You’ve realized your hobby, side hustle, or personal blogging has taken on a life of its own. You want to broadcast what you are doing outside of just microblogging on Twitter and Facebook, but you are still on the fence about taking on an actual blog. You are a first-timer, and you want a platform that brings ease and visibility. First-time blogging is a process where you can test the waters and see if you could have an audience. So, here are the ultimate blogging platforms if you are jumping into blogging for the very first time.
Tumblr
If you are experienced with Twitter and Instagram, Tumblr is a great way to begin your blogging journey. Tumblr is easy to set up, and already has a built-in community you can benefit from to start to establish your audience. Another pretty neat thing about Tumblr is that you can schedule posts without having to use Hootsuite or another social media scheduling programs.
The chances are that you are likely swamped with looking for ways to build your audience, so it is nice that you can save time by scheduling posts from the platform without having to switch to another program. Tumblr also looks fantastic on mobile. Unlike sites like WordPress.org or other content management systems where you have to work out the design and mobile views yourself, Tumblr takes care of this for you.
WordPress.com
If you want a bit more customization, but still don’t have the know-how or time to take total charge of your blog, WordPress.com is a great place to start. This platform is ideal for hobby bloggers who are still trying to decide if a full-fledged self-hosted blog is a right move. Professionals who work for WordPress are in charge of all of your maintenance and updates (so you can spend time learning the ins and outs of blogging), and the site also automatically sets systems in place to promote your blog in the WordPress network.
While you cannot change the layout of your blog, and cannot monetize it, this platform gives you an opportunity to test the waters and see if going deeper makes sense for you. If you are thinking of using WordPress.org, this alternative is an excellent way to become familiar with the WordPress brand.
Postach.io
Do you use Evernote to write or take notes throughout the day? If you do, Postach.io allows you to quickly turn those writings into a clean and minimalistic blog post. At its core, Postach.io centers on simplicity by letting you get right to the writing. It may be one of the simplest (and quickest) ways to create a blog that looks professional and attractive without having to sacrifice quality.
Also, as is the case with WordPress, you can include add-ons that allow your audience to share your posts as well as track page views by setting up Google Analytics. Postach.io has a free plan where you can take advantage of a few complimentary layouts, and get a sense of how the platform works for you. If you want to customize your page you have the option to upgrade to a free account which also includes your own domain.
Wix
Now, if you want to take the plunge as a first-time blogger to have the ultimate level of customization while still enjoying a simple experience, Wix is a solid choice. Unlike WordPress.org that requires you to have a bit of know-how when it comes to website design, Wix makes creating an attractive page easy. The site includes a drag-and-drop web builder that makes it easy to configure your page that way you want. The onboarding is also pretty impeccable.
Once you sign up with Wix, you are immediately introduced to an online email training workshop. The team at Wix will send emails on topics that provide training on how to set up your website. As for templates, Wix’s layouts include “Artificial Design Intelligence,” that takes care of a lot of the design work for you. The designs are automatically responsive and can adapt to any browser or device. As a first-time blogger, you might not have the time or expertise to deal with these features, so it is helpful that Wix handles most of the design nuances for you.
Final Thoughts
The decision to start a blog can be an overwhelming one. You have no idea if there is an audience for what you do, and you might be afraid to take that first leap. This is why platforms like those listed above are excellent. All the options listed above allow you to get your first blog post out there without having to spend money or learn about basic web design. Who knows? You might even decide to get that self-hosting platform after all.
