Are you looking to grow your business through digital marketing but unsure where to start? Understanding the benefits of blogging for business is essential for beginners looking to establish an online presence. Choosing the best blog platform can be overwhelming, with many options available. This blog highlights the process, offers recommendations for the best blog platform for beginners, and helps you make an informed decision.
If you want to start your blogging journey, Notion to blog is a valuable tool that can assist you in achieving your goals. It provides recommendations on the best blog platform for beginners.
What Exactly Is A Blog Platform?
A blog platform is software that allows you to write and manage content. It is also referred to as a content management system (CMS). Most blogging platforms allow you to create highly customized websites.
Some blogging platforms function more like a social networking site, offering a user-friendly experience. These platforms allow you to start writing immediately after signing up, eliminating the need for the hard work of designing and building a blog site. They provide a simple and straightforward way to get started with blogging.
Building Online Communities
More than that, blogging platforms foster a sense of community by enabling direct reader participation with the host blogger or other blog participants through user comments, making you feel engaged and part of a larger conversation.
A Range of Captivating Blog Themes
Different bloggers choose different blog themes. Some prefer to talk about marketing and product reviews, and others discuss:
Fashion
Healthy life
Cooking
Building a User-Friendly Blog Structure
Bloggers create a series of posts and make them available for reading on their websites. Articles usually appear in a certain order, starting from the most recent ones. They are also divided into categories to enable people to navigate them easily. Besides, blog posts have another unique feature, such as interlinking.
Why Your Blogging Platform Is Important For Your Blogging Journey
The choice of blog platform is an important consideration for bloggers, as it can significantly impact their blogging journey in several ways:
Ease of Use and Customization
Different platforms offer varying levels of user-friendliness and customization options. Beginner bloggers may prefer platforms with intuitive interfaces and pre-designed templates, while more experienced bloggers may want more control over the design and functionality.
Features and Functionality
Platforms differ in their range of features, such as
The features available can determine the content and functionality a blogger can implement on their site.
Ownership and Control
Some platforms, like Blogger or Medium, host the blog content on their servers, which means the blogger doesn't have full control over their content and platform. Platforms like Feather allow bloggers complete ownership and control over their content, design, and functionality.
Monetization Opportunities
Certain platforms may offer better monetization options, such as
Built-in advertising programs
Subscription models
E-commerce integrations
The ability to monetize the blog can be an important factor for bloggers who want to turn their passion into a sustainable income stream.
Community and Support
Platforms with larger user communities often offer these, which are valuable for new and experienced bloggers, including:
Resources
Tutorials
Support
The level of community engagement and support can impact the blogger's learning curve and overall blogging experience.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Some platforms are better optimized for search engines, which can affect a blog's discoverability and visibility. Bloggers prioritizing organic traffic growth may prefer platforms with strong SEO features and capabilities.
From Notion to SEO-Friendly Blog With Feather
Feather is an SEO-friendly blog that allows you to publish blog content through Notion without the need for coding or design skills. Feather enables HubSpot with Notion, allowing companies to manage CRM and blog content. Features include:
Custom CSS
Collect Emails
Automatic publishing
Try Feather’s notion to blog software for free today — create a new account and go from Notion to blog in minutes!
Best Blog Platform For Beginners: 16 Options To Consider
1. Feather
Feather is an SEO-friendly blog that allows you to publish blog content through Notion, and it requires no coding or design skills. Feather allows companies to write blog content on Notion and automatically publish it to their Feather blog. Feather allows you to set up a Subfolder blog (domain.com/blog instead of blog.domain.com because the subfolder is better for SEO).
Feather enables companies to get the HubSpot experience through Notion by allowing them to manage all their CRM and website blog management through Notion. We also offer options to change design with custom CSS, collect Emails, and much more. Write on Notion and automatically get that published to an SEO-friendly blog. Collaborate with the entire team easily during the publishing process.
Try Feather’s Notion to blog software for free today — create a new account and go from notion to blog in minutes!
