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Ready to become a blogger?
I gotta say:
Great idea!
It’s not easy but it so pays off in the long run.
Of course, finding the perfect blogging platform isn’t always the easiest thing to do.
Hopefully, this article will make it just a bit easier to find the perfect website builder to begin your blogging journey.
Let’s Go
WordPress.org – Self-Hosted – (What I Use)
For those who are somewhat savvy at creating blogs, WordPress.org is for you.
It has garnered such a strong reputation that nearly one-quarter of all websites are powered using this remarkable software program.
It is among the best website builders for blogs
Pricing
This is arguably the best part about WordPress.org in that it is a free and open-source software program that millions of people use to create blogs.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay for the domain name along with hosting (Averaging $6 bucks and up monthly).
Plus, any premium themes or plugins (but, tons of free ones) have a price as well.
Pros & Cons
Quite Powerful: When you consider the 54,000 plugins available and rising, there is a myriad of options to choose.
From newsletter systems to design tools, you can find it all here.
Customization: You can create a unique site if you know some coding.
This means you can create your own website to meet your needs.
This is especially important if you are in a highly competitive niche or field where standing out is important.
Despite all the advantages that WordPress.org offers, there are a few drawbacks that you need to be aware of before choosing this software program.
Difficult to Learn:
The biggest downside is that this software is not for beginners.
You need to know how to code if you want to use this as the basis for your website builder.
The reason for its popularity is that web designers use this to create so many sites.
However, if you are doing this on your own, you’ll need some assistance.
Self-Management: In other words, the domains, plugins, and hosting you will have to do yourself.
Some may be okay with this option, but most bloggers and website owners, they would prefer not to have to do the maintenance work.
There is little doubt that WordPress.org is one of the best blogging platform products on the market.
However, it is not the best for beginners. Unless you are prepared to learn about coding it may be best to choose another blog platform for your needs.
Getting Started With WordPress (The Video Above Will Guide You)
This is a bit different than your basic website builders
Because
You need a host for your blog.
Like, Blue Host
They pretty much will help you from here
If you want more help
Check this article out
Wix
Thanks to its extensive marketing campaign, Wix has become one of the most popular website-building software products in the world.
Pricing
You can go with a free account, but it’s so limited that it’s not worth the price.
Instead, it is recommended that you start with the $5 plan per month which provides 500MB of storage, 1GB of bandwidth, and a customized domain.
For larger businesses, the $25 plan per month includes 24/7 VIP support, so that is an option.
Pros & Cons
Ease of Use: Arguably the best reason to choose Wix is that the software is designed with beginners in mind.
Even if you have never built a website before, it is quick and easy when you use Wix.
Integration: One of the best advantages of Wix is the integration with the website which makes it perfect for growing your business.
This means that you simply need to upgrade your plan when your online business expands.
Limited Storage Space:
This may be a real issue for some as the space available for storage is limited, especially if you choose the budget plan.
Fewer Features: Because it is built for convenience and ease of use, you will not find as many blogging features compared to similar platforms such as WordPress.com and Weebly.
For those who are just starting out, especially if you are a creative type, then Wix is the perfect solution for your web-building needs.
However, if you plan on expanding your business over time, then you might want to consider another blog builder.
Squarespace
Try Out Squarespace For Blogging
Squarespace has garnered considerable attention in recent years thanks to its considerable online advertising.
It also has a reputation for being perfect for those who are just starting out with building their own blog.
Pricing
There are no free options, but there is a $12 per-month plan for personal use. If you want to upgrade and monetize your efforts, there is an $18 per month business plan.
Pros & Cons
Creative Freedom: Compared to many other website builders, you get a considerable amount of flexibility with Squarespace. This is especially true if you want to add your own features to the site.
Excellent Templates: Another advantage is the sheer number of high-quality templates that make building a blog a snap. You can find the one you want or customize it to your needs.
However, not everything about Squarespace is perfect, there are a couple of issues that they have compared to other website builders.
Difficult to Create: While not all that difficult, it is harder compared to Weebly and Wix in terms of building a website. This is because Squarespace is designed for those with at least some experience, although it is not all that difficult to learn.
Restricted Pricing Plans: There is less flexibility in the pricing plans offered by Squarespace, so you may not find what you need.
Overall, Squarespace is one of the best website builders for blogs. This is particularly true if you run an eCommerce store, large business, or need to display your portfolio. It certainly helps if you can find a price discount as they are somewhat more expensive, but that may be well worth it.
WordPress.com
Try Out WordPress.com For Your Blog
WordPress.com should not be confused with WordPress.org as they are two different platforms.
However, this hasn’t stopped millions of people from using WordPress.com as their go-to blogging service.
Pricing
You can start with a free version, but that is quite limiting and is filled with WordPress branding.
You can choose from paid plans that range from $4 up to $25 per month and pay annually if you desire.
Pros & Cons
Easy to Use: From building the site to following the installation wizard to having built-in community features, WordPress.com is one of the best website builders for blogs you can find. It helps that hosting is included with your purchase.
Support: You have dedicated support when you use WordPress.com.
This can be really helpful when creating your blog to maximize its potential.
Plus, you can have your questions answered in a reasonable amount of time.
However, despite all the advantages, there are still some issues when using WordPress.com as your blog-building platform.
Limited Customization: This means that you cannot make your blog as unique looking as you like.
This can be problematic if you are in a highly competitive niche or industry where separating yourself from the competition is vital.
Business Plan Requirement: In other words, if you want access to all the third-party themes and plugins that make WordPress.com worth it, you will have to invest in the more expensive business plan.
While WordPress.com has its advantages, it may not be the right choice for you if you are planning to have an inexpensive personal or professional site.
Weebly
Ready to start building with Weebly
Weebly offers some exceptional options for the beginner, especially if you plan on creating a professional or personal site.
From strong SEO features to the integration with Google Analytics, you can certainly grow a small business with Weebly.
Pricing
The good news is that you can try Weebly for free, but that only includes about 500MB of storage and you are a subdomain of Weebly along with the branding.
For $4 per month, you can get a custom domain which is pretty cheap all things considered.
Pricing plans above the basic ranges from $8 up to $25 per month which offers a wide variety of options.
For those launching eCommerce sites, you may have to pay a little more.
Pros & Cons
Fast & Friendly: In other words, Weebly is designed for beginners who have little to no experience in building websites.
Weebly takes you step by step through the process, so you can build your site quickly and easily.
Features: Apart from how easy it is to build your blog, the number of features that Weebly offers is considerable for the price.
This means that you get scheduled sharing and comment management which are quite useful as part of the features Weebly offers.
Despite the advantages, Weebly does have a couple of issues that you need to be aware of before purchasing a plan.
Limited Growth: One of the common issues with a drag-and-drop blog or site builders is their limited capacity for growth over the long term.
This may not be an issue for some if you plan to keep the site limited. But for others who have big plans, Weebly may not be the way to go.
Fewer Customizable Features: While you can build an attractive site, you cannot customize it to the extent that the other builders on this list can do.
This means that you are limited in the ability to make your site look unique which is important especially if you are in a highly competitive industry.
Weebly is one of the best blogging platform software programs for beginners, no question about it.
For personal or professional sites, it is a great choice thanks to its easy-to-use platform.
However, if you plan on growing a large business, you probably want to choose another site.
Conclusion On These Blogging Platforms
If you serious about blogging
Hands down, you will want to use my first option WordPress
In this case, we have to cover WordPress.org
The learning curve is higher, but, it’s worth it.
If your overall main purpose isn’t blogging
Such as you are a local company too
Then
The other 4 options are worth trying too
