How To Start A Blog For Writers (continued)

This post is the continuation of the post How To Start A Blog For Writers

*Improve discoverability:
Make sure each post is categorized and tagged, at minimum. If your blog platform allows for it, adjust what title, description, and keywords are attached to your post for search engine optimization (SEO).
To Grow Your Readership
Update consistently and on a regular schedule.
Frequently link to relevant blogs, resources, and sites.
Try out a series or weekly feature.
Interview people who interest you. Run Q&As.
Comment on blogs/sites that have some relevance to your own blog.
Allow readers to sign up for e-mail or RSS delivery of your posts. (Try Feedburner if this functionality is not already baked into your site.)
Always post links to each new post on your Facebook page, Twitter, etc.
Offer to guest blog for others. Provide them with even better content than usual.
Be patient.
The No. 1 Rule to Grow Readership
Offer great content. Period. Check this post for a wake-up call on all the advice I’ve just offered you: Are Blog Best Practices Bullshit?

Now back to what today is about.


You must have asked yourself this question, 'Where You Can Start a Blog for Free?'
*Though i use Blogspot but I'll recommend WordPress. You can use WordPress.com (with limited functionality) for free. When you’re ready to have your own URL/site, you can install the WordPress content management system onto your site, and seamlessly import your WordPress.com content.
*Tumblr: I heard this one is Great for visual and multimedia stuffs
*Blogger. Owned by Google and still very popular.

Here is the summary of each Blogging platform and the goods and bads of each one :

WordPress.com

Price: Free
WordPress.com allows you to store your site’s content for free on their servers. However, this means users receive a limited version of the WordPress software. Still, it’s a nice choice for hobby bloggers who don’t want to invest money. It’s also a good option for people who plan to upgrade to a self-hosted WordPress blog in the future.

Goods:
No set-up costs.
Simple to use; no coding or design knowledge required.
Hundreds of themes to choose from.

Bads:
Functionality is limited unless you pay for upgrades.
It looks less professional.
You do not technically own your blog, which means you have little control over advertising revenue. It also means WordPress can suspend your site at any time.
Your site comes with .wordpress in the domain.

WordPress.org

Price: Free software;just $3 per month for hosting.
A self-hosted WordPress blog is one that uses the WordPress software on a third-party server. With it, you can install plugins, edit your HTML code, and more, giving you full control over your website while making it look more professional. A self-hosted WordPress blog is usually the best way to go for anyone willing to invest a couple of dollars per month. It’s ideal for business owners, professional brand builders, and any blogger looking to expand their site’s functionality and professional appearance.

Goods:
User-friendly with full control and customization options.
Access to over 1,500 free themes and 20,000 free plugins.
S.E.O friendly options.

Bad:
Hosting on a third-party server can require some technical knowledge, but most hosts (like Bluehost or
iPage) offer quality technical support.
Due to its popularity, WordPress is vulnerable to security threats.


Blogger

Price: Free
Blogger is owned by Google, you’ll have access to Google tools like AdSense, Analytics, etc. However, Blogger is not nearly as flexible as WordPress.org. This platform is great for hobby bloggers and brand builders who don’t want to invest any money but may want to make some money through ads. Since it is easy to use, it is also a great platform for beginner bloggers just learning the ropes.

Goods:
Completely free and easy to use.
Can place AdSense ads.
Access to HTML code, so there are more customization options.

Bads:
Fewer themes and storage space than WordPress.com.
You cannot self-host, so your blog is dependent completely on Blogger’s current offerings.
Your site will have .blogspot in the title.
To make it look professional you need basic html knowledge

Tumblr

Price: Free
Tumblr is easy to use and is a very social platform. This is the perfect place for bloggers who like the idea of “reblogging” posts. Its platform is best for microbloggers, so it’s perhaps not the best place to start if you are looking to develop long-form content.

Pros:
Unlimited storage.
Approximately 1,000 themes to choose from.
HTML and CSS access for customization.

Cons:
Backing up your blog and importing your content from other platforms is difficult.
There are very limited plugin options.
It is tough to monetize.


TypePad

Price: $8.95+/month
TypePad is a good platform for business professionals or brand builders who don’t mind investing some money every month into their blog. That price can pay in delivering more features and a more professional-looking site. However, most people will still tell business bloggers to choose a self-hosted WordPress platform due to its large community, but TypePad does have its advantages.

Goods:
They host on their servers, but you own your blog.
Unlimited storage space.
Easy to use.

Bads:
It costs a few dollars more per month than a self-hosted WordPress site.
Customization options is somewhat limited.


The free options are ideal for novice or hobby bloggers who is not ready to invest any money while the paid options are better for business blogs. Choosing the right one depends on how you want your site to function. Which platform do you think you’ll choose? Tell us in the comment box let help you get started!