There is such a huge variety to choose from when it comes to blogging platforms that it can be really difficult for a beginner to know where to start and to find which one is right for them. There are many different aspects to examine when making that decision, including your skill level with computers, and the Internet, and your blogging goals. You might also want to look at the function of your blog and how visually oriented you would like it to be, as well as, whether you are going to be blogging for fun or profit.
Let's discuss the visual goals of your blog. If you would like it to take on a more artistic look and would like to add many pictures to your blog, you may want to consider Tumblr. Tumblr concentrates more on graphics and is great for someone wanting a photoblog. It is owned by Yahoo and is the platform used by such companies as GQ and The Atlantic.
Have a look at their Tumblr sites to get an idea of what is possible with your own blog using Tumblr. This is a very user-friendly platform to use and offers the capacity to include images, as well as, text and videos. It also offers a wide range of themes so you can individualize your blog page. The drawback is the same as its positive: it is more image-oriented than text-oriented, which means, you would need to decide which route you want to take when it comes to defining the goals you have for your blog. There are some beautiful Tumblr pages out there, so it is a good idea for you to browse through some pages before making any decisions.
Article ThirteenAnother easy-to-use platform is WordPress. This is another popular site offered for free. Actually, WordPress has the distinction of serving one of every six blog websites. Its content managing system runs from the most straightforward for the casual or hobby bloggers to some very complicated features for the more experienced bloggers. Wall Street Journal and People magazine are among their users.
It is not very difficult to customize the appearance of your blog using its comprehensive theme library and thousands of plugins. It also provides comprehensive video tutorials to help beginners.
Lastly, let's talk about Blogger, one of the first blogging services owned by Google. If you are looking at blogging for profit, Blogger supports its other family members, such as AdSense. It is more restricted when it comes to themes, however, its years in the blog world mean it has resolved most of the glitches that are apparent in most blogging platforms.
The first step would be for you to do your research and see what is out there. This will allow you to make an informed decision when it comes to which platform you decide to go with. After that, take some time to investigate the features provided by the platform you chose, watch the tutorials, and when you are convinced you can manage your content, take the plunge and have fun with your entry into the world of blogging.
