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:
- Introducing: How to Start a Free Blog in 6 Easy Steps
- How to Select a Blogging Platform <<You are Here>>
- How to Choose a Web Host
- How to Sign up with Bluehost
- How to Install WordPress
- 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