What is the best blogging platform? Which one has the best experience for your readers and is the best to work with? Read on and we’ll explore how to achieve both!
If you don’t like your blogging platform or it’s too hard to work with, you aren’t going to be getting your message across to readers. This can translate into missed opportunities and a lot of lost potential. Rather than take that risk, consider the best blogging platform for your needs and focus on what it can offer you.
The right platform will give the best of both worlds – it will be easy to use and will also help readers find everything they want and need when they read your blog.
Table of Contents
Blogging on Squarespace
When you use Squarespace, you’ll find that you can get the help and support you need to make a great blog. The platform is more than just a blog, as it allows for companies and individuals to create full-sized, fully functional websites.
As a part of those websites, users of the platform can have blogs. Because the platform is set up for two different options, users have choices for how they want to operate their website and blog. They can either focus on using Squarespace for the actual site hosting, or they can use it to buy a domain name and then host the site with another type of platform.
Squarespace Hosting vs Hosting Elsewhere
Deciding which of those options to take will depend on the person. What you want from the blog and what you need to offer to other people from the blog both matter. If you can get a domain name and good hosting through Squarespace, it can make sense to use it for your blogging platform.
Effective marketing is more than just the platform that’s used for the blog or website you have. Blogging on Squarespace needs to be paired with quality advertising and a good message that your readers will be interested in. Without quality content, the platform would have no meaning.
Blogging on WordPress
One of the most popular blogging platforms is WordPress. It’s commonly used for a number of applications, and plenty of people build complete websites on it. However, you don’t have to just create a blog if you don’t want to – you can also maintain a website that your readers and customers appreciate.
You should keep that in mind when you consider using WordPress – you want to make sure you’re selecting the right platform for your blogging needs. WordPress is so commonly used meaning there is plenty of support available if you reach out to others or the support centre.
WordPress Themes
Blogging on WordPress gives you freedom to choose from various themes, fonts, and unique ways to add pictures, movement and overall value to the site.
It’s important to consider, since many bloggers today want to have something a little different from everyone else. Whether you only want to have a blog to reach out to readers and build a following or you’re looking for a large, company website with a blogging option attached to it, WordPress can be a great way to get things moving in the right direction for your online presence.
WordPress is a self-hosted blogging platform that offers a great deal of flexibility and customization. It is also the most popular blogging platform in the world, with over 60% of all blogs powered by WordPress.
Pros:
- Flexibility: WordPress is a highly flexible platform that can be used to create a wide variety of blogs, from simple personal blogs to complex business websites.
- Customizability: WordPress is highly customizable, with thousands of themes and plugins available. This means that you can create a blog that looks and feels exactly the way you want it to.
- SEO-friendly: WordPress is very SEO-friendly, making it easy to rank your blog high in search engine results pages (SERPs).
- Large community: WordPress has a large and active community of users, so you can easily find help if you need it.
Cons:
- Learning curve: WordPress has a bit of a learning curve, especially if you are not familiar with web development.
- Maintenance: WordPress requires some ongoing maintenance, such as keeping your plugins and themes up to date.
- Security: WordPress is a target for hackers, so you need to take steps to secure your blog.
Medium
Medium is a hosted blogging platform that is known for its clean and minimalist design. It is a good choice for bloggers who want to focus on writing and not have to worry about the technical aspects of running a blog.
Pros:
- Ease of use: Medium is very easy to use, even for beginners.
- Clean design: Medium has a clean and minimalist design that is easy on the eyes.
- Built-in audience: Medium has a built-in audience of millions of readers, so you can easily reach a wider audience for your blog posts.
Cons:
- Limited customization: Medium is not as customizable as some other blogging platforms.
- Monetization: Medium does not offer as many monetization options as other blogging platforms.
- Ownership: Medium owns your content, which means that you have less control over it.
Blogging on Blogger
Blogger was one of the most popular options for a long time, but it is no longer quite as valuable as it was. That’s not to say it isn’t a good choice, but you should be aware that you aren’t going to get as many choices and options for templates with Blogger as you would with some other types of sites.
Blogging on Blogger is easy and fun, and the interface is simple and user-friendly. It’s better for small and personal blogs, as opposed to larger or more serious companies. Since it doesn’t cost anything to blog there, not everyone will take it seriously.
Blogger is a free hosted blogging platform that is owned by Google. It is a good choice for bloggers who are just starting out and want a simple and easy-to-use platform.
Pros:
- Free: Blogger is free to use, which makes it a good choice for bloggers who are on a tight budget.
