Monday, August 01, 2011

Blogging Platform Options - Which Blog Platform Should You Choose?

Posted by Laura Powers

We are frequently asked for our recommendations on blog platforms and blogging best practices. Some of the most popular platforms for establishing a blog are WordPress, Blogger, TypePad and Tumblr.

Tumblr was established in 2007 and is a relative newcomer to the blogosphere. The platform offers integrated features to be used for sharing and promoting a blog, rather than having to add those functions into the blog platform. Digitial media strategist, Steve Rubel recently switched his long-time blog platform from Posterous to Tumblr which was met with a mix of follower resistance and approval. Tumblr has grown exponentially in popularity and prominence and has now joined the ranks as a credible platform for consideration.

WordPress.org offers customizable website software that you can install on a hosted website server to create easy-to-build websites and blogs. WordPress.org was created in 2003 and later branched out to bring a basic blog platform to a larger audience with Wordpress.com. WordPress.com offers an easy, free blog solution without the need for technical knowledge.

Established in 1999, Blogger was purchased by Google in 2003. Some believe that this relationship gives Blogger an inherent advantage in search engines, however there are many more search engine optimization plugins for WordPress. Recently, Mashable broke an article about Blogger being renamed Google Blogs in a rebranding initiative in the advent of Google+, the search engine company’s new social networking site.

Originally launched in 2003, Typepad is a paid-subscription blogging service that is based on an open source platform called Movable Type. This may be a good choice for companies or organizations that generate text for a living. For example, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post and USA Today all utilize Movable Type to host their numerous high traffic blogs.

Prominence, high average readership, a clean visual presentation, and the ability to adapt to changing trends are vital components to any blog that wants to grow and thrive. A successful blog entails the buildup of a substantial amount of content while utilizing a stable platform to share and promote the content.

We recommend avoiding platforms that may fold in the burst of the social media bubble and focusing on long-established platforms with successful track records.

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