Taking your first steps as a blogger doesn’t need to be complicated. All it takes is to figure out what you want to write about, find the time to post regularly, and choose the right platform for your efforts. After all, the right tool can make your life as a blogger much easier.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to three top blogging platforms, discuss their features, and offer our advice on why you should consider them as you begin your journey. Let’s kick things off with WordPress!
1. WordPress
WordPress is the most popular Content Management System (CMS) around. It’s easy to use and powerful, and far more than just a regular blogging platform. With WordPress, you can create almost any kind website you want using customizable themes to style it, and plugins to bolt on additional functionality.
However, it’s important to separate WordPress.com blogs from self-hosted ones. The former enables you to set up simple websites quickly, but it provides you with limited customization options. In contrast, self-hosted WordPress sites come with almost no limitations – you can use practically any plugins or themes you want, and make your site whatever you want it to be.
If you’re new to blogging, we recommend giving self-hosted WordPress a shot. The number of features available may be overwhelming at first, but once you get over the learning curve, you’ll appreciate all it has to offer. Plus, the web is full of tutorials on how to do almost anything you want using WordPress, so you’ll be in good hands.
2. Medium
If you’re looking for the simplest way to get into blogging, and you aren’t concerned about building your own website or how to monetize your content, Medium may be perfect for you.
The platform enables anyone to sign up and start sharing content using an in-built set of tools. With Medium, it’s easy to create modern-looking pieces with great imagery, that also display well on any device. Plus, you get access to a built-in audience – which is something that WordPress, for example, can’t offer you.
To be fair, using Medium doesn’t guarantee that your articles will become popular. However, there’s always the small chance your pieces could make its front page. At the very least, your readers can always share your content via social media without you needing to enable any additional features.
As for ease of use, publishing articles doesn’t get simpler than with Medium. Simply type your content, format it, add your images, and publish it. However, for us, the service’s main flaw is it’s limitations as a blogging platform. If at any point you decide to build a full-fledged website for your content, you’ll need to migrate it. The process is possible, but certain steps offer a hassle that you may not want.
3. Wix
Wix is another popular platform that prioritizes ease of use and accessibility. Thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop builder, anyone can set up a modern website with them in a matter of hours. Plus, all their plans come with hosting, so you won’t need to look around for (and implement) a separate service.
When it comes to its blogging capabilities, Wix lies somewhere in between WordPress and Medium. It’s classed as a ‘website builder’ platform, which means it provides you with more options than Medium does, but it pales in comparison to the power and flexibility of self-hosted solutions such as WordPress.
That being said, Wix could be an ideal blogging platform if you don’t fancy the hassle of looking for a web host, or dealing with site performance tweaks. This platform takes care of all those details for you, so you can focus on what matters most to you – blogging.
What’s the Best Platform to Launch Your Blogging Career?
To say that there’s one best blogging platform for every user would be misleading. Ultimately, your choice should primarily come down to the features you need, and how comfortable you feel with each service.
If you just want to start writing right away and you don’t care about building your own website, Medium is probably a good choice for you. On the other hand, if you do want a website, but you don’t relish the thought of worrying about hosting and other management issues, Wix may be the right pick for you.
Finally, there’s WordPress. The platform’s powerful set of features makes it a front runner regardless of the contenders, and we like how it levels the playing field with regard to your skill level.For example, a simple blog can be set up in a matter of minutes using the installation options within your hosting account panel.
Of course, if the thought of installing WordPress still leaves you cold, you can always call on some experienced help if you’d like to leave the setup to the experts.
Conclusion
The truth is, there isn’t one best blogging platform for everyone. Personally, I’m a big WordPress fan as I write about it regularly. That being said, I also test its competitors from time to time, just to make sure it’s still number one. However, you might feel more at home using another platform, and that’s okay. As long as you make sure the option you pick provides you with the features you need, your blogging career will be off to a good start!
Let’s recap three of the best blogging platforms for newcomers to the field:
- WordPress.org: A great all-around option for beginners and professionals.
- Medium: This service is perfect if you don’t want to worry about building a website of your own.
- Wix: One of the simplest solutions if you want to create a stylish blog quickly.
Do you have any questions about the platforms you’ll use to launch your blogging career? Ask away in the comments section below!
Image credit: Pixabay.