Most Popular Blogging Platforms
Blogging offers numerous advantages for businesses as well as individuals. According to Semrush, blogging remains the most popular content marketing format and 9 out of 10 marketers use blogging to achieve their content marketing goals. You can achieve a lot through blogging including establishing authority in a niche, increasing brand awareness, sharing business news and updates as well as generating leads. There are also various options to monetize your blog, if you want to earn through blogging. From affiliate marketing to monetization through ads, there are ways you can earn by generating content regularly.
However, before you start blogging, you need to select a blogging platform that fits your needs. You have several options to choose from and based on your needs, you need to find out which one is the best fit. For example, if you simply want to promote your business or share important updates with your audience without any extensive needs like advertising, affiliate marketing or other, you would have more choices. However, if you want more features like the ability to advertise, higher control of your content, ease of use, variety and flexibility and so on, your options might be somewhat limited.
If you simply want to share your ideas with the world through blogging, you have a lot of options and you can pick just any of them since most of them offer a great editing experience and the ability to publish attractive blog posts.
How to select the right blogging platform:
Selecting the right blogging platform affects several things from SEO to traffic growth and income. However, you must know that it takes time to build a blog and gain traffic. While it might be easier to gain exposure on some blogging platforms, on others you will need to invest time in SEO and other optimizations before your content starts ranking and you start receiving organic traffic. Some of these blogging platforms have a large audience and are designed to make your voice heard where you might find it easier to gain some initial followers.
Some platforms are great for use if you want to add subscriptions and might be easy to use compared to the others. However some may involve a learning curve but offer a lot of flexibility in terms of use. So, there are several factors to consider before you choose a blogging platform.
Selecting the right blogging platform is crucial for the success of your blog. Each platform has its own features, strengths, and weaknesses, so it’s important to consider your specific needs and preferences. Here are key factors to consider when choosing a blogging platform:
Ease of Use: Ease of use is an important consideration in terms of selecting the right blogging platform. If you do not have technical skills, then you must select a beginner friendly platform where you do not need to make many customizations and offers an easy to use and intuitive interface. So, consider your technical skills before selecting a platform.
Customization Options: Next, you must consider the level of customization you need. You will find extensive customization features available on some of the blogging platforms while others may offer limited customizations. You would not be able to add themes and plugins on some platforms while others may include a large range of themes to change the look of your blog or improve its functionality with plugins. So, check if you need all those customizations or if your target is to simply write and promote.
Scalability: Scalability is also an important consideration since over time as you create more content your blog traffic will rise and you may need to scale up. Select the platform that offers the required resources or where you can easily scale to accommodate increased traffic.
Hosting Options: Hosting is also an important consideration related to blogging. Some bloggers prefer self hosted since it offers them more control over their content. However, it also requires you to manage the security of your platform and some other technical aspects. So, unless you have the necessary skills, it might not be the right choice. However, hosting is not a major challenge if you are willing to pay for it. You can also get necessary technical support with the paid plans.
Cost: Cost is another important consideration related to blogging. Some platforms are free but others may include hosting fees. You might also be able to get to a free domain on some platforms or create a subdomain on the platform. However, on other platforms you might need to spend on hosting and premium themes and plugins.
Content Ownership: Consider who owns the content. Some platforms may have restrictions on content ownership, while others allow you full control of your content. On self hosted platforms you generally have full control of every aspect including your content.
Community and Support:
While support may not be required on all platforms, you may need it on some. Check the community and support available for the platform. A strong community and reliable support can be valuable when you encounter issues or need assistance. If you are going for a self hosted o Ption, it is important to consider the documentation and free support.
SEO Features: Some platforms have built in SEO features which means apart from adding description and tags you might need to do nothing to make your content discoverable. On the other platforms, you may need to spend more time optimizing for SEO. Assess the built-in SEO features of the platform. A blogging platform that supports SEO practices can help your content rank higher in search engine results.
Monetization Options: If you plan to monetize your blog, consider the platform’s support for advertising, affiliate marketing, or other revenue-generating methods. Several platforms do not allow you to lay ads on your blog. If you want to generate revenue through advertising or affiliate marketing, you will have fewer options.
Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure that the platform is mobile-friendly. With a growing number of users accessing content on mobile devices, a responsive design is crucial for a positive user experience. However, you would not have to worry much in this regard since most of the modern blogging platforms offer mobile responsiveness.
Social Media Integration: Evaluate how well the platform integrates with social media. The ability to share content easily on social platforms can enhance your blog’s reach. In this area also, you might not need to worry a lot since most platforms support social media integration either through plugins or built in features.
Multimedia Support: You will need to include multimedia content in your posts to make them attractive, engaging and informative. If you plan to include multimedia content such as images, videos, or podcasts, check if the platform supports these formats seamlessly.
Security Measures: Assess the security features of the platform. Security is crucial to protect your blog from potential threats and vulnerabilities. Some of the platforms offer solid security features for free while on the others you might need to exercise extra caution and use security plugins.
Ease of Migration: In the future, if your blog gets quite large and your needs evolve, you might want to move your blog to another platform. Consider how easy it is to migrate your content to another platform if needed. Some platforms offer smoother migration processes than others as they have built in features to download the content and move it. On other platforms, you might find there are no migration options and manual copy paste is not something you would prefer when your blog has grown quite big.
Reviews and Recommendations: Read reviews and seek recommendations from other bloggers. Understanding the experiences of other users can provide valuable insights. If you have selected a few options, you can examine each of them by reading online reviews before settling for the best choice.
