It comes with a free domain name, business email address, SEO tools, website analytics, and more
Drawbacks:
- Blogging functionality is limited compared to other platforms like WordPress.org
- Switching to a different platform in the future will be difficult since Web.com is a proprietary site builder
Web.com offers a Starter website plan for as low as $1.95 per month. If you require additional SEO features, you can opt for the Marketing plan, available from $2.95 per month. For those who need an eCommerce plan, it is offered at a starting price of $3.95 per month.
3. Gator Website Builder
With Gator Website Builder, you have everything needed to build a website of any type, whether it be a blog, a small business website or an eCommerce site.
The Gator website builder is beneficial for both novice and experienced bloggers.
Pros:
- It provides free domain name registration with any plan
- It comes with 200 mobile-optimized designs
- Includes access to analytics, social and productivity tools
- Friendly customer support that is available 24/7 and 365 days a year
Downsides:
- Unlike other blogging platforms, HostGator’s website builder is not free of cost
- It’s not as feature rich as WordPress.org
- It offers limited customization options
For pricing, the basic package carries a monthly rate of $3.46. The higher-end package, priced at $5.39 per month, includes priority support. Lastly, the eCommerce package carries a rate of $8.30 monthly.
4. WordPress.com
Selecting WordPress.com could be a preference if creating a complimentary blog with WordPress is what you want to pursue.
Managed by the same team that runs WordPress.org, WordPress.com is an excellent platform for hosting blogs, and it’s free of charge. Starting a blog on WordPress.com is simple, and you may enhance your subscription with extra features like a custom domain name or extra storage.
Advantages:
- No setup required
- No budget required
- No need to manage security and backup yourself
Disadvantages:
- You can’t monetize your free blog with Google AdSense or affiliate marketing
- To add a custom domain name that your visitors can easily remember, you’ll have to upgrade to a premium plan
- Switching to another blogging platform can be expensive because you’ll have to pay for site redirection even after switching
There is a Basic plan available for free. The Personal plan requires an annual payment of $48, while the Premium plan costs $96 per year, and the Business plan comes with an annual fee of $300.
5. Medium
Medium, which was launched in August 2012 with much buzz by Evan Williams, co-founder of Twitter, has since become a giant in the blogging arena. According to the New York Times, as of May 2017, the platform garnered an impressive 60 million unique monthly visitors.
What are the advantages?
- Built-in audience of over 60 million readers!
- Good for all blog types
- Excellent typography — your blog will look professional
- More business-friendly than WordPress.com
- Monetization is possible with the Medium Partner Program
What are the disadvantages?
- Little, if any, customization — your blog will look like every other Medium blog
- Though Medium offers stats, you won’t be able to link to your Google account and use Google Analytics
6. LinkedIn
LinkedIn, renowned for networking among professionals, also provides a feature for publishing. As a result, all of its 560 million users (as of September 2018) have the chance to create posts that could potentially be read by any of the 260 million members who are active within a given month.
Once again, it is possible.
What are the advantages?
- Good for professionals and business blogging
- Clean, simple design
- Ease of use — publishing platform is built right into your LinkedIn profile
- Built-in audience of like-minded professionals
What are the disadvantages?
- Only good for professionals and businesses
- Very few customization options
- You can’t schedule posts for future publishing
7. Instagram
Instagram, one of the biggest social media platforms worldwide, is under the ownership of Facebook and used for sharing photos and videos.
In June 2018, Instagram’s user base reached 1 billion globally, which was a 200 million increase from the previous September when they had 800 million users, accomplished in just nine months.
Even after eliminating the individuals who follow a Kardashian or have shared an image mimicking a duck, Instagram still has an audience that exceeds 75 individuals.
Just joking, but there is some truth to it.
What are the advantages?
- Great for visual topics
- Ideal platform for microblogging (short posts)
- Great if your target audience primarily uses mobile devices
What are the disadvantages?
- Limited to 2,200 characters
- Limited to one hyperlink (in your bio)
- If your target audience isn’t on mobile, it’s less than ideal
8. Guest Blogging
At times, someone else’s widely-read blog can be the ideal platform for showcasing your work.
For what reason? Because it has the potential to provide immediate credibility.
When your post is published on a website such as Smart Blogger, Forbes, Lifehacker, or Business Insider, people perceive you in a distinct manner.
Yesterday, you were simply a skilled and attractive writer living in anonymity. However, since your material has been featured on a reputable website, you are now regarded as an authority in your area of expertise.
What occurred? Guest blogging occurred.
What are the Pros?
- Write for interested, targeted audiences
- Fastest way to build your authority and reputation
What are the disadvantages?
- Fastest way to destroy your authority and reputation
- Not an efficient method for getting traffic to your own website
- Getting published on quality sites is hard work
- Time-consuming — may be hard to fit into busy schedules
What’s the Best Blogging Platform for You?
Isn’t that the question worth a million dollars?
You are now aware of the advantages of utilizing a free blogging platform in the initial phase of your journey. You also have a comprehensive understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of various platforms, such as Medium, WordPress.com, LinkedIn, Instagram, and guest blogging, and have learned how to begin using each of them.
Which option will be chosen?
To be candid, the solution is easily discernible, in my opinion.
The optimum blogging platform that you should use is the one that motivates you to jump right in and start blogging without hesitation.
One cannot expect the upcoming masterpiece in blogging to come into existence without effort.
Are you prepared?
In that case, we should proceed with this matter.
