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What’s the Best Blogging Platform for Writers?

Julia McCoy
Friday, 30th Jun 2023

Which blogging platform is best for writers?

This question, simple yet profound, often leaves many aspiring bloggers scratching their heads.

More than one-third of all websites are blogs. WordPress — one of the best blogging platforms for writers — has over 860 million blogs. This means around 43.2% of all websites in the world are built with it.

But is WordPress the best blogging platform for writers today? What should you look for in blog platforms?

Today, 6 million blog posts go live every day on average — with the most prolific bloggers earning sponsorship deals like celebrities.

If you’re planning to start a personal blog, choosing a reliable blogging platform should be your priority.

The perfect blog platform should be able to cater to your specific needs as a writer and help you connect with your audience effectively.

In this article, we’ll take a look at options for the best blogging platform for writers and find out what makes them a good choice for your content.

Table of Contents:

What is a Blogging Platform?

A blogging platform is a service or software that allows writers to create and manage blogs. Blog sites are designed to provide bloggers with the tools necessary to publish content easily, customize the look of their personal blogs, and interact with readers.

There are many blogging tools available today, each offering unique features that make it suitable for certain types of blogs or audiences. There are free blogging platforms — great for beginners — and paid blogging software that offer advanced capabilities for expert authors.

Some of the most popular blogging platforms are WordPress (for those who want more control over design), Tumblr (for quick multimedia sharing), and Medium (for those who prefer writing without distraction).

How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform for Writers

The best blogging platform for writers is one that meets your priorities. Think about your needs in terms of cost, customization options, your level of technical savvy, and how advanced your blogging knowledge is.

1. Cost

When it comes to choosing blogging sites, the cost is usually the first consideration. Free blogging platforms can be great options for those on a budget, but make sure you check out what features they offer.

Many free blogs have limited customization options and require add-ons to get more advanced features. Look into the primary features each provider offers and see if these basics meet your writing needs. If a free blog doesn’t have enough tools, then consider a paid service when you start blogging.

2. Customizable Templates

Themes and templates can be an important part of a free blog platform. Consider how many themes or templates are available, as well as their quality and variety. You’ll also want to look at how easy it is to customize a blog platform with drag-and-drop tools or HTMLCSS coding skills.

There are free blogs that offer a wide selection of high-quality themes so you can create a professional-looking blog without needing extra design work from outside sources.

3. Editor Style

A decent blogging platform should have a good text editor. For most bloggers, the content editor will be where they spend most of their time writing. This editor must be intuitive enough so that writers don’t feel overwhelmed by its complexity yet powerful enough so that experienced bloggers have all the tools they need when creating content for their blogs.

When testing different blogging sites, take some time to try out each content editor. The toolbars should be easy to figure out. For instance, if the editor includes built-in Grammarly, that’s definitely a plus.

4. Ease of Use

As with any piece of software, ease of use matters a lot when choosing the best blogging platform for writers. No matter how feature-rich a free blog might be, people won’t stick around if it takes too long to set up.

See if there are options such as “one-click install” or “quick setup wizard” that allow you to start blogging right away even when you’re not tech-savvy. You should be able to set up a free blog in no time and learn its custom features as you grow along your blogging journey.

5. Hosting Options

Hosting is a crucial aspect of running a blog or website because it provides the infrastructure needed to store and deliver your content to users.

Depending on your objectives and budget, you can choose from a variety of hosting services. If you’re after a simple blog with minimal features and on a budget, shared hosting could be the optimal selection. On the other hand, if you want more control over customization or have a larger website with more content and traffic, dedicated hosting may be necessary.

Think about the capacity you’ll require for your blog and any extra features that could make it simpler to handle such as database integration or email accounts.

Also, take into account how often your site will be updated so that you can choose an appropriate amount of bandwidth for peak times when visitors come in droves.

If security is important to you, then look into providers who offer SSL certificates or other measures such as firewalls or malware protection services which help protect against malicious attacks from hackers or spammers.

Look into what other bloggers are saying about different hosting options. This can provide insights into whether they are dependable and in line with current industry trends.

Finally, consider scalability. This means being able to easily increase server resources when needed without having to move hosts entirely. This is especially useful if your website grows quickly in popularity. You want a web host to provide these kinds of upgrades without too much hassle so that they do not impede future growth.

The Best Blogging Platform for Writers

To help you decide on the best blogging platform for writers, we’ll share some of the most popular blogging platforms today. We chose these top blogging platforms for their popularity, top-notch design, ease of use, and cost.