2. WordPress.org
WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress, is the most popular blog platform. While WordPress.org was originally built as a blogging platform, it’s now transformed into a fully-fledged content management system. With self-hosted WordPress, you can create any type of website, including:
eCommerce stores
Forums
Niche social networks
To start a blog with WordPress.org, you’ll need a domain name and a web hosting plan, and then you’ll install WordPress on your web host. A domain name and hosting costs can vary. For example, if you want a .com or .org domain, you will pay more for it. This is because these domains are more popular and known by many. As a result, they are the standard for quality and trustworthiness.
Scalability & Budget
In addition, the cost of your hosting will vary depending on your:
Traffic
Bandwidth needs
Security requirements
Whether you want dedicated servers
It is also important to check if a hosting provider allows you to scale without exceeding your budget. You can check if upgrading or downgrading incurs an additional cost. See if the upgrade plans are within your budget beforehand to anticipate future costs.
3. Web.com
Web.com is a popular do-it-yourself website builder that’s been around since 1999. With its intuitive drag-and-drop builder, you can easily create any site, such as a blog, with no technical knowledge needed. Plus, Web.com offers many ready-made website templates to get you started fast.
Customizing the templates is as simple as pointing and clicking. You can also quickly add:
Contact forms
Photo galleries
Videos
Social media buttons
4. Gator Website Builder
Gator Website Builder is an all-in-one website builder that lets you create any website, including:
A blog
Small business
eCommerce site
Even though HostGator is primarily a hosting and domain name provider, it still has some impressive tools to help you start your blogging journey quickly and easily. It bundles its hosting and domain name services with the website building.
Free Hosting & Domain to Kickstart Your Blog
This makes it easier and cheaper for beginners to start blogging. With the Gator Website Builder starter pack, you get free hosting and a domain name to get the ball rolling.
You also get a drag-and-drop builder, which you can use to customize the website templates to ensure you create a custom and unique site. Whether a beginner or a professional blogger, you’ll find Gator website builder very useful.
5. WordPress.com
If you want to start a free blog with WordPress, choose WordPress.com. WordPress.com is free and managed by the same folks behind WordPress.org. It is specifically designed to be easy to set up and use, making it one of the best blog hosting platforms. With WordPress.com, you can start a free blog and upgrade your subscription with options like:
A custom domain name
Additional storage
Support for Beginners
One of the biggest reasons WordPress.com has grown so much is its huge user base, which has created an amazing online community. This community can help beginners and share their experiences, ensuring even beginners can quickly get solutions to any problem they face. If the community cannot help, the support team is always ready to offer step-by-step solutions through the community forums.
6. Blogger.com
Blogger.com is a free blogging platform by Google. This means that, like with other Google products, you can easily sign up and log into the platform using your Gmail account. Plus, you can set it up as part of the Google Ecosystem and integrate it with products like
Google Analytics
Google Search Console
Design Flexibility for All Skill Levels
Despite Blogger.com’s simplicity, you can build amazing blog sites through pre-designed templates and customize your layout with:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript, if you are an advanced user.
For beginners, you can enjoy automatic software updates and server maintenance, ensuring your site is secure and optimized for performance. Like WordPress.com, you can easily create a new blog on Blogger without spending a dime. Plus, you can monetize your free blog with:
AdSense
Affiliate marketing
7. Medium
Medium is great for bloggers who want to start writing right away. And it works like a social networking site. You just need to:
Sign up
Create a profile
Write content
Most bloggers use Medium to try a niche and see if they will be committed to it before investing more time and money on other robust platforms such as WordPress. Plus, writing for Medium exposes your blog to over 100 million active users.
8. LinkedIn
LinkedIn may seem like only a social networking site, but there’s more to it. Most users on LinkedIn are seeking and recruiting jobs, but some use the platform for blogging. Blogging on LinkedIn helps establish expertise and may attract leads and freelance writing opportunities. Plus, you get access to over 1 billion audiences on LinkedIn worldwide.
9. Wix
When unleashing your creative potential, Wix is a versatile platform that seamlessly combines design and functionality. One of the key features that sets Wix apart is its intuitive drag-and-drop simplicity. This user-friendly interface empowers beginners to craft visually stunning websites without the need for extensive technical knowledge or coding skills.
