NJ USA
Every aspiring blogger asks the question:
“What blogging platform should I use?”
Deciding on the right platform for you is the most important practical blogging choice as a new blogger. Beginner bloggers set their course based in large part on their platform.
Choosing a blogging platform:
- determines monetizing potential
- influences whether or not you drive Google traffic
- positions you to establish a professional or amateur blogging career
Blogging platforms are like homes. Either invest money in a home for the appropriate benefits, freedoms and joys of home ownership (along with sometimes stiff challenges) or live somewhere rent-free as you give up various freedoms, benefits and joys for ease of personal use.
Selecting one platform over another is not right or wrong. But being aware of your choice’s consequences guides you to make an informed decision.
Unfortunately, most new bloggers make the common mistake of selecting platforms based solely on money. Beginner bloggers tend to fear losing money on a domain and hosting. The thinking generally goes:
“I will give blogging a shot on free platforms. If I succeed I will invest money in a domain and hosting.”
Beware thinking in this typical upside-down fashion. Blogging on free platforms to earn a full time income is like trying to drain the Pacific Ocean with a thimble.
Free platform owners design free platforms as quick, easy tools for sharing your thoughts. Monetizing potential does not enter into the equation. Scan any free blogging platform to realize this truth.
First, you invest money to blog intelligently. Eventually, if you blog intelligently for some time on the proper platform for aspiring professionals the money comes. Few new bloggers think in this right side up fashion.
Before you make any blogging decision start by assessing your blogging intent.
Assess Your Intent
Why do you want to blog?
Do you want to have fun writing for yourself?
Do you want to help people with your blog content?
Free blogging platforms seem like a smart choice for people who only want to blog for themselves since you cannot build a large, targeted, credible audience through free blogging platforms. Blogging for yourself means that you care less about attracting readers.
A self-hosted WordPress dot org blog works well for bloggers who want to help people. Dot org gives you the ability to drive a large, highly targeted, quality community to your blog in organic fashion.
Establish Your Goals
Point blank; if you have professional blogging aspirations invest in your domain and hosting to blog on WordPress dot org.
Dot org offers you:
- rich tools
- a robust library of plug-ins
- unlimited customizing potential
- unlimited branding potential
- unlimited monetizing potential
Choose your goals. Focusing on readers, money and business makes for the logical choice of WordPress dot org.
However, if you want to primarily reach personal goals like:
- fulfilling yourself
- enjoying the writing process
- expressing yourself
consider free blogging platforms like:
Setting goals reveals the smart choice for you.
For example, future pro bloggers not use a free platform (save a quick new blogger confidence boost) for various reasons. One glaring reason would be the generic free platform URL offers no branding potential.
Trying to gain business credibility with domains like bloggingfromparadise.blogspot.com seems impossible because the URL appears to be:
- unprofessional
- awkward
- too lengthy
- difficult to remember
Good luck trying to gain reader trust with an unprofessional, awkward, lengthy and a tough to recall blog URL.
Buying your domain and hosting to gain trust on WordPress dot org seems like the logical choice for aspiring professional bloggers.
What Is Generally the Best Blogging Platform?
Since most Blogging From Paradise readers intend to go pro the best blogging platform is WordPress dot org.
Generally speaking, anyone who wants readers, customers or clients uses WordPress dot org since the site makes it easiest to build a large, loyal tribe compared to other blogging platforms. Note; just because dot org is the best platform solution does not make it easy to thrive through the medium. Blogging requires generous, intelligent and patient work to go pro.
Blogging Resource: How to Start a Blog
Before we proceed I want to stress how blogging on free platforms works fine for people intending to blog for themselves. Some bloggers need a quick shot of confidence to keep blogging. Opening an account on Blogger, writing and publishing your first post literally takes only minutes of your time. If publishing 10 posts on Blogger makes you confident enough to buy your domain and hosting on WordPress dot org, go for it. Every blogger walks a different journey.
