How to Choose a Blogging Platform

According to Wikipedia, the term “blog” has been around since 1999. I’ve personally been blogging since 2004. Over the years, I’ve test-driven dozens of blogging platforms, including some social network/blogging hybrids like Tumblr and Posterous. Some of the blogging solutions I’ve used in that time are still around, while some have faded into “web 2.0” oblivion.

Blogging software has settled down quite a bit, but it can still be daunting to new bloggers. Choosing a blogging platform is one of the first decisions you’ll make (right after deciding whether you should be blogging at all). It’s a choice that can set you up for success or frustration. There are many things to consider when choosing where to blog. All of the major platforms have their particular strengths and weaknesses. Each blogger has his or her own priorities and needs. Finding the best match between them can take a lot of time and energy.

Even those who’ve been blogging for a while need to periodically review their tools to make sure they still make sense. If you started a blog years ago, you might be wondering if there’s a better new solution out there than your current platform. You might wonder if your platform is getting in the way of greater success with your blog. Or you might just be ready for a change. It can be a time consuming process, figuring out what’s available now, and then sorting out if it’s worth making a switch.

Because we’re all about providing helpful advice, we’ve just written a white paper, sponsored by OverBlog, which reviews eight of the most popular blogging platforms across the nine most important criteria for blogging success.

The white paper takes a “start with the end in mind” approach by first clarifying why you want to blog. It looks at the different types of blogs, ranging from personal and hobby blogs to corporate blogging. It reviews a number of free, commercial and “hybrid” blogging platforms according to their strengths and weaknesses in areas like SEO, social integration, customization, cost, and ease of use.

There’s no “perfect” blogging solution out there, but there probably is a best fit solution for you. This white paper is there to take some of the time and effort out of figuring that out.

Check it out at How To Choose a Blogging Platform. We hope you find it useful.