What is a blog?
A blog is a website or online publication that's designed for ongoing content creation via a blog post. Blogs can be used by anyone looking to create content online, from a single person writing about personal interests to businesses with a team of writers publishing company news and updates. Using a free blog site is the easiest way to create a blog, as it doesn't require any software installation or web design skills. While the word "blog" is often used interchangeably with "website", there are some key differences between the two. A blog is a regularly updated website that's run by one person or a small group of people, whereas a website is larger and more in-depth and is generally used by businesses and organizations.
Different types of free blog sites
- Blogging platforms: These are all-in-one blogging platforms that allow you to create blogs and websites, either on a free or paid basis. Blogging platforms such as Squarespace and Wix are perfect for beginners and provide all the tools you need to get started with creating a website.
- Content management systems: CMS platforms such as WordPress provide you with a fully customizable blog that allows you to create an endless number of different blog posts. WordPress is one of the most popular blogging platforms, and there are thousands of free WordPress sites that you can use to start your blog.
- Microblogging sites: These sites are designed for users who want to post short content and are most commonly used for social media marketing. Popular microblogging sites include Tumblr and Blogger, which allow you to create a free blog to share your content with followers.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
WordPress is one of the most popular blogging platforms, and there are two different ways you can use it to create a blog. WordPress.org is a self-hosted blog, while WordPress.com is a free hosted blog. The main difference between the two is that WordPress.org is a self-hosted blog that you host and maintain on your own website, while WordPress.com is a free-hosted blog that you can create on WordPress's website. If you're looking to create a long-term blog, you'll likely want to go with WordPress.org as it offers more customization options. If you're looking for something short-term or want more pre-made designs and options, WordPress.com may be a better fit for you. Whichever option you go with, it's important to note that WordPress.org and WordPress.com are two different platforms and are not entirely compatible with each other.
Tumblr
For those who want to create a quick-and-easy blog, Tumblr is a great option. This free blogging site allows you to create a blog in just a few minutes by choosing from thousands of free themes and customizing your settings. While you can use Tumblr's basic functions to create a blog, there are also hundreds of third-party applications that you can use to expand the functionality of your blog. Many of these apps are free, and they range from simple tools like polls and image sliders to paid applications that allow you to add more functionality to your blog.
Blogger
If you're looking to start a new blog and are looking for a free hosted blog site, you can use Google's blogging platform, Blogger. You can create a blog on blogger.com by signing in and clicking the blue "Start a new blog" button at the top of the page. There is a wide range of templates to choose from, and you can also customize your blog settings, such as the title, image and more. If you want to integrate paid advertisements into your blog, you can sign up for an account and select the "Adsense" option under "Blog Settings".
Medium
Medium is a content-focused blogging platform that allows you to share your thoughts and ideas with a large audience. With a free account, you can create an unlimited number of blogs and publish as many posts as you'd like, but you can't schedule posts or include images in your posts. If you want more functionality and benefits, you can upgrade your account to a paid plan for $5 per month. Once you upgrade to a paid account, you can schedule posts and use images and other multimedia content in your posts.
Squarespace
If you're looking for a free blog hosting site that offers a fully customizable and interactive blog, Squarespace may be the best option for you. Squarespace is a free blogging platform that allows you to create a fully functional blog with ease. Once you sign up for an account, you can select from a range of different templates to start building your blog. You can also click on the "+" sign next to each template to add more layout, design and function options to fully customize your blog.
Ghost
If you're looking for a simple and user-friendly platform to create a blog, Ghost may be the best option for you. With the free account, you can create an unlimited number of blogs on the Ghost platform and publish as many posts as you'd like, but you won't have access to any of the premium features such as analytics and paid integrations. If you want more benefits and functionality, you can upgrade your account to a paid plan for $12 per year. Once you upgrade, you can access the premium features like analytics, paid integrations with other platforms and more.
Wix
Wix is another all-in-one blogging and website platform that allows you to create fully functional websites and blogs for free. Wix is unique in that it offers premade templates that allow you to create different types of websites, including blogs, eCommerce stores and more. Wix also allows you to customize your blog however you'd like, with features like custom domain names, custom themes and more. If you want even more functionality, you can upgrade to a paid plan for $9.95 per month. With a paid account, you get access to premium features like analytics, more design options and more.