Trial Period or Demo:
- If available, take advantage of any trial periods, demos, or free versions to test the platform before committing.
By carefully considering these factors and aligning them with your blogging goals, you can choose the platform that best suits your needs and sets the foundation for a successful blogging journey.
Popular Blogging Platforms for You in 2024
There are numerous blogging platforms available, each with its own features and advantages. Here’s a list of popular blogging platforms that you can consider to start a blog:
WordPress.org:
- WordPress is one of the most widely used and versatile blogging platforms. It offers a self-hosted solution with a vast array of themes and plugins for customization. It is also the CMS that powers most of the websites online. It offers a vast array of features. Some users may find the user interface a bit confusing because of so many features. There is also a learning curve with Wordpress and you will need to spend on hosting. However, if you are planning to monetize your blog and earn money, Wordpress is your one best option. There are thousands of plugins to help you secure, speed up and monetize your wordpress blog including free and premium plugins. Wordpress is liked by a lot of bloggers because of its high flexibility and ease of migration. While you would not need extensive technical skills if you are using a paid host, some coding skills and knowledge of html, css, js or php comes in handy when using Wordpress. You can self host Wordpress if you like on AWS or Digital Ocean. Otherwise, use an optimized platform like Cloudways to launch your Wordpress blog.
Blogger:
- Owned by Google, Blogger is a free and easy-to-use platform. It’s suitable for beginners and integrates seamlessly with Google services. Migrating content from ‘Blogger’ is also easy as you can download all your content if you plan to move it in future. There are several attractive themes available for use on Blogger and you can easily create a fast and good looking blog on it without the need for coding skills. Blogger may be somewhat limited in terms of features when compared to Wordpress but it is still used by a large number of bloggers since you do not need to worry about SEO or speed optimizations and you can monetize your blog or add your own custom domain if you want.
Medium:
- Medium is a user-friendly platform that focuses on the simplicity of writing. It also has a built-in audience, making it a good choice for those looking to reach a broader readership. Businesses also use Medium for reaching a wider audience. Content writers prefer medium since it is easier to find a large audience on Medium without needing to optimize or spend time on SEO. Medium promotes the best content before its audience and also pays the most read writers in some regions. You do not need any technical skills to start using Medium and it is free to use. Being a reader may require you to have a premium account but as a content writer, you can generate content without any worries. The user interface is minimal and simple to use. Again, Medium is also quite limited when it comes to monetizing with ads or earning from your blog through affiliate marketing. It is possible to earn on Medium but you need to be an awesome content creator. However, if you are only interested in sharing whatever you write with the world, Medium is your best option where your content might get discovered easily and read by a vast number of people.
Wix: Wix is a website builder that includes blogging features. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to create and customize your blog. You can use Wix to create a website and then add a blog to it. The user interface is not complex. There are no coding skills required and it is free to use without any hosting related expenses. However, when it comes to monetization, you will find Wix very limited compared to Wordpress. Otherwise, if you need a simple blog for brand promotion or sharing knowledge Wix can be a good option.
Weebly:
- Similar to Wix, Weebly is a website builder that includes blogging functionality. It’s user-friendly and suitable for those who want an all-in-one solution. You can create a website on Weebly and add a blog to it as well as your own custom domain. Weebly also offers an easy to use interface. However, when it comes to themes or extending functionalities, Weebly is much more limited compared to Wordpress and still one of the best free options.
Ghost:
- Ghost is a platform designed specifically for blogging. It’s known for its clean and minimalist interface and is favored by writers. Ghost is fast and will require some technical knowledge if you want to self host it. Otherwise, you can go for Ghost pro, the premium option. Ghost offers some excellent themes for a wonderful looking blog and you can add a subscription form to your blog which is a built in feature. Ghost also allows you to integrate analytics or adsense code into your blog. Its minimalist interface attracts most writers.
Squarespace:
- Squarespace is a website builder that includes blogging features. It’s known for its visually appealing templates and is suitable for those who want an aesthetically pleasing blog.
Tumblr: Tumblr is a microblogging platform that’s easy to use and has a social component. It’s suitable for shorter-form content and a younger audience.
Joomla:
- Joomla is a content management system (CMS) that can be used for blogging. It’s more complex than some other options but offers extensive customization options. In some regards, you may find Joomla similar to Wordpress but managing a Joomla website may prove to be complex.
Typepad:
- Typepad is a blogging platform that caters to both beginners and advanced users. It offers customizable templates and is known for its reliability. Typepad is fully customizable and offers many themes to help you design your blog according to your choice. It is a paid platform and offers a free 14 day trial. You can also run ads on your Typepad blog if you like.
Substack:
- Substack is a platform focused on email newsletters but includes blogging features. It’s popular among writers and journalists. You will also find a payment system and customer support integrated into its easy to use interface. Moreover, you own your content and subscriber payments.
WordPress.com:
- WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress. While not as customizable as WordPress.org, it’s a good option for those who want a simpler, hosted solution. If you want a hosted version of Wordpress, where you do not have to worry about security and hosting related issues. It has a similar look and feel as Wordpress.org and can be good for starting out. Later, you can migrate your content easily to Wordpress.org.
When choosing a blogging platform, consider factors such as your technical expertise, customization needs, and whether you prefer a self-hosted solution or a hosted platform. Additionally, think about the long-term goals of your blog and how well the platform aligns with those goals. A large number of users find Wordpress most suitable for their needs. However, it depends on what your writing and earning goals are and how much flexibility you really need.