Where to Blog

[image error]Deciding to start a blog is one of the most exiting things you will ever do. A million ideas about content and design race through your head. Then, you go online to try to choose where to blog and it becomes daunting. It can be extremely confusing and stressful. Never fear. I have been through this and understand that every persons needs are different.

While I love and use WordPress, I know it is not for everyone. I like it because it is the most flexible, but it is definitely not the most user-friendly.

So, here is a list of the top blog hosting sites, plus the pros and cons of each. Good luck and may you find the best match for you and your awesome blog.

Once you have gotten your blog up and running, come back and check out my article on attracting readers to your blog.

[image error]WordPress is the standard by which all other blogging platforms go by.  Part open source initiative, part blog host, WordPress is a massive, rich platform whose scale and scope few other services can match.  But with that richness comes bloat, and WordPress sites are also renowned for being quite slow.  If you need an incredible amount of flexibility, WordPress is your solution.  There's a plugin for just about anything.  But if all you want is a quick, sleek site for hosting you words, this is not it. 
Pros

Very extendable
lots of themes, coding tutorials, etc
Very active community
Based on open source software


Cons

WordPress is fairly slow
Quite complex 

[image error]Tumblr is the hottest blogging service out there right now.  It is fast, it is easy, it is social, and there are a ton of themes.  You probably already know people who use it.  And sharing photo albums, samples of music, or video couldn't be simpler.  Just keep in mind that Tumblr's take on blogging is a bit different from most.  They don't even include a comment system by default.


Pros

Incredibly simple to use
Super social
Focused on content, not comments
Makes managing multimedia easy
Easy to customize, easy to find free and commercial themes


Cons

You can't separate your code into files
Comments are handled through a third party, if you enable them

[image error]Blogger, also known as Blogspot, is one of the oldest blogging platforms on the net.  Google has kept this product alive, and it has remained a good choice for those looking for a simple way to set up a blog.

Pros

Simple and free
Tested
Supported by Google


Cons

Not very professional
Not very customizable
Posting is done through an outdated text editor that makes rich posts difficult

[image error]For having such a great domain name, blog.com is a fairly small entrant into the blogging space.  That doesn't mean its bad, though, and it features beautiful themes and easy posting.

Pros

Beautiful themes to choose from
A sane-sounding URL
Integrates with other services seamlessly


Cons

Undistinguished
Doesn't host all media types
A little slow

[image error]Squarespace isn't strictly a blogging platform.  Rather, it is a full-fledged web host with a blogging engine.  Of all the options, you can do the most with Squarespace because of this very reason.  But don't think that the added features mean that it is difficult to use.  In fact, Squarespace has managed to create an incredibly compelling website creation tool that is drag and drop.  You can make an entire site from scratch with little trouble, and it will be gorgeous.

Pros

Very powerful
very easy to use
Fast
Flexible


Cons

You have to pay for the service
May be overkill for many blogs

[image error]Movable Type is an older entrant into the blogging field, and happens to be based on open source software, just like WordPress is.  Like WordPress, it offers far more than the basic blogging functions.  It has a large library of plug-ins, an active community, and decent coding examples.  Movable Type and WordPress are roughly interchangable.  Movable Type has a slightly prettier admin panel, but in my experience that's about the extent of the differences.

Pros

Very extendable
Plenty of themes
Active community
Corporate hosting, with added functionality


Cons

Slow
Lots of menus to navigate
Complex, may be overkill for many users

[image error]TypePad is actually based on the same code as Movable Type.  But rather than focus on adding tons of features, Type Pad aims to make setting up a blog simple for non-techies.  And it does a beautiful job of it.  In addition, many major companies, like ABC, CBC and the BBC are using TypePad for their blogs.

Pros

Like Movable Type, but simpler
Powerful
Integrates with other services


Cons

No free option
Fairly small selection of themes
You can't update your CSS/HTML without Unlimited plan

[image error]Posterous aims to be more like Tumblr than WordPress.  It is a super simple blogging platform  that still manages to make your stuff look good.  It's not as focused on community as Tumblr, but it does have comments.  One thing to worry about: right now, Posterous is fairly insecure.  Someone can post to your blog without your permission simply by sending an email.  So it may not be the best choice for those who want a secure blog.

Pros

Easy to use
lots of themes
Post from anywhere


Cons

Not secure
Pretty much Tumblr, without the security

[image error]Penzu is a bit different from the rest of the blogging platforms on this list, in that it isn't focused on blogging.  Penzu instead bills itself as a personal diary and online journal.  While you can share your thoughts with others, Penzu tries to make itself as much like an actual journal, meaning that the service defaults to keeping everything private.

Pros

As easy to use as Tumblr, but more powerful in some ways
Makes keeping a journal easy
keeps everything locked up tight with strong security


Cons

Themes are premium
Only invited people can see your posts
Focuses on journaling, not blogging

[image error]Livejournal is the granddaddy of the social network blogging services.  Long before Tumblr was around, people had Livejournal accounts.  The service has lost much of its luster as the years have gone by, however, and the service isn't as actively developed as it once was.   The service hasn't held up as well as it might have, but it is a solid solution for those wanting to do some light blogging.

Pros

Easy, simple blogging
Social
Customizable blogs


Cons

The community has gone downhill in the last couple of years
Development of the platform has slowed