In one of my previous Blogging 101 Series post (Getting Started) I talked briefly about deciding which platform works best for you. I mentioned using Wordpress (both .com & .org), Blogger, Tumblr, Livejournal, Typepad, and so on. Here you'll get my personal experience with Wordpress & Blogger and some helpful tips to help YOU decide what is best for you.
In my personal experience, and from what I've seen over the years in blogging, Wordpress and Blogger seem to be the most popular used. Although I am a fan of Wordpress.org if you want to have more options with customizing and such, I decided recently to switch back to Blogger.
Why did I switch back to Blogger?
I was hosting my blog Everyday Ephee while using Wordpress for a little over a year. I truly enjoyed tweaking the layouts and adding my own personal customization, but for the last few months I've thought about switching back to Blogger. Why? Well, moving overseas can certainly change your financial priorities. I feel like I no longer have the $70-100 a year, at this point, to put down towards my blog. I don't run a business blog or intend to make money from it at this point, it's my hobby.
I've been looking through tutorials about how to customize Blogger and I factored in on how much money I would spend, nothing if I just stuck to the blogspot URL. So I decided to switch back. (I was also not connecting with my previous blog name/URL.) My purpose with my personal blog is to express myself through what I enjoy on this blog and share with others. Simple as that, and as simple as Blogger is it seemed to fit what I needed better. The only money I put down was $20 towards a domain name.
Another perk I enjoy, Blogger is set up to be connected with your Google account. I use my Google account for everything it seems! I use Good Drive for writing blog notes and transferring files, Google Calendar to set up my schedule (includes bills and my personal, blog, and work events), GMail always for emailing (plus you can have several accounts logged in at the same time), Google Plus account to connect and share, and more. Get it, Google!
What should I pick for myself?
When ultimately deciding between Wordpress or Blogger, I feel like you should really ask yourself some questions.
- What kind of blog do I want?
- Personal blog or a blog that could turn into a business?
- Do I want a LOT of my own customization to add more personal touches? And do I know how to do so?
- Am I a beginner or know my way around HTML, CSS, and all other parts of creating a website?
First thing I suggest, set up a blog with both Blogger.com and Wordpress.com if you really aren't sure. They're both free to set up and you can play around with their platforms to see which one you're most comfortable with.
Then, think about what you want to do in the future for your blog. Do you eventually want to purchase your own domain and web host to create a Wordpress.org blog? Do you want to make it into a business? If you said yes to these questions, I would suggest sticking to Wordpress. You can always used Wordpress.COM (they host your blog) until you decide to make the big move to your own host using Wordpress.ORG. If you said no, then I would suggest using Blogger. It's free and simple, plus many people are familiar with blogspot.com and you don't need to purchase your own domain URL.
Keep in mind you can always change things up in the future, so you can let it linger in your mind for as long as you like. But I do recommend trying to stick to one for a while and not switch back and forth a lot. I feel like it hurts my blog and followers/readers. Being persistent with your blog is the best thing you can do for it. (And I really should take my own advice.)
These tips are designed for beginning bloggers. If you know your way around blogging or feel like you know something, please share with us!!! And if you got your own questions/concerns, ask!
