So what is a blog exactly?
A blog (a truncation of "web log") is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries (posts).
Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order, so that the most recent post appears first, at the top of the web page.
So what is the difference between blog and website?
Blogs are a type of website, every blog is a website but not every website is a blog ex: facebook.com and twitter.com is not a blog its social media website.
Free Blog Platform
There are so many platforms out there you can use it to building your blog, most of them were free (i think all platform is free) :
- Wordpress.org (need a hosting)
- Wordpress.com
- Blogger.com
- Wix.com
- Joomla.org (need a hosting)
- Tumblr.com
- Shopify.com
- Drupal.com (need a hosting)
- Squarespace.com
- Bitrix.com
notes: Yes, there are 2 types of WordPress (.org) and (.com). If someone talking about WordPress its 90% they are talking about the (.org) one.
From 10 platforms in the list above, some of them need web hosting (a server you use to store the image, video, code, etc so your blog can be viewable online) and it cost you a dollars.
Best Free Blogging Platform (literally free, no cost)
Every blog platform is free, but it's not literally free because to get the blog online we must pay the hosting fee (that's true).
What is the best blog platform that I don't need to pay a single dollar to get my blog online?
That's an unbiased question, and I'll answer it as clear as a crystal (not biased ... promise)
Choosing a correct blogging platform is a very important step for every newbie blogger, choosing the right platform makes things easier, and choosing the wrong one ruins everything and puts you on the ground in the last.
1. Blogger.com (Literally Free Blogging Platform)
Blogger.com is a “hosted blog platform” – which means that it bundles hosting with the entire blogging service.
Blogger.com is owned by Google. Therefore, many features are integrated with Google's product. Blogger users at least benefit from the Adsense, Adwords, and Google Analytics features that are in it.
Blogger.com and blogspot.com is the same thing, the admin page was controlled using blogger.com and the viewable blog content controlled by blogspot.com (i control my blog from blogger.com and you viewed my content at blogspot.com) that was the simple way to understand the difference between blogger.com and blogspot.com.
My website (payasyouwant.com) is built using the blogger.com platform, and my real URL was payasyouwant.blogspot.com (click the link).
You can navigate to every content I've posted and do some research about this blogger platform, the template, the comment section, the social button, the logo, the mobile version, the desktop version (feel free to click everything on it).
A blog can be anything if you are creative enough, they said you can't build an online store from blogger (actually you can do that).
You can buy online store template, or maybe you can just write your product review and sell it on marketplace like eBay or Amazon, or maybe you can just link your amazon and eBay product and create instant check out button in your blog instead, etc.
And if you bring the 3rd party plugin or program or anything here to your own blogger site than you have no limits, I can say it because I really use it (I'm using free platform and I talk about it, so it can't be wrong right).
Blogger Pros:
- Free Blogging Platform
- Easy to Use
- Unlimited Design Theme / Template (learn basic CSS and HTML)
- Secure SSL
- Integrated with Adsense, Adwords, Webmaster Tools, Google Analytics, and other google product
Blogger Cons :
- Is not so SEO Friendly
Free Blogger.com Score: 8.5
2. WordPress.com (Free Blogging Platform + Option For Premium Upgrade)
Don't misunderstand between wordpress.org and wordpress.com (you need to buy a hosting for wordpress.org platform but wordpress.com is a “hosted blog platform” so it's free).
WordPress.com provides a place for you to easily publish any types of content such as text, images, videos, and audio that can be loaded here. All you have to do is provide the content, upload it, and publish it.
WordPress.com blog example: https://wordpress.com/go/website-building/spotlight-on-successful-blogs-learning-from-the-best/
Same as blogger platform wordpress.com has no limit if you are creative enough. Sometimes people just thinking about what they want not something they need so they ended without reaching their goal.
Ex: Wordpress not allowed to sell ads on your blog (There are hundreds of thousand ways to monetize your blog, you can monetize it using an affiliate program, selling your own product, sell services, etc)
Think this way (WordPress = blogger platform - not allowed to sell ads) the rest was the same. It's good to use wordpress.com free blog platform.
Wordpress.com Free Plans Pros:
- Free Blogging Platform
- Easy to Use
- Standard themes and plugins are free.
Wordpress.com Free Plan Cons:
- It’s free for up to 3GB of space. After that, you will have to switch to a paid plan for more space.
- They place ads on all free websites
- You are NOT allowed to sell ads on your website
- You cannot upload custom themes/template
- You cannot add Google Analytics or install any other powerful tracking platform
3. Wix.com (Free Blogging Platform + Option For Premium Upgrade)
Wix is a solution for anyone to get a website with a good look, no need to know the technical stuff about blog coding, Wix will take over other complicated things.
wix blog example: https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/08/blog-examples/
With Wix, you only need to drag and drop to design your website, some sections only require checkmarks and name customization.
Even easier, you can take advantage of the features of Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (Wix ADI). Only by checking the choice of answers to the questionnaire, Wix will determine the appearance of the website that is suitable for you.
Wix.com Free Plan Pros:
- The drag and drop feature makes customizing the display very easy.
- There are templates and display options that can be adjusted with just a few clicks.
- The package costs are quite affordable and in accordance with the features offered.
Wix.com Free Plans Cons:
- Templates that have been selected cannot be replaced.
- Limited free apps for free plan.
- They place ads on all free websites
- Is not so SEO Friendly
Free Plan Wix.com Score: 7
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