blogging

love blogging

Blogging is a way to connect with the world.  Whether you are trying to express your passion, or you’re blogging to connect on a personal level, blogging is the way to do it.  In this article, I will review each of the popular blogging sites available today.  These popular blogging platforms all have both positives and negatives.  Especially when you take into consideration your level of skill as a blogger and/or coder.  The longer you’ve been blogging, the more skills you will have developed so it’s important to make sure the platform meets your needs.  Or to find a platform that gives you the ability to change the type of services you get in order to serve the needs of your blog’s audience.

wordpress

WordPress.org

First up, is WordPress.  WordPress is great for people who want to have complete control over the customization of their blog.  That being said, it’s not a platform that is easy for beginners to use effectively.  There are a lot of free and paid options in order to learn WordPress.  WordPress lets you install your own custom plugins and themes in order to make your blog look exactly how you want it.  In order to use the platform for your blog, you will have to find your own hosting service, perform routine backups and maintain the blog on your own.  If you’re new to blogging, you should check out BlueHost as they offer an easy WordPress Installation process.  They also offer excellent support.

ghost

Ghost

Ghost is an open source blogging platform that provides a simple and yet, clean interface that makes it very easy to use.  It also provides a live preview of your post while you’re writing it.  That way, you can easily correct any writing or coding mistakes as you go.  Ghost is a great platform for beginners because it’s easy to use.  Expert bloggers will prefer Ghost, because of its interface.  The downside is that Ghost can be difficult to install at first, but once it is, it can be a great tool for any blogger.

drupal

Drupal

Drupal is a great option for blogs that are associated with businesses because it’s not just a blogging platform, but it also offers a content management system.  What does this mean?  Along with your blog, web pages and other online content can be created and organized within the Drupal platform.  Drupal does not host blogs for users, so bloggers using this platform will have to find their own host.  Drupal is not a platform for beginners, so it would benefit those who are upgrading, rather than those just starting out.

joomla

Joomla

If you’re looking for a full content management system, then Joomla is another great option for you.  Joomla, however, may have more of a learning curve than WordPress, but it can be much easier to use than Drupal.  Many businesses and large corporations prefer this type of platform because it offers more flexibility with a wide range of options.  That being said, Joomla can be expensive.  While the first month is free, after that, you might get changed anywhere from $20-$100/month depending on the options you want.

wordpress

WordPress.com

What’s the difference between the .org and the .com version?  With WordPress.org, you need to host the site yourself. With WordPress.com, however, they will take care of it for you.  Both of them are free but offer a number of paid upgrades as well.  WordPress has a large community of users that are more than willing to help out a fellow user with common questions and concerns.  If you’re just starting out, this is a great option for you.  As is the WordPress.org version as well.

medium

Medium

There are so many great platforms out there for starting your own blog.  Some include sites with customizable HTML and CSS for those with more advanced skills.  Medium is a place to share your thoughts and writing with a wide audience.  Unlike some of the other blogging platforms, Medium has a built-in audience, which makes it often debatable whether it’s a publisher or a platform.   Signing up for a Medium account is easy and free.  Medium allows third-party embedding from other sites around the web. Creators can embed videos from YouTube or Vimeo. They can add content from Twitter, Vine, Instagram, and SoundCloud.  Medium is also a great platform for beginners as it’s simple to use and doesn’t require coding knowledge.

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