Choosing A Blogging Platform

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Choosing A Blogging Platform

Starting a blog encompasses a lot of decisions, from deciding what you want to blog about to figuring out exactly what fonts you’ll be using. As a blogger who mainly writes about blogging and everything tied into the subject, the questions I’m asked by my followers generally have to do with blogging. One of the most common questions?

“What blogging platform should I choose?”

With so many options out there, it can be nerve-wrecking to single out one platform that fits your needs. I’ll be looking at five popular blogging platforms: Blogger, self-hosted WordPress, WordPress.com, Squarespace, and Weebly. From there, I’ll give a summary of what each platform allows you to do, as well as some considerations you should take if you choose that platform. By the end of this post, you’ll have a good idea of where you fit along the platform spectrum!

Blogger

I used this platform when I initially created my blog, and I really didn’t have any issues with it. Blogger is a free blogging platform and host, meaning you can build your blog on it without having to purchase separate hosting, and continue to blog for free on a “website.blogspot.com” blog. It’s very customizable in comparison to some of the other blogging platforms I’ll be covering, although it has its limits. Should you decide to take your blog to the next level, you can always purchase a domain name through a company like GoDaddy and easily use it on your Blogger blog. I’d recommend this platform for people who:

  • Don’t want to spend money.
  • Care about personalizing their design, but don’t need anything super fancy.
  • Know some basics of CSS and HTML.
  • May be interested in producing sponsored content.
  • Aren’t planning on running a business through their blog.
  • Want a platform that’s easy to use and edit.

When choosing Blogger as your platform, there are a few things you should consider. For one, you have to be okay with not owning your content. Having a blog on Blogger means you don’t actually own that blog. It’s hosted on Blogger’s servers, meaning Google owns your blog and everything that comes with it. This generally won’t cause any problems, but they do have the right to take down your blog if they believe it’s spam or violates the Terms of Service in any other way. It’s also not quite as SEO optimized as platforms like WordPress, but if that’s not a concern for you, it shouldn’t matter much.

Self-Hosted WordPress

This blog is currently on the WordPress platform. That means the blog was created using the WordPress platform, but the blog is hosted through another service (in my case, Bluehost). This is definitely the most advanced route you can take when choosing a blogging platform, but it can save a lot of time and effort in the long run. There are infinite design and functionality options in WordPress, which is a designer’s dream come true! Even if you’re a non-designer, WordPress has loads of goodies for all types of bloggers. However, all of that functionality comes with a big learning curve, so I’d suggest choosing WordPress if you:

  • Are okay spending money on your blog (upwards of $100 a year).
  • Have or are planning to get a custom domain.
  • Care about design, and are willing to pay for it or create it.
  • Want ownership of your blog.
  • Have some knowledge of CSS and HTML.
  • Plan on blogging for a long time.

WordPress.com

To clarify why I’m listing WordPress twice, it’s imperative that you understand that WordPress.com is NOT the same as self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org). This is a confusion lots of bloggers have, and for good reason; I mean, they have the same name! But don’t be confused by that similarity, because it’s pretty much the only characteristic they share. WordPress.com is similar to blogger in that your blog is hosted by WordPress, so you don’t own your content. Similar to Blogger, you’ll have a subdomain name (website.wordpress.com). It also has quite a few limitations, like the inability to post sponsored content. A lot of users don’t realize WordPress has that rule, but if your blog is hosted on WordPress, you are not allowed to post sponsored content. Because this is becoming a trend in the blogging world, this is a huge limit to consider when choosing this platform. However, a few bloggers may benefit from this platform if they:

  • Don’t want to spend money.
  • Don’t care much about design or personalization.
  • Want something simple that doesn’t require coding knowledge.
  • Don’t plan on posting sponsored content.
  • Don’t care about having a custom domain.

As someone who wants my followers to have the best, I honestly would not recommend this platform to anyone. The limitations are just too problematic, and someone looking for a free blog platform would be better off on Blogger. I’m not trying to hate on anyone with a WordPress.com blog, but this is my honest opinion and that’s all I’ll ever give my followers!

Squarespace

I’ve never actually used Squarespace before, so I’m probably not the best person to analyze their services, but I’ve read a lot about it from other bloggers, so I’ll do my best to give you the gist. Squarespace offers monthly payment plans, ranging from $8 to $24 dollars a month. That plan includes things like your hosting, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage, and an integrated e-commerce feature. They have a large selection of templates to choose from, so customization is possible. Their interface is also easy to use, with a drag and drop feature that allows you to easily move content around. From what I’ve learned, I would recommend Squarespace if you:

  • Are willing to spend money on your blog (upwards of $100).
  • Care about design, but don’t need extensive functionality.
  • May be interested in running a business through your blog.
  • Want something very easy to use.
  • Are looking for a more professional look.

