A positive/negative comparison of each blogging platform

If you are starting out as a blogger, or contemplating it, then you are probably wondering which hosting service you should use. There are many out there, but the top three you have probably been considering are WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. How can you know which one to choose?

Let’s look at the positives and negatives of each one.

Review of WordPress.com

WordPress is a hosting service that allows for both types of bloggers: those who want a platform and those who want a hosting service. Let’s focus on the hosting service, wordpress.com.

Positives of WordPress.com:

Wordpress

WordPress

  • You can get up and running quickly with the limited control version.
  • It is also a free hosting service.
  • This is a good host for SEO.
  • Your blog is exposed even further to potential readers through their directory.
  • You can import content from other platforms easily.
  • Custom header images are added easily.
  • You are also offered traffic stats on your blog.
  • Your popular tags will show up in search results.
  • Allows 3G of storage.

Negatives of WordPress.com:

  • Won’t support use of your own themes.
  • Cannot monetize.
  • Cannot use Google Analytics.

Review of Blogger

Next, let’s consider Blogger, one of the original hosting platforms, now a service of Google.

Positives of Blogger.com:

  • It offers free hosting and allows the blogger to go live in minutes.
  • This allows a drag and drop functionality.
  • Allows html or javascript.
  • You can add custom header images with ease.
  • There is an open i.d. functionality for sign-in.
  • Your blog is included in Google Blog Search automatically.
  • Can use your own themes.
  • Allows you to monetize your blog with ads.
  • Allows Google Analytics.
  • Allows for community through Google Friend Connect.
  • Dashboard offers ease of use.

Negatives of Blogger.com:

  • Only 1G of storage.
  • Must have a gmail account to set up.
  • Limited selection of templates and designs.

Review of Tumblr.com

Lastly, consider Tumblr, a relative newcomer.

Positives of Tumblr.com:

  • This service does allow social networking options.
  • Creates a strong network effect
  • You can tag content across blogs.
  • Encourages simpler posts, much like a social network site.
  • Can use your own themes
  • Allows Google Analytics
  • Posts get reblogged through Tumblr
  • Good for short posts.
  • Popular among twenty-something users.

Negatives of Tumblr.com:

  • Allows much less customization than the other two.
  • Only 1 G of storage.
  • Limited ability to monetize blog.
  • The community aspect does not help you if you do not have existing Tumblr contacts.
  • Can only accommodate short blog posts. 

How do you make the decision?

If you have no desire to monetize your blog, you want to have a lot of options for your theme and you care about analyzing your stats data, then WordPress is probably your best bet.

Blogger will appeal to you if your blog is personal, you want build a community with Google Friend Connect (although, this feature is said to be going away in the near future), and may want to run some ads now and then.

Younger bloggers may be drawn to Tumblr, especially if they already have friend using Tumblr and don’t mind investing time in reblogging.

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