WordPress

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that powers millions of websites, blogs, and online stores. WordPress is a great blogging platform for authors because of its wealth of features and customization options, making it the go-to blogging platform for experienced writers.

wordpress blogging platform

Screenshot from WordPress.org

With WordPress, you can create a professional blog with ease and customize it however you like without any coding knowledge. You can also add several features to your site with WP’s vast collection of themes and plugins. Plus, there are plenty of SEO tools available to help optimize your content for search engines.

Benefits of Using WordPress for Writing Blogs

Using WordPress for blogging offers a lot of benefits over other content management systems, like Medium or Squarespace.

For one thing, it’s incredibly easy to use — even beginners can get started quickly without having to learn complicated coding languages or HTML markup language.

Additionally, because it’s open-source software, anyone can contribute code changes or develop new plugins which make customizing the user experience easier than ever before.

And finally, since there are so many SEO tools available in the form of plugins, optimizing your content for search engine visibility is much simpler with WordPress vs. other platforms like Wix or Ghost, which don’t offer this type of functionality.

If you’re using BrandWell to write your content, it’s also ideal to have a WordPress blog since BrandWell directly syncs with it through a WP plugin. Just enter your WordPress login details and BrandWell will publish every article it writes straight to your blog.

brandwell integration with wordpress

How to Get Started With WordPress

Getting started with WordPress blogging is fairly straightforward. All you need is a domain name and hosting provider where you will install the software from their cPanel interface (or similar).

Once installed on your server space, simply log into your admin panel via “yoursiteurl/wp-admin”, then begin creating pages.

You may want to select a theme first depending on what kind of design aesthetic you prefer. These are readily available in both free and paid varieties within the official repository at wordpress.org/themes.

Finally, you can add plugins such as Yoast SEO if you want more control over how search engines crawl and index web pages in your blog.

best blogging platform for writers

Screenshot from WordPress

WordPress is a great blogging platform for writers, offering many features that can help you create an engaging blog. However, Medium also has its advantages and may be the better choice for certain types of audiences.

Medium

Medium’s user-friendly interface and wide reach make it a go-to platform for writers worldwide. It caters specifically to the needs of writers, providing an intuitive environment to publish your thoughts and ideas.

Plus, the popularity of Medium ensures maximum exposure for your content, helping you connect with readers from all corners of the globe.

medium blogging platform

Screenshot from Medium for Creators

Medium was founded by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams in 2012 as a way to make it easier for people to connect with each other through writing and storytelling. The platform has since grown into one of the most popular blog platforms on the web for writers, bloggers, entrepreneurs, and content creators alike.

Content creators have been drawn to Medium due to its capacity to present their writing in a professional atmosphere without any need for technical proficiency or coding know-how. The platform also offers various features such as the ability to customize posts, embed images and videos, and track reader engagement metrics.

Benefits of Using Medium for Writing Blogs

Using Medium as a blogging tool can be incredibly advantageous to both experienced writers and those just getting their feet wet. It’s a breeze to use, requiring no coding or design expertise in order to get started creating your own blog on the platform.

If you choose to monetize your blog through ads or sponsored posts on Medium, they’ll take care of all the tedious administrative tasks related to running a website (like hosting), allowing you more time for writing great content.

How to Get Started With Medium

Creating an account on Medium is easy. Go to the Medium homepage and enter some basic information about yourself such as name and email address. Then click the “Get Started” button.

Once inside your dashboard, you can create new posts directly from here – either type out text manually or upload existing documents (e.g. Word Docs, Google Docs) into the editor window.

You can also add images, videos, and audio files too!

After proofreading, hit “Publish” to post it live immediately.

You can also customize the look of your personal blogs from the settings menu before going public. Choose from different themes, colors, and fonts.

best blogging platform for writers

Image from TechCrunch

Medium is a great blogging service that provides multiple functions and options to help writers get published. 

Squarespace

Squarespace is another popular choice for bloggers looking to make their mark on the web.

Squarespace is a website builder and hosting service that provides users with the tools they need to create beautiful, modern websites and blogs.

squarespace blogging platform

Screenshot from Squarespace

Using its simple drag-and-drop editor, Squarespace helps you design a modern website or blog without any coding experience. Squarespace also offers powerful features like e-commerce integration, SEO optimization, and more.

Benefits of Using Squarespace for Writing Blogs

Using Squarespace for writing blogs can be incredibly beneficial in terms of time savings and efficiency. Using Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor, you can easily add images, videos, or other content elements to your posts.

Its integrated SEO tools can also help optimize your basic blog posts so they appear higher in search engine rankings.

