So, you’ve made the decision to start a blog and you know what you want to write about. The problem is that you have no idea which platform to use. Don’t worry, you are certainly not alone; the sheer number of options open to bloggers these days can make the task of choosing just one rather intimidating for newcomers. If you would just read through the list I have compiled below, you should have a much better idea of which one will be the most suitable for your needs. blogging platform
Before you get started, it is worth remembering that if you save your blog posts offline it is not that difficult to switch between different platforms. Thus, there is no need to worry about being stuck with your first choice.
WordPress
Probably the most well-known of all the platforms, it is available as open source software that you can download and customise to your heart’s desire (on the .org website). It is also offered as a preconfigured platform with a choice of themes that can be hosted for free on the .com site or with your own domain name at an annual cost. Interactive features such as Twitter and Flickr boxes, as well as access to visitor statistics, have helped to make it one of the most popular choices among professional and amateur bloggers around the world.
Tumblr
Launched in 2007, this microblogging platform quickly attracted many users. The ability to email your articles in and have Tumblr post them for you attracts people who are often on the move. In addition, the follow feature that enables other users to repost your articles on their own site means that it is possible to build a large audience relatively quickly using this platform.
TypePad
Although it is a paid service, the user-friendly nature of this platform means that it is definitely worth considering if you are serious about your blogging. Users also have access to an affiliate program that makes it easy to start generating an income from your writing activities. Furthermore, CSS enables you to create your own designs and easily propagate changes to all pages when they are made.
Blogger
While this platform may not be as popular with seasoned writers as some of the others mentioned above, it is still a great choice if you are looking for a free service with a wide variety of templates. Additionally, the ability to track visitor numbers using the excellent Google Analytics tool is a big plus. Small businesses that would like to start blogging will find the team blog functionality that allows multiple authors to access the same site a useful feature too.
There are numerous other platforms available, which can be found very easily with an online search. Some, such as Octopress, have features that appeal to those writing about computer programming. On the other hand, a few, such as Drupal, are favoured by bloggers who are looking for a fully-fledged content management system rather than a standalone blogging platform.
If you already have your own website and would like to add a blog to it, using a modular content management system could make a lot of sense. However, if you do not have much of an online presence at the moment, it might be best to start with one of the dedicated, free blogging platform mentioned above. At least until you have established what exactly it is that you are trying to achieve with your blog.
About the Author
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