- Easy to use: Blogger is very easy to use, even for beginners.
- Google integration: Blogger is integrated with other Google products, such as Google Analytics and Google AdSense.
Cons:
- Limited features: Blogger has a limited set of features compared to other blogging platforms.
- Customization: Blogger is not as customizable as other blogging platforms.
- Monetization: Blogger does not offer as many monetization options as other blogging platforms.
Changing Platforms
But that doesn’t mean it can’t have value. When you’re just getting started, you can create a lot of blogs on different things. If you aren’t sure whether you want to pursue a specific area of interest, it can be a great option.
This way, you start out on a platform that you can quickly get comfortable with, and see whether blogging is going to be the right fit for you. If it works out well you can always move to a different and more complex platform at a later date. If you decide blogging isn’t for you, or Blogger doesn’t have what you need, it’s easy to either change platforms or stop altogether, if needed.
Blogging on Tumblr
When people wonder what is the best blogging platform, they generally don’t think of Tumblr. That’s because the site is more often used as a social media site, where interaction is common but serious blogging may not be popular. However, there are many things you can do with Tumblr. In addition to a news feed and other options, you can start up a blog that doesn’t cost anything.
You can also have a main blog and other side ones, which allows you to focus on more than one interest and keep everything on the same platform. Having one platform for all of your blogs can make things much easier to address and keep track of.
Business Blogs on Tumblr?
One of the things you need to remember about Tumblr, though, is that it’s not the type of blogging site that a serious company would probably want to use. It’s used for casual blogs, personal information, and a connection with others who like the same things.
Tumblr is filled with creative people and there are also many people who are focused on anime and related interests. Knowing your target audience is important, and unless you’re a very casual individual or company with common interests related to many Tumblr users, blogging on Tumblr may not be the best option for your needs and goals.
Blogging on Medium
Medium gives a voice to people who have something to say and want to be taken more seriously. The site was created with a more journalistic style in mind, so people who wanted to write could have bylines and published clips. Unfortunately, not a lot of people have heard of the site.
This often means that blogging on Medium is not as significant to a portfolio or a quality internet presence. While it’s generally a good thing to have a presence on more than one site, you want to pick and choose the places where your name and information appears. That way you can control how people see you online.
Blogging on Wix
Wix is a hosted website builder that can also be used to create blogs. It is a good choice for bloggers who want a drag-and-drop interface and a wide variety of templates.
Pros:
- Easy to use: Wix is very easy to use, even for beginners.
- Drag-and-drop interface: Wix has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create a beautiful blog without any coding experience.
- Wide variety of templates: Wix has a wide variety of templates to choose from, so you can find one that matches your style.
Cons:
- Limited customization: Wix is not as customizable as some other blogging platforms.
- SEO: Wix is not as SEO-friendly as some other blogging platforms.
- Pricing: Wix has a tiered pricing system, so you may need to pay to get the features you want.
Blogging on Squarespace
Squarespace is a hosted website builder that is known for its beautiful designs and high-quality templates. It is a good choice for bloggers who want a professional-looking blog.
Pros:
- Beautiful designs: Squarespace is known for its beautiful designs and high-quality templates.
- Easy to use: Squarespace is relatively easy to use, even for beginners.
- SEO: Squarespace is very SEO-friendly.
Cons:
- Limited customization: Squarespace is not as customizable as some other blogging platforms.
- Pricing: Squarespace has a higher price point than some other blogging platforms.
Medium Vs Your Own Website
While Medium can be more serious than a lot of places, when it comes to the quality of the writing, it’s also a place where anyone can publish and blog. This means that you often see lower quality work which you don’t want to be associated with if you’re looking to be taken seriously about an issue.
It’s important to consider the blogging platform very carefully, and considering what is the best blogging platform isn’t always easy. Take a look at Medium, but be aware that it might not be the right choice for your needs. If you’re looking for a seriously established, strong presence, your own website may be more suitable.
Image credit: Multipub
Blogging on Joomla
Joomla is another one of the more casual sites to use for blogging, and it’s one that many people haven’t heard of. This means that blogging on Joomla may not get you too far from a business standpoint. If you just want a place for your thoughts, though, it can be a good choice. It’s a lot like keeping an online diary for everyone to read, where you can offer insight, advice, and information to anyone who’s interested.
The community of Joomla users may be very interested in what you have to offer, depending on the types of things you like to blog about. If you reach out to that community, interaction can help you thrive there.