Finally, Squarespace has an analytics feature that allows you to track visitor numbers and gauge the success of your posts.

How to Get Started With Squarespace

Getting started with Squarespace is easy. All you need to do is sign up for an account on the website builder’s homepage and then follow the prompts from there – it only takes a few minutes.

Once you have created an account, all that’s left is to design your blog page by choosing a template or starting from scratch using the drag-and-drop editor interface. Both options are equally easy to do while also allowing plenty of room for customization if desired.

From there, you can start creating content such as text articles or video clips – whatever works best for your target audience – then publish them directly onto your newly designed blog page.

Squarespace built-in analytics

Squarespace built-in analytics

Squarespace offers an effortless way for authors to produce beautiful, professional-style blogs in no time. Nevertheless, Ghost may be a more suitable choice if you’re searching for something lighter and open-source.

Ghost

Ghost is another decent blogging platform designed to make it easier for authors and bloggers to generate sleek websites in no time.

ghost blogging platform

Screenshot from Ghost

Ghost is built with Node.js, offering customizability and scalability so that you can modify the design or features as your blog increases in size. Ghost provides a variety of styles and extensions that let you easily modify your website. 

Plus, its Markdown editor makes writing posts simple and straightforward, making it ideal for those who are new to blogging or don’t have much experience with coding.

Benefits of Using Ghost for Writing Blogs

Ghost puts a priority on crafting content rather than web development, allowing users to spend more time creating engaging material and less energy understanding the technical aspects. With traditional blogging platforms like WordPress, there’s often a lot more emphasis on designing the website itself rather than creating content.

Additionally, since Ghost is built around JavaScript, there are plenty of customization options available if you want to tweak things further. Plus, integrated SEO blogging tools help ensure your articles get seen by potential readers!

How to Get Started With Ghost

Ghost is a professional blogging platform that’s easy to set up. First, you’ll need a domain name and hosting plan before you can begin using Ghost as your CMS.

Once those are taken care of, you can install Ghost by downloading the blogging software package from its website and following the instructions provided there.

If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, many web hosts offer one-click installation of Ghost through their control panels.

Once your blog is set up, it’s time to customize it with a theme – essentially a template that determines how your site looks and functions when visitors come across it online.

There are plenty of free themes available on the official Ghost Marketplace. But if you have some coding knowledge or experience working with HTML/CSS/JavaScript, then you could create something unique yourself too.

Traditional blogging platforms offer certain features that make writing posts easier such as drag-and-drop images or auto-saving drafts while editing them, but what makes Ghost stand out from other platforms is its built-in Markdown editor which allows users to quickly format text without having to use complicated HTML tags.

This makes creating beautiful articles much simpler than ever before!

Finally, using plugins such as Yoast SEO helps improve your SEO score by ensuring all technical aspects such as sitemaps are properly configured.

ghost blogging platform

Screenshot from Ghost

Ghost is an ideal choice for authors wanting to craft a sophisticated, attractive website. However, Wix offers more options for personalizing a blog’s appearance than Ghost does.

Wix

Wix is an all-in-one website builder and blogging platform that’s easy for bloggers to learn. In addition to creating stunning websites, Wix offers a wide range of features, including drag-and-drop editing, free hosting, SEO tools, mobile responsive designs, and more.

wix blogging platform

Screenshot from Wix

Wix also provides access to hundreds of templates and design elements so you can customize your basic blog easily. With an intuitive user interface, anyone can build a professional-looking website at Wix in no time.

Benefits of Using Wix for Writing Blogs

Writing blogs on Wix has many advantages over other platforms like WordPress or Squarespace.

First off, the process is much simpler than using other content management systems. Setting up your blog on Wix is effortless, as the platform automates all plugin installation and configuration processes.

And since it’s cloud-based, there are no hosting fees associated with writing blogs on the platform – making it incredibly cost-effective compared to self-hosted blogging platforms like WordPress which require monthly server costs in addition to domain registration fees.

Finally, Wix offers powerful SEO tools that help optimize content for search engine rankings – giving bloggers an edge over their competition when trying to rank higher on Google results pages.

How to Get Started with Wix

To get started with Wix, simply head over to their website where you’ll find a variety of templates available depending on what type of project you’re working on.

Once you’ve chosen one that fits your needs, then all that’s left is adding content before publishing it live.

best blogging platform for writers

Screenshot from Wix

Evernote and Postach.io

If you’re a fan of note-taking apps and blogging, then the integration between Evernote and Postach.io is worth exploring. This combo offers a seamless transition from idea generation through note-taking into publishing blogs, all in one place.

evernote and postach.io blogging platform

Screenshot from Postach.io

The beauty of this integration lies in its simplicity — jot down your ideas in Evernote, flesh them out into full-fledged blog posts, and publish directly to Postach.io without ever leaving the app.

