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Last Updated on November 6, 2023 by coffeepo
Social media dominates today’s interactions. But if you want to share more than 280 characters of your thoughts, blogging is where it’s at. Whether you’re writing, drawing, or doing photography, a blog is a perfect platform to showcase your creativity—without an annoying algorithm controlling your posts.
Having your own blog lets you take charge of how, when, and to whom your posts are presented online. Everything is organized in chronological order on your website and accessible through tags or categories. You can even customize your layout to reflect the “brand” you want to have.
If you’ve compiled a content calendar of creative blog ideas and understand the key terms for blogging, then it’s time to set up your site.
Best Free Blogging Sites
For those of you just starting in the blogosphere, investing in premium subscriptions and themes seems like a high hurdle. No worries, though—there are plenty of free blogging platforms out there. Kickstart your blogging career with these free sites.
This is one of the most popular free blogging sites. It’s simple to sign up, and they have a free plan that includes 1GB of storage. You also get access to various WordPress themes and plugins to help build up your site.
On the flip side, features are limited with the free plan—you can’t customize your domain name or sell products, for example. The upside is the focus is entirely on your content; no flash or frills are needed.
GET THIS IF: You want a simple, reputable platform that focuses on your content. There’s less customization with the free WordPress blog site, though. Also, if you’re going to monetize your content, you’ll have to invest in a Pro plan.
Wix isn’t just a blogging platform—it’s also a website-building tool, but only the front end. This means you can customize your layout, theme, and base template without having to fiddle with code. The drag-and-drop UI is very intuitive, so it’s beginner-friendly.
Wix also includes free hosting, so there is no need to find an external hosting platform. They can even build a site for you based on a questionnaire if you lack the design skills.
GET THIS IF: You want the flexibility to build your website as part of your brand. It’s more intensive to set up, but you’ll get more control over how your site looks. You’ll also be able to add all the widgets and content boxes you need.
A similar platform to Wix, it’s also a website builder with a drag-and-drop UI. It provides a live preview of your website that you can format and layout as you like. If you need sidebars, media boxes, social media icons, and ad spaces—Weebly has all of it.
The platform also integrates free hosting and analytics so you can monitor your blog metrics. You can add up to 5 custom pages on a free plan, with 500MB of storage and a Weebly subdomain.
GET THIS IF: Like Wix, this is great if you want the flexibility to build your site with widgets and content boxes. It’s also affordable with the free plan.
This is slightly different from most other platforms on this list because it’s not a website builder, but bloggers use it. Medium is a multi-purpose website where anyone can upload a post so long as they have an account. You don’t get a standalone feed or a domain—just somewhere to post.
However, you can create a “publication” and treat it as a blog. Plus, there are tons of publications on the platform where you can guest post and network with other bloggers.
Finally, because of its high Domain Authority, you can easily rank on search engines by posting on Medium. Plus, the platform distributes your content to its user base, getting more eyes on your words. And, if a lot of people are reading, you can join their Partner Program and monetize your blog from the get-go!
GET THIS IF: You want a ready-built audience and monetize it from the start. You won’t have your own website, but you’re free to write and post on any topic that catches your fancy.
This free blogging platform is one of the OG and still has its charms. The site blends social media with blogging to create a unique experience in content creation. Tumblr is perfect for more personal-style blogs instead of a professional or business structure (unless you get a custom re-directable domain).
Another reason we love it is that Tumblr has excellent customization options, with any number of free themes available for use. You can post affiliate links or advertise freelance work as well. Plus, you can hook your blog up with Google Analytics to see how well it’s performing.
GET THIS IF: You’re looking to write for a niche, or you want to mix up the types of content you post. Tumblr also lets you interact with other content creators and even your audience, which can help grow your site organically.
Around since back in 1999, Blogger is one of the oldest on this list. It’s great for personal blogs, but less so for professional or business blogs. It hosts your website for you, focusing entirely on your writing. The UI is simple and easy to navigate, so it’s great for beginners and those who want a straightforward blogging experience.
Blogger has more limits than other websites, though. There’s no advanced customization and a standard set of themes, as well as minimalist widgets. You can, however, place ad spaces within your content to earn some revenue.
GET THIS IF: You want a simple platform that puts your content in the spotlight. No frills, no fancy designs—just writing.
Another unique free blogging site is Substack. Not only does it work as a blog, but it’s easy to send as a newsletter, too. You get a basic content management system with text formatting, image and video embedding, and other web content integration. Substack makes your newsletter look good—then stores it all in one space.
If you want a customized aesthetic for your blog, this site isn’t for you. The focus is on making your emails look good, not your blog. But it’s a great way to build an audience and dip your toes into email marketing.
Plus, you can earn money through subscriptions while hosting your newsletter for free. This is a solid choice if you already have followers and want to start emailing and blogging.
GET THIS IF: You want to create a unique blogging experience. By combining newsletters with a blog-style interface, you can connect to your audience in a different way.
Start Blogging in 2022
There are over 600 million blog sites globally, so you’re not alone in wanting to start a blogging journey. It’s important to pick a site that fits your posting needs, whether customizing the entire front-end or focusing only on your content. Then once you’re ready, set up your website and start writing!
Now you’re armed with the tools, go out and do it! See you in the winner’s circle 🙂
