Author: Kristiina Kivimäe
Blogging has become one of the new ways for people to express their thoughts while creating content and advertising their company. One of the most popular platforms for blogging is WordPress. By contrast, many alternative platforms might help creators achieve their goals faster or more efficiently. This article helps bloggers to understand, which platform might be best for them and which factors can help them while making the decision.
1. Wix
Wix stands out from competitors with its simplicity and flexibility. Moreover, it has a large selection of templates that help bloggers make outstanding and professional web pages easily and without having to know how to write code. In addition, Wix has a drag-and-drop interface, where bloggers can make their content easily more unique and in line with their style. Wix has both free and paid versions. The first one is beneficial for those, who want to create content with low costs but it includes advertisements and the Wix domain. The paid version prices start from $14 per month. The paid version includes for example a custom domain and SEO Wizard. Yet, the Wix platform has limited customization, which might be a disadvantage for bloggers, who are more into coding their page.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is most beneficial for bloggers, who want to put more effort into their blog's visual appearance. Besides, Squarespace is easy to use and has tools that make it simple to create and manage content. In addition, it has high-quality visuals and designs that help bloggers to make their websites look professional and good-looking. The platform pricing starts from $12 per month. More expensive monthly plans include also extra storage and capabilities for eCommerce. Overall, the platform has great SEO features. For example, it is possible to optimize a site´s performance with meta descriptions and tags. Despite its simplicity and appealing visuals, Squarespace might not be the best option for those, who want to have full creative freedom or write custom code.
3. Ghost
Ghost is a platform that is mainly made for writers and professional bloggers. Moreover, its distraction-free environment helps users focus on creating their content. Besides, Ghost has powerful SEO features including meta tags and content optimization. Ghost has a free and paid version. The free version is self-hosted, which means that the user has to have enough technical skills to be able to host the webpage by themselves. The paid version is hosted by the platform and the prices start from $9 per month. Therefore, Ghost can be a great platform for writers but it lacks design flexibility and integrated features that can be seen in Squarespace or Wix.
4. Medium
Medium is an excellent option for bloggers, who value content creation more than the management of the webpage. Its simple and minimalistic environment helps users to be more focused on writing. Besides, Medium has a built-in audience, which helps to increase content´s visibility. Moreover, Medium readers are paying every month for premium content. That is how creators can earn money from every post they make by joining the Partners Program. Despite being a great platform for audience building, Medium has also some disadvantages. For example, the a lack of SEO features and customization options for branding and design.
5. Blogger
Blogger is owned by Google and it has only a free version. That makes it accessible for everyone, who wants to create content despite their financial capacity. Therefore, it is a popular platform for bloggers, who are at the beginning of their journey. Besides, it has a fast setup, which allows creators to publish their content within minutes Blogger is well integrated with Google’s tools, which makes it simple to track the post's performance. In addition, Blogger also offers basic SEO tools, for example, title and meta description editors. However, it has limited options for customization and a less professional visual appearance than the platforms mentioned above.
Conclusion
To choose a great platform for blogging the creators need to know their goals, budget and technical skills. For example, Blogger can be the best option for starting bloggers, whose budget is rather small. Wix and Squarespace can be great platforms for those who value flexibility and user-friendliness. Furthermore, Ghost´s minimalist approach can be a great solution for content creators or writers. Lastly, Medium can be ideal for content creators, who want to focus on writing and building an audience. Therefore, to find the perfect platform for blogging, creators can think about what matters most to them: pricing, simplicity, design freedom or audience reach. Answering this question can help them to find the platform that best meets their expectations the best.
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