Choosing the right blogging platform is one of the first things you need to do when starting a blog. While this might sound like a simple task, it can get complicated if you don’t know what to look for in your chosen platform. Here we’ll talk about some factors you should consider when you choose a blogging platform, domain name, and hosting options.
There are three options when you choose a blogging platform
One of the most important decisions you’ll make as a blogger is what platform to use. There are three main options: hosted, self-hosted, and open source.
While you may be familiar with the word blog, it’s important to understand what it means and how to choose the best one for your needs. A blog can contain multiple elements, such as a domain name (the URL), hosting provider, and blogging platform. When choosing any of these items, it’s best to understand their differences so that you’re fully equipped to decide.
Hosted blogging platforms
If you go with a hosted platform, your website will be built on a service like WordPress.com or Squarespace. These are great options for beginners who want to get started quickly and easily. Still, they aren’t as flexible as self-hosted platforms.
Hosted platforms have most of their features built in, so all you need is an account and web address (URL) to start blogging right away! They offer templates to choose from when building your site, which gives you lots of design options right out of the gate—no HTML or CSS knowledge is required! However, these sites often have limited flexibility with customizing your site’s appearance since everything has already been built-in by the hosting company.
Self-hosted platforms give you more control over your website’s design and functionality
If you want to get a little more creative with your website design, a self-hosted platform may be the right choice. With these platforms, you can customize your site’s appearance and functionality without consulting an expert or waiting for approval. You also have more control over security, which is especially important if you post sensitive information online.
When choosing a self-hosted platform and domain name, remember that additional costs will be involved (compared to free blogging platforms). You’ll need to purchase hosting from a web host such as Bluehost or DreamHost (which costs $5-$10 per month) and register a unique domain name like [myblogname].com ($12-$15 per year). And since most self-hosted websites require some degree of technical know-how on your part, consider hiring someone who knows what they’re doing for help setting things up initially.
If this sounds like something you might be interested in doing someday but doesn’t want all the details now—and if money isn’t an issue at this point—then bookmark this article and come back later when it feels right!
Open-source platforms
Another option is to use an open-source platform like Joomla or Drupal. These platforms are more difficult to set up than hosted platforms, but they offer more features and are more secure. Open-source platforms also tend to be less expensive than their hosted counterparts, which can help you save money if you’re on a tight budget.
Figure out your target audience
Before you start setting up your blog on any platform, you should have a clear idea of who your target audience is. Your audience will be the people who will read your posts and visit your website.
If you have already started blogging before reading this article and want to understand if WordPress is a good fit, then continue reading this article.
If not, here are some questions that can help you determine what type of audience might be interested in reading about your topic:
- Who is my ideal reader? (example: female, 25-35 years old)
- What does my ideal reader want to read about? (for example, her favorite products and how she uses them)
- What topics do I want to write about? (example: beauty products)
Balance control and user experience
Having more control over your blog’s looks and functions is good. As long as you don’t overemphasize customization and neglect user experience. A good user experience means your site should be fast and easy to navigate. That way, visitors can quickly find what they want. It also means it should look pretty—that doesn’t need to mean a lot of bells and whistles, but if you want to customize your blog, make sure it doesn’t affect the speed or functionality of the site too much.
Suppose you are just getting started on blogging because you enjoy writing. In that case, WordPress will likely be a great option for creating an awesome-looking blog without having to spend hours learning how HTML works (though basic knowledge will immensely help). WordPress may not be ideal if you launch a new business or create a web application where every detail matters. Other options provide more control over aesthetics and function at creation time instead of relying on plugins later.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is a unique web address that identifies your blog on the Internet. It’s the part of the web address that comes after https://, for example, www.yourblog.com or https://yourotherblog.com/. Domain names can be purchased from various providers, such as GoDaddy and Namecheap (among others).
A domain name is also called a URL (uniform resource locator) or web address because it contains both words and numbers separated by dots (.) or dashes (-). For example:
- [www](https://www)example[.]com/about-me
- [https://](https://) ____yourotherblog___(yourotherblog)
How to choose a domain name?
Choose a domain name that’s easy to type out and remember. Also, one that gives people an idea of what they can expect from your blog.
A domain name like “myblog12345” isn’t memorable, but it does give the reader some idea about what they can expect. It might even be unique enough to attract people searching for that specific thing in Google Search results.
Take time to explore before you choose a blogging platform
Taking time to explore all of the different blogging platforms and find the right one for you is an extremely important step. It’s easy to get distracted by pretty designs and shiny features. But you have to remember that each blogging platform will have its strengths and weaknesses. Take your time exploring them. Don’t be afraid to try new things or change platforms if you find something that suits you better. If something isn’t working out well for you, there is no shame in asking someone else for help.
Conclusion
Knowing how to choose a blogging platform can be hard with so many choices. The key is to figure out precisely what you want from a blogging platform and then research before deciding. The hosting option should also depend on how much control over the way your website looks and functions you want to have.