The popularity of blogging is at an all-time high. Whether you do it for financial gain or just to share your opinion online, you want to make sure your voice is heard.
Let’s be honest, web design and formatting are not for everyone. But, that shouldn’t turn you away from blogging. There are tons of blogging platforms that do all the technical work for you. All you have to do is think of blog ideas and write them.
To help you get started, we have rigorously tested all the popular blogging platforms and picked out the top four.
Best Blogging Platform, Overall: Blogger
Blogger was one of the first platforms that allowed individuals to voice their opinion. The platform is to date free to use, people will a Google account automatically get a Blogger account.
With Blogger, you get a free blogspot.com domain, hundreds of blog templates to choose from, and an easy-to-use platform. All you have to do is write your blog and post it. Voila, your blog will magically appear on your blog site. You need zero knowledge of web design, the platform handles all that for you.
Since Blogger is offered by Google, you can easily integrate Google Analytics and Adsense to your blog site. This will give you insights into the site’s traffic, so you can ramp up your marketing efforts accordingly.
Best Blogging Platform for Beginners: WordPress and Wix
Bloggers just starting out on their journey need a platform that gives them freedom yet handles all of the technicalities that come with websites. WordPress and Wix are two CMS platforms that do just that.
WordPress
WordPress has quickly become the preferred web management system for websites. At the moment almost 40% of websites online use the CMS platform. There is a reason for that, the platform is easy to use and has tons of add-ons (plug-ins) that can enhance your website. It is the go-to platform for small businesses looking to have an online presence.
For blogging, it is a turnkey solution. The platform handles everything from getting a domain name, hosting, security, and designing your blog. You have thousands of themes to choose from or even integrate your own web design if you have one. The platform is reasonable with personal plans starting as low as $4 per year, without hosting costs.
For those that are just starting out, you can opt for the free plan to test the waters and decide if you want to continue with the platform.
Wix
Like WordPress, Wix is another website builder which is popular with bloggers. All you have to do is add the Wix Blog app to the website you design and start posting.
Wix features an easy, drag and drop, builder that lets you customize your blog. There are tons of templates to choose from and a customization option on top. The best part is, you don’t need any coding knowledge to use it. Getting a site up and running is quick and easy.
We found the platform has a steep learning curve. It takes a little more effort at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will be posting blogs daily.
Like WordPress, new bloggers have the option to opt for a free Wix account. Keep in mind that features are limited with a free account. But, enough for an online presence and the ability to blog.
Best Blogging Platform for Professionals: Typepad
Typepad is designed specifically for bloggers. It makes blogging so easy that you can publish your blogs through email. The feature ensures that you get your posts up even when you don’t have access to a PC. For those that do, you have the option to post through a web browser.
Like the other platforms on our list, you have the option to customize the blog you create. Typepad comes with a theme builder that lets you create a unique blog, even integrate custom CSS for your own design. The blog you create is fully hosted at the starting price of around $9 per month.
To start off, users get a 14-day free trial. This lets you get an idea of how the platform works and we highly recommend you take advantage of it. Typically, the users that have tried it, opt for it. The main reason for that is because the platform is one of the most complete for professional bloggers.
Final thought
You can go with any of the four platforms above and won’t be disappointed. The platforms handle all the technical aspects of establishing a blog and posts. All you will have to worry about is thinking of new blog topics and building a following.
Tired of the same old templates and theme for your blog? Let us help you with a custom blog design and integrate it with the platform of your choice. Contact our team at +971 4 360 9966 or inquire online to get started.