Finding the Right Blogging Platform for Beginners
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Understanding the Blogging Landscape
Every day, an astonishing 7.5 million blogs are launched, contributing to an estimated total of 1.97 billion active websites globally—enough to reach one-fourth of the world's population. However, when it comes to starting your own blog, a key question arises: Where is the best place to begin?
Recently, my father posed this very question. Initially, I thought the answer was straightforward, but upon reflection, it became clear that the options are more complex than they seem.
In 2022, WordPress alone powered 455 million active websites, making it one of the most widely used blogging platforms. While it seems like a solid choice, there are two versions to consider: wordpress.com and wordpress.org. The former offers a free option with limitations, while the latter requires more technical expertise.
If my father had asked me this a decade ago, I would have confidently recommended WordPress since it was my starting point in 2009. Today, however, the landscape has shifted.
Defining the Purpose of a Blog
Before I could respond to my father, we needed to clarify what a blog should achieve. For him, the primary focus is simplicity. Although he is not a complete novice, his willingness to learn is limited in his late 60s.
To meet his needs, a blog should provide:
- A custom domain
- Easy setup with minimal customization
- A straightforward editor, as writing is the main objective
- Affordable costs, ideally just the domain fee of a few dollars per month
Identifying the Ideal Platform
Given these requirements, the list of suitable blogging platforms narrows significantly. While WordPress.com is free, it only offers a subdomain (name.wordpress.com). On the other hand, wordpress.org may be too complicated for beginners. Both versions have editors that can feel cumbersome and unintuitive.
Ghost, another popular content management system, presents similar challenges. It requires payment or can be difficult to set up, especially for those seeking a free self-hosted option. Website builders such as Squarespace and Wix provide user-friendly blogging features but come with costs.
So, where does that leave us?
Blogger.com, Google's blogging platform, emerges as a viable option. In my experience, it's the simplest choice, although it has its limitations.
Exploring Alternative Options
Interestingly, there are unexpected contenders that cater to those seeking free, easy-to-use blogging tools—newsletter platforms!
Consider Substack. It boasts a user-friendly editor that offers essential writing features, allowing for audio, podcasts, and video content. With Substack, you can seamlessly blend blogging with newsletter functionalities—all at no cost.
The main drawback is the $50 fee for connecting a custom domain, which is a one-time expense, making it more economical than ongoing subscriptions.
Revue is another newsletter platform that combines blogging and newsletter capabilities, and it even offers free custom domain integration. While I prefer Substack's interface, Revue is still a solid choice.
Several other email marketing platforms also provide blogging features, and even e-commerce platforms like Payhip or Gumroad can host blogs for free with custom domain options.
The Final Verdict
While traditional blogging tools like WordPress, Blogger.com, and Ghost are excellent, they may pose significant hurdles for beginners like my father, including costs and complexity.
Simplicity-focused tools like Substack and Revue are potentially better suited for novice bloggers, offering additional advantages like subscriber management.
For my father, I recommended Substack for a few reasons:
- The one-time $50 fee for a custom domain is manageable.
- Substack offers an aesthetically pleasing and feature-rich interface that is easy to navigate.
- The editor is intuitive and supports Markdown.
- Its built-in discovery feature can help grow his audience.
I’m eager to see how he fares!
If you were to start a blog today as a beginner, what platform would you choose?
In this video, titled Prioritize Your Life... More Lessons from My Father (part4), the speaker shares insights on balancing life priorities and the lessons learned from their father.
In The Father Swap Blog With Kia Stephens, the discussion centers around navigating the complexities of fatherhood and how blogging can be a platform for sharing those experiences.