Free platforms temporarily work for bloggers completely overwhelmed by the WordPress dot org interface. Open a free account on WordPress dot com. Publish a few posts with ease. Get clear. Dissolve doubts. However, temporarily boosting confidence positions you to either migrate to dot org to succeed or to remain on free platforms to remain an amateur. Make the right choice based on your blogging goals.
Let’s review the benefits of blogging on WordPress dot org.
Own Your Blog
Investing money in your domain and hosting means that you own your blog.
Owning your blog allows you to make changes, tailor your presentation and set the rules for your blogging real estate. Being in charge gives you freedom since you lay down the blogging law.
For example, Blogging From Paradise allows me to stand out because I am in charge of building the blog as I wish. However, if I used a free blogging platform the company who owns the platform would own the:
- free blogging platform content
- images on the blog
- entire blog
Free platform bloggers make the error of believing that they own the content, their image and the blog. But companies own everything that appears on the free platform. As you can imagine, this leads to many headaches any time you break stringent free platform rules. Bloggers often get kicked off of free platforms with no explanation. Imagine 5 years of blogging work disappearing in a split second.
WordPress dot org offers you ownership. Owning your blog is necessary to build a genuine brand that allows you to stand out from the blogging crowd.
Monetizing Potential
WordPress dot org offers you unlimited monetizing potential.
Bloggers can monetize their dot org blogs through a wide range of income channels.
Use this platform to increase income potential.
Income Ideas
- engage in affiliate marketing
- offer freelance writing services
- offer consulting services
- offer coaching services
- publish sponsored content
- embed advertisements
- write and self-publish eBooks
- create online courses
Global Support Community
Anytime you need blogging help millions of WordPress dot org:
- bloggers
- web developers
- web designers
can aid you.
Asking a simple question through email or social media produces a quick answer and swift solution. More pressing issues seem to be solved by hiring a skilled developer who knows WordPress dot org inside-out.
Free platforms yield smaller, less experienced communities since most serious bloggers blog on dot org. Non-committal bloggers tend to use free platforms. Skilled, professional, serious bloggers, developers and designers do not spend time trying to help bloggers who largely:
- fear spending money on their blogs
- fear committing time and energy to blogging
- resist migrating to WordPress dot org
Serious, confident bloggers freely help serious new bloggers who almost always use WordPress dot org over free blogging platforms.
Keep support in mind before choosing a blogging platform. Problems arise sometimes. Selecting a platform with a large, loyal support community to correct blogging problems quickly makes sense.
WordPress Dot Org Challenges
WordPress dot org challenges all beginner bloggers with a steep learning curve until you practice using the platform.
Never frame a challenge as a drawback. Bloggers – me included – make the common error of deeming a challenge as a reason to avoid making the intelligent choice preceding blogging success.
I still fumble around the platform sometimes but a global support community offers me help seamlessly. Clever developers provide you with:
- plug-ins
- themes
- tips
- techniques
- professional support
to ease your initial WordPress dot org struggles.
Create a blogging vision. See beyond early blogging tension experienced using the platform toward greater fun, freedom and expansion.
As a simple analogy, recall any job you worked. After initial struggles you likely:
- gained confidence through patient practice
- cut your learning curve by sticking with it
- enjoyed your job as your clarity increased
- had fun earning a steady paycheck since you gritted it out during uncomfortable beginner days
Blogging on dot org feels similar except that you experience:
- unlimited freedom as a full time entrepreneur
- genuine fulfillment through self-expression
- lasting happiness being a generous servant
Look towards freedom to overlook beginner level blogging fears.
The Verdict
WordPress dot org seems like the best choice for aspiring professional bloggers.
Investing in a domain and hosting opens blogging doors for you. Diving in to a steep learning curve positions you to go pro.
However, if you want to simply blog for yourself just use a free blogging platform like Blogspot or WordPress dot com.
Figure out your intent to find the best solution for you.