Wix offers a diverse range of templates tailored for every niche. Whether you're creating a blog, portfolio, online store, or business website, you'll find well-designed themes that cater to your specific needs. These professionally crafted templates provide a solid foundation for your online presence, allowing you to showcase your unique style while ensuring a seamless user experience for your visitors.
10. Quick Creator
As we step into the future of blogging, AI-powered platforms are revolutionizing how content is created and optimized. Quick Creator, an innovative AI-powered blogging platform, is at the forefront of this transformation, offering a seamless experience for beginners.
Quick Creator leverages AI to streamline the process of creating SEO-optimized blog content. Through its AI-powered writing capabilities, it offers effortless content creation and precise SEO optimization, ensuring that users can focus on crafting engaging content. At the same time, the platform takes care of the technical intricacies.
11. Tumblr
Tumblr is a microblogging platform that combines elements of a blogger and a social media platform. This unique blend sets Tumblr apart from other platforms. Users can post multimedia content with Tumblr, including:
Short blogs
Images
Videos, and more
You can customize your blogs with themes and features also. Aside from publishing content, you can explore the platform’s social networking features, such as social sharing and reblogging tools, to connect with your audience and grow your readership. Tumblr is an interesting hybrid blogging platform and a social network that allows users to express themselves in a magical way they cannot find on other sites.
12. Squarespace
Squarespace, founded in 2003, powers millions of websites currently online. With its impressive features and stylish templates, people are started to love it much. And rapidly, it’s become an excellent choice for small businesses, enabling them to create a professional-looking website without much hassle. Squarespace boasts a fully comprehensive blog post editing tool with over 45 modules, including:
Custom code
Picture galleries
Accordion
Scheduling
Newsletter opt-ins
Charts
Social media connections
Bloggers can connect with social accounts and personalize their content with these. Squarespace offers much flexibility to create a professional website, blog, online store, or portfolio that stands out.
13. Weebly
Weebly is primarily a website builder offering blogging capabilities. A wide selection of professional themes and templates enables users to easily create excellent websites without requiring coding skills. Weebly offers a user-friendly interface and reliable hosting services, making it a top choice for personal and business websites.
Alongside improving website building, Weebly now focuses on a built-in integration with Square to take payments and work as an eCommerce platform to rival Shopify. Weebly is similar to WordPress and can be easily accessible with blogging features that help users create impressive content.
14. Ghost: Best WordPress Alternative
Ghost is a minimalist blogging platform that makes it easy to start a blog and publish content. It is designed to simplify blogging for both individual bloggers and online publications. Like WordPress, Ghost is also available in both hosted and self-hosted platforms. Ghost is best suited for bloggers and publications that need seamless authoring experience so they can focus exclusively on the content being created.
Ghost might not be the right solution if you’re looking to build an entry-level website with a limited budget.
15. LiveJournal
LiveJournal is a social network where users can keep a blog or journal and connect with like-minded people. Consider upgrading to a paid plan if you need more robust features like polls and image uploads on your free LiveJournal blog.
16. Typepad
TypePad is a blogging service owned by Endurance International Group. Unlike other blog platforms, you must subscribe to a premium plan to run a TypePad blog. With TypePad, you can control content monetization, unlimited storage, and personal support.
How To Choose A Blog Platform For Your Specific Needs
Themes and Templates
Select a blog platform that provides a wide selection of themes and templates, ensuring you have the customization you desire to create a unique look for your blog. Consider modifying the themes and templates to suit your specific requirements.
Content Editor
The content editor is the heart of every blog platform. For this reason, the platform’s editor should be user-friendly, as you will likely use it daily. Consider how easy it is to quickly set up a blog and add content. You may want to test the editor by creating a complex blog draft and including internal links, videos, and images to check all functionalities and flexibility. Divide your desired features into must-haves and nice-to-haves to facilitate your selection process.
Choosing The Best Blogging Platform For SEO
When choosing a blogging platform with great SEO capabilities, several key factors must be considered. Not all platforms are created equal, and some offer more robust tools and features to help boost your blog's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEO is a critical component of any successful blogging strategy, as it helps drive organic traffic to your site and attract potential customers. In a competitive online landscape, having the right tools to optimize your content for search engines can make all the difference in your blog's success.
