image by Mannequin-
Starting a blog can be a daunting task.
What is the purpose of the blog?
Is there a targeted niche?
Do you want to make money from it?
Is it going to be a group blog or individual?
Which platform should you use?
Do you want to be self-hosted or a free site?
A little discouraging when it's put into perspective, but it doesn't have to be.
Create an outline of what you'd like to accomplish; make an informed decision.
I won't tell you what platform to go with, because that's a personal decision based on what your specific needs may be – but even a bit more knowledge can help you review your options before jumping in, right?
It's important to know that some platforms have restrictions.
A free Wordpress.com site does not allow its users to advertise, and users cannot change any part of the design without purchasing credits to do so. But a free Blogger site allows customization as well as advertising.
Self-hosting is possible.
Self-hosting can be a little costly depending on what your intentions are for blogging – if you're going to be an occasional blogger, then you should consider if you're willing to pay for hosting costs and purchasing a domain when you're only posting a couple times a month. Is it really worth it to you?
I've personally found that self-hosting on Wordpress.org has opened up so many doors for me and helped me learn about design and coding. They also offer drag-and-drop sidebar widgets for those who aren't code loving nerds like me – I enjoy the tinkering behind-the-scene and avoiding widgets. Going self-hosted does not mean you have to be a tech guru, since many platforms have begun to make the administrative area even more user friendly.
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Sam {temptingmama} blogs daily at her personal site, Temporarily Me as well as at Craftastrophe.
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wordpress is the best !!!!
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You left out TypePad which is unfortunate because I've found, having a Pro account (which enables me to edit my CSS and completely personalize my site) only runs $14.95 a month and the most important thing I never ever received with Blogger or WordPress was PERSONAL technical support.
Blogger is good for beginners – it's what I cut my teeth on. And sure, if you're going to self-host, WordPress is OK, but can be daunting or even confusing for some with the credits you have to buy. for those in between the two, TypePad is awesome. The personalized service I've received from them, real people willing to phone, or connect via IM to help me with various issues, has been indispensable.
Just wanted to throw my .02 in.