This is the third article in our new step-by step guide on How to Start a Free Blog in 6 Easy Steps. This article is about How to Select a Blogging Platform.

You can read all other articles in this series:

1. Introducing: How to Start a Free Blog in 6 Easy Steps 
2. How to Select a Blogging Platform <<You are Here>>
3. How to Choose a Web Host
4. How to Sign up with Bluehost 
5. How to Install WordPress
6. How to Use WordPress

A blogging platform is what your blog is built upon and allows you to write posts and publish them on internet. Beginners often make a mistake of selecting a wrong platform and it is very important to select the correct platform right from beginning.

There are tons of platforms out there – WordPress, Wix, Joomla, Drupal, Blogger, Squarespace, Tumblr etc.  However, WordPress is, by far, the biggest blogging platform in the worlds right now.

I myself use WordPress as it is the most simple, flexible, easy to use platform which I have experienced. It’s an excellent choice for beginners and professionals alike looking to start a blog.

WordPress has 2 options, which tend to confuse people a bit.

Hosted: e.g. yourblog.wordpress.com

Self-Hosted: e.g. yourblog.com (my recommendation)

Hosted blogs have limited functionality, domain name doesn’t look elegant and you never really own the blog. For almost everyone, it makes more sense to use self-hosted WordPress as it can fully customized and also used for making money.

The remained of this guide focuses on Self-Hosted WordPress blog. So now let’s move to next step which is How to Choose a Web Host