Weebly

My experience with Weebly is limited to a few school projects (check out my Art History project here) and an extremely short-term blog, but maybe there’s a reason for that. Weebly is about as simple as it gets when it comes to blogging. They have a few templates to choose from, and all you have to do from there is create your content and drag it in. There isn’t an extensive amount of functionality to it, and you’ll also have a website.weebly.com domain. Choosing Weebly means you’re okay having them place their brand everywhere, specifically in your footer where there’s a giant “Weebly” logo and advertisement link. My opinions about Weebly are consistent with my opinions for WordPress.com, but this platform may work if you:

  • Don’t want to spend money.
  • Don’t care much about design/customization.
  • Don’t plan on upgrading your blog in the future.
  • Are blogging more for yourself than an audience.
  • Don’t need a professional looking blog.

One important thing to consider when choosing this platform is that it can be extremely hard to transfer your blog to any other platform. Unlike Blogger, WordPress.com, and Squarespace, there isn’t a simple “export” button that allows you to move your content to a platform like WordPress. This means you’ll have to completely remake your blog on the new platform, inputting content post by post. So I would only suggest choosing this option if you have absolutely no plans on upgrading in the future.

As this is the first step I would consider taking when creating a blog, I thought covering this topic would be the perfect way to launch my new series, “How To Start A Blog”! Here are some other topics you can expect to see over the next few weeks:

  • Blog Design Options
  • “What Should I Blog About?”
  • Mastering Social Media
  • Increasing Your Following
  • Creating Blog Graphics
  • Earning Money From Your Blog

What topics would you like to see covered in my new series? Or for bloggers, is there anything you wish you had known about when you first started blogging?

p.s. don’t forget to enter this week’s Starbucks giveaway!

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  • http://gina-alyse.com/ Gina Alyse

    I love this post! I have been hearing a lot more about Squarespace lately. My friend used it for her portfolio site and I know a lot of bloggers use it, too. I think WordPress is really awesome, but you’re right–there is a learning curve! I’ve been discovering so much more to WordPress lately. :) I think this post, though, does an excellent job of presenting all the options! Still kind of biased to self-hosted WP though! :)

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      Thanks Gina! I’ve really been wanting to learn more about Squarespace, because it’s becoming so popular! And I totally agree, I’m biased towards WordPress too!!

  • Erin Toews

    I am probably switching from Blogger to self-hosted WordPress very soon. Thanks for this list of other options!

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      Ooh fun! I hope your transfer goes well!! :)

    • Melissa

      Erin why are you thinking of making the switch?

    • http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/ Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily

      I’m curious too why you’re switching?

  • Melissa

    UGH! I don’t know where the myth that Google owns the content on Blogger came from but I wish it would die. Google hosting your blog is no different than having any other company, i.e. Bluehost, Go Daddy, ect. hosting your blog. Those companies also have the right to remove your blog from their servers if you violate TOS. Google doesn’t own my blog, they host my blog, I’m free to take it with me if I choose to have another company host it. It is also just as SEO friendly as any other platform. Google owns the platform so of course they want their platform to do well in searches.

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      Thank you for that insight! In no way do I classify myself as a blog expert, and it wasn’t my intention to provide false information; just going off what I’ve read and seen on other blogs, which I guess would be why I considered this to be true because like you said, it’s a big myth that a lot of bloggers believe! I’m sorry for that, I don’t have time to correct it right now but I will be sure to go do some more research! :)

      • http://justplainmarie.ca/ Just Plain Marie

        But a lot of people read posts and don’t read the comments (and especially not replies to comments). You’re just helping to perpetuate myths. When you blog and do something other than just a diary type, you are promoting yourself as an expert. When I read your little “about” blurb and your About page, you do imply that you are a “blog expert”. It seems like a threadbare excuse to say that you “don’t have time to correct” when you are called out on a mistake.

        • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

          My goal as a blogger is to help others create a special place of their own and provide them with a fun and loving community and resource, and I’ve obviously failed in some areas, and I am sorry for that. But as a college student majoring in engineering with other jobs and organizations and labs to attend to, I can’t devote that time right now. I’m sorry I’m not able to meet my followers’ expectations all the time.

        • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

          I also never state that I am a blog expert, only that I love blogging, love helping other people, and would get a degree in blogging if I could, simply because I love it so much! I’m sorry you interpreted my words differently than I intended them to be understood, but that is how I see myself.

