Blogging Platforms

There are a number of blogging platforms available to bloggers. You need to decide which one suits your needs.
Many blogging solutions are hosted by a third party company, some are free (e.g. Blogger); some will cost you a fee (e.g. Squarespace). If you want complete control over your blog, it is better to choose a self-hosted blogging platform such as WordPress.

Free Hosted Blogging Platforms

These hosted blogging services are free to use, however upgrades are available for a fee to advanced users:

	Blogger Google’s flagship free-hosted blogging service has been around since 1999. It is very easy to use however, it lacks the professional look and features that other services offer.
	Jux An interesting blogging service that places a huge focus on integrating images and videos into content.
	OverBlog A free-hosted blogging service that has great social media support. It has mobile support and pages are optimised for viewing on all devices.
	Penzu A free journal service that allows you to keep a secure personal journal or online diary.
	Scriptogram A blogging platform that stores files in your Dropbox folder.
	Tumblr A free-hosted microblogging service. It is perfect for posting short posts such as videos, images, quotes, and links.
	WordPress.com A free-hosted blogging service that uses the WordPress platform. There are many great themes and upgrades available to users.

Paid Hosted Blogging Platforms

The following hosted blogging services charge a fee every month for using their service:

	Squarespace One of the most beautiful blogging platforms online. It has an intuitive interface and is packed full of features. An unlimited hosted package retails for $16 per month and comes with premium support.
	Typepad A flexible blogging platform that many top bloggers such as Seth Godin use. The unlimited hosted package costs $14.95 per month. It comes with premium support and unlimited storage.

Open Source (Self-Hosted) Blogging Platforms

If you want full control over your blog, you need to host your own blog. The following self-hosted solutions are free to download:

	Drupal A popular free self-hosted content management system that can be used to power a blog. Thousands of themes and modules are available for download free.
	Joomla A professional looking free self-hosted content management system. It can be used to design any type of website.
	WordPress.org The self-hosted script is the most popular blogging platform on the internet. It is free to download and there are thousands of themes and plugins available for it.

Premium Self-Hosted Blogging Platforms

Premium self-hosted blogging solutions include:

	Compendium A premium blogging solution that is geared towards companies with multiple blogs.
	ExpressionEngine A commercial self-hosted blogging platform that is used by many large companies. The default package retails for $299.
	Movable Type A powerful blogging solution. The self-hosted version can be downloaded free; however, business users can get premium support by paying for the pro version.