Were you aware that up to 86% of B2B companies engage in blogging, and it is indeed effective! Brands that have blogs typically possess as much as 434% more indexed pages compared to those without blogs.
If your business isn’t generating content, the statistics clearly indicate that it should.
If you are searching for the top blogging platforms, you have come to the right spot. We acknowledge that selecting the appropriate one for your business can be challenging due to the multitude of options available.
Fortunately, we will be discussing the top blogging platforms in this article, allowing you to make a well-informed choice. Let’s delve into it!
What’s a Blogging Platform?
To put it simply, a blogging platform is a service or app that allows users to share content on a webpage. Generally, these platforms function as content management systems with the additional feature of website building.
Are you in need of a platform perfect for sharing educational content that your audience will appreciate? Look no further than a blogging platform!
Are You New to Blogging?
If you’re a beginner in blogging, you will require a platform that is simple to use and does not necessitate any coding skills for setting it up. As you choose, consider your blog’s purpose and how generating content will contribute to your overall business objectives. Additionally, determine the type of content you wish to publish, such as videos, written blog posts, infographics, etc.
Having these answers will provide you with a clearer understanding of the type of service you need.
As your business expands, you might consider altering the visual appeal of your blog. As a result, it is crucial to choose a blogging platform that offers functionalities to accommodate a larger audience. Therefore, it is always wise to opt for software that provides such flexibility.
What Features Should I Look for in a Blogging Platform?
There are numerous blogging platforms to choose from, each offering unique features.
Here are the key factors to consider, although they may differ slightly among different choices.
- The ability to add metadata and keywords so your blog posts can rank well in Google.
- A custom domain name so that people know who’s behind your business (e.g., yourbusinessname.com)
- A good selection of themes and templates to choose from so you can create a look that matches your brand.
- The ability to easily add images, videos, and other multimedia content.
- Support for social media integrations so you can share your blog posts on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms.
- A comments section so your audience can interact with you and each other.
- The ability to easily publish new content without a lot of hassle.
Considering this, we have compiled a list of our preferred blogging platforms for beginners.
1. WordPress.org
This platform holds the top position on our list due to being the most widely used blogging platform globally. It is responsible for powering an impressive 24% of all websites on the internet, equating to nearly a quarter of all live websites.
To put it succinctly, WordPress.org is a cost-free and open-source platform that empowers individuals to establish their own blogs with full ownership. This allows for the flexibility to incorporate additional features as one’s blog grows and evolves.
Open source refers to the ability to freely manipulate and customize the code. Nevertheless, utilizing all the flexibility offered requires either proficient coding abilities or the financial means to enlist a web designer.
For those with some technical skills, WordPress.org is an excellent choice. It provides the perfect platform for business owners who aim to create, operate, and control a more complex blog in the long term.
The multitude of free themes offered by WordPress.org is truly one of its top advantages. These themes are incredibly beneficial for crafting the design of your blog and effectively displaying your brand’s style.
Enhance the elements, design, and interactivity of your blog and subsequently improve user experience by accessing more than 45,000 free plugins available!
In addition, WordPress.org is an excellent option if you desire a blogging platform that is SEO-friendly, as it allows you to optimize all your content for search engine optimization.
Having good SEO for your blog is crucial if you want it to appear higher on search engine results like Google, without needing to pay for advertisements. It goes without saying that this is an effective way to increase visibility and attract more readers.
Important Advice: Do not mistake WordPress.org for WordPress.com, as these two platforms are significantly distinct from each other.
Learning how to navigate the dashboard is the primary drawback of WordPress.org, which may take some time to become accustomed to. Additionally, you will be responsible for managing your own security and backups. Therefore, it is important to conduct thorough research and make sure both of these aspects are taken care of.
Regrettably, although WordPress.org is free to use, expenses will be incurred for a personalized domain name, hosting, and security – these additional features can accumulate costs. Once more, bloggers who lack technical proficiency might find it challenging to deal with these elements of their blog.
Bluehost is likely the top choice for web hosting. They offer a convenient one-click integration with WordPress.org, which is quite impressive. Moreover, their offers on domain names are definitely worth exploring.
A helpful suggestion is to go on YouTube and look up tutorials on acquiring web hosting. Despite the initial intimidation, purchasing all this software is actually far easier than it appears.
2. Wix
Although Wix is mainly a platform for building websites rather than a blogging platform (check our Wix review), you can effortlessly establish a blog on your Wix website by simply downloading the ‘Wix blog app’.
Designing your blog becomes quite simple with their user-friendly drag-and-drop tools (no coding necessary!). Additionally, a wide range of templates are available to select from, enhancing the professional appearance of your site.
While offering fewer design templates than WordPress.org, Wix still provides a wider range compared to Weebly. Given that Wix has a user base exceeding 100 million, it is evident that they boast a dedicated following.
It is possible to start a blog using any of their payment plans, even the free one. Nevertheless, if you want to link your own domain name, you will require their ‘Connect Domain Plan’ at a monthly cost of $5.
If you want to remove Wix’s branding, you’ll need to pay for the ‘Wix Combo’ plan, priced at $11 per month. This cost is fair considering the enhancements it will bring to the appearance and ambiance of your blog.
If you desire to enhance credibility and trust with your audience, it is essential to establish a professional online presence. It is a straightforward concept: as readers’ trust in you grows, the likelihood of them buying your products and/or services increases. In the end, all business owners aspire to achieve this outcome.