  • http://Www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/ Sandra Black

    Sometimes you should double check your information before you commit yourself on your blog. Google does not own blogs on the blogger platform – see their own terms for confirmation of that. Also any host can close down your blog if you violate their terms of use and Google is simply like this it will not close down you blog for no reason. Gosh and another thing is that it is easier for blogger blogs to be backed up than it is for wordpress blogs meaning a backup of the blog content not just the templates and of course that means the blog is safer. Yes and blogger blogs aren’t worrying about the plugin problems that have just effected wordpress. Then on top of that you should also check out the many blogger blogs which are making good money.

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      Thank you for this! In no way do I classify myself as a blog expert, and I wrote this post off what I’ve read on other blogs and heard from countless bloggers, so I guess that shows the immensity of this myth. Like I said, I never had any problems with Blogger which is why I used it for so long, and I absolutely recommend it to my followers! I unfortunately believed that false information, and I thought that if it were true, it would be something I should tell my followers.

      • http://Www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/ Sandra Black

        But surely when you write in your blog it should be information that you can stand by, that you have researched on behalf of the peeople who will be reading your posts and not just repeating what you have heard or read from others?

        • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

          Well yes, that’s what every blogger out there would strive to do, but as a young college student who blogs as a hobby, I don’t really have time to read through each ToS for all of these platforms, which would be the only way to completely ensure I’m providing 100% correct information. I state in my disclaimer that I make no guarantees about the information and recommendations provided on this blog for this exact reason. I’m not intentionally lying to my followers, I’m just trying my best to make this blog a fun and helpful place for them to go to.

  • http://Www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/ Sandra Black

    Actually I would like to request that you edit your post here to take out the inaccuracies.

  • http://www.happilyeverafteretc.com Betsy Smith

    Thanks for your thoughts! It’s always interesting to read other bloggers ideas behind how blogging works! Especially since it can be hard to weed through the information out there. :)

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      Of course! And I completely agree, there is a TON of information circling around out there, and honestly, until I take the time to read through the entire Terms of Service for each of these platforms, I know I won’t be 100% correct! :)

  • http://asweetaroma215.blogspot.com/ Brandy Miller

    This is great! I love blogger but feel like so many people are always hating on it and I never truly understood the difference! This makes sense and completely confirms my decision to stay put! Thanks for a great list! Can’t wait for the rest of the series!

    • http://Www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/ Sandra Black

      Hi Brandy, I belong to blogger FB group where we are all always willing to give advice and help to anyone on the blogger platform so if you would like to come join us just let me know

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      Blogger does seem to get a lot of hate, but I totally agree, it’s a fantastic platform! I only made the switch because I’m really into graphic design and wanted to teach myself how to design more advanced templates, and I loved the idea of learning how to code in PHP. I also have a lot of plans for my blog in the future, and I knew WP would better suit those needs. But other than that, Blogger was perfect, and it’s definitely the #1 free platform I recommend!

  • http://Www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/ Sandra Black

    A link for anyone who might want some more accurate info on the blogger platform http://www.kim-six.com/about.html

  • Kathe

    Once you have done real research, I hope you come back and edit this post with actual facts in regards to Blogger and not just what you have heard. When you post an article such as this, you ARE presenting yourself as someone who has done the research and is sharing facts with readers when in reality, you are just perpetrating rumors. As a young college student you should already know you have to have the facts to back up your thesis. If you don’t have the time to dig for the truth, don’t write the paper (or blog post).

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      Thank you for your thoughts! I’ll do my best to not make mistakes next time.

  • http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/ Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily

    I’m wondering where you get this information you are sharing because I AM on Blogger and have to politely disagree. I do agree with you that it’s very easy to use, but I actually think my blog is pretty ‘fancy’ – certainly no less than an other blog- and my readers must think so too because I get almost half a million page views a month. My SEO is through the roof. I also DO run a business through my blog. A six-figure business. In less than three years. Oh, and I actually do own my own content. Any blog platform can and will shut you down if you violate their TOS.

    Lisa
    Fresh Eggs Daily
    http://www.fresheggsdaily.com

    • http://thebloggingbrew.com Jessica Slaughter

      When I reference design as “super fancy” I’m comparing Blogger design WordPress design, which is more advanced in many ways. I don’t mean to say that Blogger isn’t fancy, because as a blog designer I know how complex Blogger is and how much design potential it has, but WordPress is on a completely different level simply because of the editable framework behind it. I also never said that you can’t run a business on Blogger, because obviously you can and I’m glad yours is successful! I also know several successful business bloggers. But as this post was intended for newbie bloggers, I know WordPress has more functionality for allowing the integration of ecommerce, so if a blogger knows they want to run a shop, that might be a good choice for them. Those points are my recommendations, and are not to be taken as facts. As for the other two points, I got my information from the bloggers I look up too, who I unfortunately believed had the correct information on their blogs as they are people I learn from and gain inspiration from. I won’t name anyone specifically though because I’m not in the position to call them out like that. I apologize for providing you with false information.