Blogging is one of the most popular forms of self expression online. Blogging enables you to connect with other people over a range of different topics while still imparting knowledge, being informative and resourceful. You can literally talk about anything you want and be able to find an audience that will enjoy reading what you write. That being said, you have to choose the right blogging and hosting platform to be able to reach the right people – those who can relate to you and understand you. More importantly, you need to find a platform that you can work with on a daily/weekly basis without getting frustrated by the design, features (or lack thereof) etc. To help you make the right choice, here are 9 of the best blogging platforms:
- WordPress
WordPress is the most popular choice among bloggers. It comes loaded with a ton of features and is relatively easy to use. It has 2 versions WordPress.com – which is a freemium service that has limited features and free sub domains – and WordPress.org – which is a paid service, that has no such limitations. The platform is perfect for beginners and bigger media publications who want to completely control the look and feel of their blog. WordPress comes with a variety of themes and plug-ins that you can install to customize a WordPress site even more. If you choose to go for the paid version, it is necessary to have some basic technical knowledge about servers and HTML codes (or use an AI script generator). You should also check out Elementor. A hugely popular WordPress website builder, Elementor can be used to create landing pages and blog pages completely code free.
- Blogger
Blogger, formerly known as BlogSpot, is a serious contender for the top blogging platform. Setting up your blog is effortless and unlike WordPress, all it requires is your Google user details. You can even host your blog for free using their domain (.blogspot.com). It also requires no coding knowledge and customization is effortless. It is best suited for individual bloggers and social media authorities to maintain an online presence. You can even enable AdSense on your blog to help you make an income. Since it is owned by Google, you can also enable analytics. However, it is not suited for businesses, who require full-fledged websites. You also can’t sell or resell your blog.
- Medium
If you’re looking for a blogging platform with aclean and minimalistic look then Medium is the right platform for you. The platform has a full-fledged text editor, SEO optimization, and embedded analytics to help you spread your word. It’s main selling point is the fact that it doesn’t focus on the credentials of the person, instead it focuses on the quality of the content. It is also available on mobile devices, so you can start writing as soon as an idea strikes. The only drawback is the lack of customization options although this is done on purpose, so that the content remains the main focus. It requires no technical skill and is great for individual bloggers.
- Tumblr
Tumblr is extremely popular among young bloggers. It serves as more than a blogging platform and lets you share videos, images and content within the site and from outside sources. You can post stories, videos, memes, GIFs and a whole lot more to get your point across. It also suggests other blogs that you could follow based on your interests. You can follow other people’s blogs and all their posts show up on your dashboard. Tumblr is free and you can customize everything about your blog. It is also available on mobile devices, so you can write, reblog and share from anywhere. It is most suited for personal blogs, but some big social media authorities also use it to engage with their audience. It is also mostly used for micro-blogs that share updates several times a day.
- Svbtle
Svbtle is similar to Medium, in that it doesn’t distract from the content. It offers a basic Markdown editor and lets you focus on what you’re writing. You can store unpublished drafts and new ideas on the left of your dashboard and on the right, you can see a list of all your published posts. It was designed for simplicity and has even lesser options for customization than Medium, but that it’s main selling point – content and only content. Which isn’t a bad thing, because content is the most essential for any writer. It used to be an invite only platform but it was opened to the public in 2014. It also lets you create your own domain/ sub- domain and is a paid service that starts at $6/month.
- Squarespace
Squarespace is misconstrued to be a service to just build business websites but it’s blogging platform is one of the best. It is a paid service, that starts at $8 and offers amazing looking blog templates to take your blog to the next level. This saves you from the headache of designing your own blog and you get right to the juicy part, the writing. But if you know coding then Squarespace will allow you to build your own blog. Their blogging platform is also easy to use and lets you embed videos, calendars and pretty much everything else you want. So if you’re looking for a platform that is easy to setup and maintain, and don’t mind spending a couple bucks, then Squarespace is perfect for you.
- Silvrback
Silvrback is another minimal platform that is worth checking out. Although not as bare as Medium or Svbtle, Silvrback still manages to have a clean, uncluttered look. Silvrback doesn’t offer themes, instead they offer 2 UI themes, that change both the front and back end of your blog. It also offers massive color customizations, email subscriptions, custom domains, and a lot more. Slivrback has the feature of having your own homepage where you can include a full page cover photo, your Twitter Handle, a short bio along with your best work, hobbies etc. There are also no advertisements and you can export data whenever you want.
- Weebly
Although Weebly is primarily a web design service, it is also one of the easiest ways to build a blog. It comes with pre-designed templates and you can customize almost everything to suit your needs better. The drag and drop editor is a clever way to design and edit your blog. You can drag images, text boxes, videos and directly publish your post when it’s ready. For bloggers, it also provides them with the option of adding RSS feeds, social sharing and other community tools. You can even build your blog on your phone.
- Postagon
Postagon is a clean and simple blogging service. It is made to focus solely on the content. You can create a blog within seconds on Postagon. Although it is a paid service, the wide array of features it offers gives you your money’s worth. The platform is available on multiple devices and is equally effective on all of them. It also gives you the chance to customize your posts by dragging and dropping images. Other features include email alerts to your readers, creating your own domain name, Google Analytics support, adding RSS Feeds a zero ads. This platform also lets you import and export posts and enables you to share your posts on your social media accounts.
And there you go – 10 amazing blogging platforms to make any bloggers life easier. Most of these platforms are free or offer free trials so you can try them all out and see which one you like the most. If you get distracted easily, it is better to go for the more minimal platforms but if you love design and themes, then stick to the ones that offer this. You can also use external blogging services if you to keep your blog fresh and informative.