SEO Features and Tools
One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a blogging platform with great SEO capabilities is the availability of built-in SEO tools. Many platforms offer plugins or add-ons to assist with SEO, but the specific features most beneficial to you will depend on your current knowledge and expertise. For example, some platforms offer tools to help you generate a site map or manage your blog URLs, while others guide optimizing your content for specific keywords.
Extensions and Integrations
In addition to built-in SEO tools, choosing a platform that offers extensions or integrations with third-party tools is important. As your blog grows and your goals evolve, you may need additional features or functionality your current platform doesn't offer. Platforms with a robust ecosystem of apps and integrations can help you address these needs without switching to a more flexible alternative down the line.
Choose Wisely for SEO Success
Selecting a blogging platform with great SEO capabilities can help you achieve your goals and drive more traffic to your site. By considering factors such as built-in SEO tools, extensions, and integrations, you can ensure your blog has the tools it needs to succeed in today's competitive online landscape.
Effortless Blogging from Notion
Feather is an SEO-friendly blog that lets you publish blog content through Notion. It requires no coding or design skills. Feather allows companies to write blog content on Notion and automatically publish it to their Feather blog. Feather allows you to set up a Subfolder blog (domain.com/blog instead of blog.domain.com, because a subfolder is better for SEO).
Feather enables companies to get the HubSpot experience through Notion by allowing them to manage all their CRM and website blog management through Notion. We also offer options to change design with custom CSS, collect Emails, and much more.
Try Feather’s notion to blog software for free today — create a new account and go from notion to blog in minutes!
What Is The Best Blog Platform For Beginners – Our Pick
When choosing a blog platform, it's essential to pick one that fits your specific needs. Here are some key recommendations for blog platforms based on your requirements:
Feather
If you're serious about blogging, Feather is top-of-the-line in its design and functionality. It's specifically built to create responsive and SEO-enhanced blogs. With Feather, you can have your blog up and running in minutes without the stress of trying to set up your blog without a developer’s help.
Self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org)
WordPress.org offers a complete package of tools to get your blog up and running. While it can be a bit complex, especially for beginners, you can enhance its features by installing the right WordPress plugins.
Web.com
Web.com is an excellent option for developers who want to build a blog from scratch. It works well with WordPress and allows you to drag and drop components to customize your blog to your liking.
WordPress.com and Blogger.com
These platforms are ideal for freelancers just starting out in the blogging. With limited resources, you can start a blog immediately without getting easily distracted.
Go From Notion to Blog With Ease Today with Feather
Feather is an SEO-friendly blog platform that allows businesses to publish blog content directly through Notion, without requiring any coding or design skills. Feather enables companies to write blog content on Notion and automatically publish it to their Feather blog, streamlining the content creation and publishing process. It allows for setting up a Subfolder blog (domain.com/blog) instead of a subdomain (blog.domain.com), which is better for SEO purposes.
Seamless Integration with Notion
Feather offers a seamless integration with Notion, allowing businesses to manage all their CRM and website blog management through Notion itself. This enables companies to get the full HubSpot experience through Notion, providing a comprehensive solution for all their content management needs.
Customization Options
Feather also offers customization options, such as changing the design using custom CSS, collecting emails from readers, and much more. This flexibility allows businesses to tailor their blog to their specific branding and marketing needs, enhancing the overall user experience for their audience.
Easy Collaboration and Team Management
One key advantage of Feather is its ease of collaboration and team management. By allowing the entire team to work on publishing blog content through Notion, Feather enables seamless collaboration and feedback processes, ensuring that the final content is top-notch before publication.
SEO-Friendly Features
Feather is designed with SEO in mind, ensuring that blogs published through the platform are optimized for search engines. This helps businesses improve their search engine rankings and attract organic traffic to their website, ultimately leading to more leads and conversions.
Time-Saving Automation
By automating the publishing process from Notion to the Feather blogging platform, businesses can save valuable time and resources that would otherwise be spent on manual publishing and formatting tasks. This enables businesses to focus on creating high-quality content and growing their online presence effectively.