Joomla Ease Of Use
While not as full-featured as some of the other platforms you could use for blogging, Joomla’s interface is easy to use. In order for you to blog consistently you probably want somewhere that isn’t too hard to navigate around.
With Joomla you can do that without hassle or problems. If you’re trying to start a business, though, steering clear of free blogging sites in general may be the best idea.
Table that compares the key features of some of the most popular blogging platforms:
Feature | WordPress | Medium | Blogger | Wix | Squarespace |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Self-hosted | Hosted | Hosted | Hosted | Hosted |
Cost | Free or paid | Free | Free | Free or paid | Paid |
Ease of use | Moderate | Easy | Easy | Easy | Moderate |
Customization | Highly customizable | Limited customization | Limited customization | Moderate customization | Moderate customization |
SEO | Very SEO-friendly | SEO-friendly | SEO-friendly | SEO-friendly | Very SEO-friendly |
Community | Large and active community | Built-in audience | Limited community | Limited community | Limited community |
Monetization | Wide variety of monetization options | Limited monetization options | Limited monetization options | Limited monetization options | Limited monetization options |
Templates | Thousands of themes available | Limited selection of templates | Limited selection of templates | Wide variety of templates available | Wide variety of templates available |
Plugins | Thousands of plugins available | No plugins available | No plugins available | Limited selection of apps available | Limited selection of apps available |
Integrations | Wide variety of integrations available | Limited integrations available | Limited integrations available | Limited integrations available | Limited integrations available |
Latest statistics on blogging platform market share and growth:
Market Share
According to W3Techs, as of October 2023, the top 5 most popular content management systems (CMS) for websites are:
- WordPress: 64.1%
- Shopify: 5.5%
- Joomla: 2.8%
- Squarespace: 2.2%
- Wix: 2.1%
WordPress remains the dominant CMS, powering over 60% of all websites. Shopify, a platform specifically designed for eCommerce, has seen significant growth in recent years, now holding the second-largest market share. Joomla, Squarespace, and Wix round out the top five, each with a market share of around 2%.
Growth
The blogging platform market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. A report by Verified Market Research projects that the global blogging platforms market will reach a value of $19.18 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% from 2020 to 2027.
This growth is being driven by several factors, including:
- The increasing popularity of blogging as a way to share information and connect with others
- The rise of social media and other online platforms that make it easy to distribute blog posts
- The growing adoption of mobile devices, which has made it easier for people to read blogs on the go
- The increasing demand for content marketing, as businesses recognize the value of blogging for generating leads, building brand awareness, and establishing thought leadership
As the blogging platform market continues to grow, we can expect to see even more innovation and competition in the years to come. This will benefit bloggers of all levels of experience, as it will give them more choices and make it easier to find the right platform for their needs.
The Best Blogging Platform For You?
So, what is the best blogging platform? It’s the one that couples ease of use with the quality that readers are looking for. Your blog should look professional, but it should also be something you can work with and enjoy.
Depending on what you’re trying to do with it, professionalism may or may not be important to you. Casual online diaries don’t need the same look as more serious and professional blogs where you’re trying to sell a product or service.
Only you can decide what is the best blogging platform for your needs, but with so many to choose from there are plenty of great options to be considered.
FAQ
Q: What is the best blogging platform for beginners?
A: The best blogging platform for beginners depends on their needs and preferences. However, two good options are Medium and Blogger. Medium is easy to use and has a built-in audience, while Blogger is free and integrated with other Google products.
Q: What is the best blogging platform for ecommerce businesses?
A: The best blogging platform for ecommerce businesses is WordPress. It is highly customizable and scalable, and it has a wide variety of plugins available that can be used to integrate your blog with your ecommerce store.
Q: What is the best blogging platform for agencies?
A: The best blogging platform for agencies depends on the needs of their clients. However, some good options include Medium, WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace.
Q: What is the difference between a self-hosted and hosted blogging platform?
A: A self-hosted blogging platform is installed on your own web server, while a hosted blogging platform is hosted by a third-party provider. Self-hosted platforms offer more flexibility and control, but they also require more technical expertise to set up and manage. Hosted platforms are easier to use, but they typically offer less flexibility and control.
Q: What is the difference between a free and paid blogging platform?
A: Free blogging platforms typically have limited features and support, while paid blogging platforms offer more features and support. Paid platforms may also have restrictions on how you can monetize your blog.
Conclusion
The best blogging platform for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Consider your experience level, your blog’s goals, and your budget when making your decision.
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