You’ll be glad to know that Wix has recently enhanced their editor. Therefore, besides offering all their current features, users can now also benefit from the following features:
- Personalized image galleries
- The ability to add and edit your image captions and links
- The option of embedding videos from video sharing platforms like YouTube and Vimeo
Wix provides a superior standard of customer service as compared to WordPress.org. The Wix team can be contacted through phone or email, making it an excellent choice for bloggers who are not as experienced.
3. Squarespace
Squarespace, which was introduced in 2003, is responsible for the success of numerous online businesses. Serving as a comprehensive website-building tool, it proves to be an ideal choice for bloggers aiming to establish a virtual store and directly vend items through their blogs.
Simply linking back to the product pages on your eCommerce store or other online shops is an excellent method to generate extra revenue effortlessly.
WHO’S THE BEST AUDIENCE?
Squarespace is an excellent platform for photographers, artists, and other designers who desire their website to reflect the same level of stylishness as the impressive products they showcase online.
If you are a business owner aiming to start a blog and sell your products and services, there is something beneficial for everyone.
Pros:
- Breathtaking and customizable templates that are mobile responsive out of the box.
- Mobile apps that let you edit pages, posts, and eCommerce functions while you are on-the-go.
- The ability to restore deleted pages and posts for up to 30 days.
Cons:
- You are restricted to the features built into Squarespace’s proprietary platform.
- Squarespace’s integrations are restricted to just a few tools and services.
- Since the platform doesn’t autosave, you are prompted to save your work after every save, which can be cumbersome.
PRICING
If you choose to pay on a monthly basis, the personal website plans offered by Squarespace will cost approximately $16 per month. However, you can save some money by opting for the annual payment option, which would bring the cost down to $12 per month.
The same applies to the business plan, which costs $26 per month if paid monthly, or $18 per month if you opt for the annual payment option. Additionally, for online stores, the pricing ranges from $26 per month, starting at the lowest tier, to $40 per month at the highest tier.
4. Blogger
Blogger, which is owned by Google, is considered the predecessor of WordPress and is renowned as one of the most widely-used blogging platforms online, hosting approximately 32 million bloggers.
WHO’S THE BEST AUDIENCE?
Setting up a professional-looking blog with no need for design or coding skills is made easy by Blogger. Moreover, as it is owned by Google, the company responsible for search engine rankings, it serves as an excellent platform to begin attracting an audience.
WHO IS IT NOT GOOD FOR?
Although you can make use of Blogger to generate income from your blog, the content belongs to Google, giving them the authority to close it down whenever they want. As a result, including Blogger in a long-term business strategy might not be advisable.
Pros:
- Easy to use and get started
- All its features, plugins, gadgets, themes, and functions are completely free to use
- All you need is a Google account
- Themes and templates to personalize and beautify your blog
Cons:
- It can only really be used for a basic blog (unless you can code)
- If you would like your own domain name, you’ll need to buy one
- Limited to 100 blogs per account
- Google owns Blogger (which includes any content you put on Blogger). You may risk having your blog shut down without any explanation.
5. LinkedIn
With its massive user base reaching hundreds of millions of individuals, LinkedIn has established itself as a renowned social media platform. Its popularity among professionals and entrepreneurs makes it an excellent platform for promoting your eCommerce business, as it exposes your venture to a wide audience already engaged in job-related or business activities on LinkedIn.
WHO’S THE BEST AUDIENCE?
LinkedIn is a valuable platform for establishing connections with professionals in your field and sharing industry-related content.
The type of content that resonates the most with the LinkedIn audience tends to be long-form business and leadership posts, which have the potential to go incredibly viral.
Pros:
- Built-in blogging feature for sharing content—similar to a company page, but it allows you to post blog articles directly to your profile
- It can be used for lead generation by offering free resources or eBooks in exchange for people’s contact information
Cons:
- Content can get lost in a sea of updates since LinkedIn is a social media site as well as a professional network
- Paid advertising is necessary to reach more people than your personal and business connections
- Once again, you’re not receiving any SEO benefits since the LinkedIn platform is separate from your business domain
6. Medium
Evan Williams, the co-founder of Twitter, created Medium, a social media platform and blogging site in 2012, with the aim of promoting quality writing. With approximately 100 million monthly readers, Medium is a free platform.
WHO’S THE BEST AUDIENCE?
Medium is an excellent platform for thought leaders who simply wish to share lengthy content with their audience for the sake of sharing, rather than pursuing specific business objectives.
An illustration would be a founder’s raw encounter of leaving his corporate job to pursue the dream of starting a business. Alternatively, methods for enhancing productivity that are supported by scientific research.
To publish as a business, simply create a profile and subscribe. A maximum of seven Medium publications are permitted for each user.
Medium is an excellent platform for businesses seeking to share their stories and establish a more personal connection with their audience, due to its blend of a blog and social media site.
Pros:
- Free to use.
- Great for longer-form, more personal content (which can be harder to find on other social media sites).
- It can be used to drive traffic back to your website.
- Has an existing community and well-established presence online.
Cons:
- It can be hard to find your content if you’re not already an established writer or business—so it’s best for people who are looking to build their reputation as writers or businesses.
- Medium is also known for its long response time, so reaching out directly via email might be necessary.
- You need a paid account to get the full range of stats on your posts.
- Just as with Blogger, you have no control over the content on Medium. They can shut down your site with no warning or explanation.