No more copy-pasting or switching between tabs. It’s all streamlined for maximum efficiency.

Beyond simplifying the writing process, this platform also enhances user engagement by integrating commenting tools like Disqus.

Your readers can easily leave comments on your posts using their social media accounts or anonymously if they prefer, encouraging interaction and fostering community around your content.

In essence, Evernote’s integration with Postach.io transforms your notes into an interactive blog where ideas flow freely and conversations thrive, creating a dynamic space for dialogue and learning.

best blogging platforms for writers

Screenshot from Postach.io

Silvrback

Are you a writer looking to create a strong personal brand? Look no further than Silvrback — the perfect platform for writers seeking to amplify their online visibility.

A non-traditional blog platform, Silvrback offers easy integration with social media channels, allowing you to share your content across various platforms with just a few clicks.

Customizable aesthetics are also available, giving you the freedom to design your simple blog according to your unique aesthetic preferences.

Pro tip: Use a social media management tool like Buffer or Hootsuite, along with Silvrback’s social media integration feature, for consistent posting across all platforms and maximum exposure of each post.

Remember, consistency is key when it comes to building an effective personal brand.

silvrback blogging platform

Screenshot from Silvrback

Why You Should Automate Blogging Now

If you’re just starting to write blogs, your workflow process most likely includes manually researching, writing, and editing your content pieces. That’s fine if you’re writing one blog post per week. But what if your blog has finally gained traction and is starting to gain a wide readership?

As your content calendar starts to fill up, manually researching, writing, and editing content becomes more and more difficult. This is when you should consider automating your blogging process

Automated blogging uses software to write blogs and publish them within minutes. It helps streamline the entire blogging process from research and writing to editing and sharing on social media platforms.

BrandWell allow bloggers to save time by eliminating manual tasks such as brainstorming topics, writing drafts, formatting posts, adding images, and proofreading, while still producing quality blog posts.

Additionally, automated blogging can help improve SEO rankings by providing fresh content more frequently than manual processes would allow for.

Benefits of blog automation with BrandWell:

  • Increased efficiency in terms of both time and money spent on blog management.
  • Improved accuracy with fewer errors.
  • 100% original thanks to a free plagiarism scan.
  • Better organization through tagging systems.
  • Improved visibility and ranking with SEO checklists.

All these benefits combined make automated blogging an attractive option for many bloggers looking to maximize their blogging platform.

FAQs – Best Blogging Platform for Writers

Which blogging platform is best for writers?

The best blogging platform for writers depends on the writer’s individual needs and preferences. WordPress stands out for its convenience, extensive selection of plugins, and the potential to personalize themes.

Blogger offers an easy setup process with limited design options but allows users to make money blogging.

Medium is a great platform for those looking to access an extensive readership without needing to worry about the technical aspects of running a blog.

Ultimately, each platform has pros and cons that should be weighed carefully before making a decision.

Is blogging good for writers?

Yes, blogging is an excellent tool for writers. It allows them to hone their writing skills and share their work with a wide audience.

Blogging also provides an opportunity to network with other writers and build relationships within the industry.

Additionally, it can help improve SEO rankings by providing fresh content on a regular basis which helps draw in more readers and potential customers.

Overall, blogging is a beneficial tool for authors to enhance their visibility while refining their writing skills simultaneously.

What should I blog about as a writer?

As a writer, you should blog about topics that are relevant to your target audience. This could include industry news, trends and developments in the field, helpful advice for readers, or interesting stories related to your niche.

What is the best platform to write articles?

The right platform for authoring content depends on the kind of material you’re producing. For in-depth, comprehensive works that necessitate research and investigation, a desktop publishing application such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs is the perfect platform.

If you need to create shorter blog posts or web copy quickly and easily, WordPress is an excellent choice.

Conclusion

Remember, the best blogging platform for writers is the one that fits your needs.

WordPress is a great option if you need more customization, while Medium offers an easier way to get started.

Squarespace provides a wide array of aesthetically pleasing templates, allowing users to craft attractive sites quickly and easily.

Ghost has powerful features but may be too complex for some users.

Wix is ideal for beginners who want an all-inclusive website builder with plenty of options and flexibility in design choices.

Ultimately, your specific publishing goals will determine which is the best blogging platform for writers.

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Written by Julia McCoy

See more from Julia McCoy
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