If you’re uncertain where to begin blogging, I know how you feel. I had no idea how to start when I first committed to becoming a blogger! But I explored different platforms and experimented with lots of methods.

Where to Begin Blogging: Four+ Platforms to Start

I found there were multiple places bloggers got their start. Better yet, most of them are free and simple to start! So it’s not too hard to launch your blogging career.

Here’s my advice on the best platforms where to begin blogging.

Start Your Own Blog with WordPress.com

If you want to start blogging on your website right away, you’ll want to take a look at WordPress.com. You can start a personal blog with your own domain name—for free—in a few hours.

WordPress as a whole is super popular and reliable among bloggers. WordPress.com makes a very simple dashboard and setup process for you to start your blog. And you get to use plenty of the themes, plugins, and features for free with a personal WordPress.com package.

If you want more plugins and features, you’ll have to pay a little for a subscription package, but they’re not too costly. Overall, WordPress.com is a great way to start a nice, simple, starter blog.

I do have to warn you: Most bloggers opt to use WordPress self-hosted. This means they create a website running on WordPress.org’s open-source program. Having a self-hosted WordPress blog allows for monetization, more customization, and more flexibility.

There are plenty of pros to WordPress.com:

• Affordable
• Easy to begin
• Simple setup
• Free WordPress domain
• Optional ad program for monetization

But, as I noted, there are some cons:

• Advanced features cost money
• Not as many options as a regular site
• Cannot use AdSense or most other ad programs

However, plenty of bloggers start on WordPress.com and switch to self-hosting if they feel ready. WordPress.com may not be for professional, successful, money-making blogs, but it’s still great for starting a blog quickly and easily.

Test the Blogging Waters On Social Media

But social media isn’t exactly blogging, you say? Well, give it a chance. There are several ways to try your hand at blogging via social media.

Blog on Tumblr

First, take a look at Tumblr. Some users are busy with memes and casual posting. Still, plenty of people run their whole blogs on Tumblr.

You can start instantly. There’s no hosting or other costs. Plus, because it’s social media, you’ll instantly start seeing followers and shares. (Don’t forget: good hashtag use is key to this!)

There’s very limited customization, of course. And you can’t really make complex blog posts. Also, Tumblr limits NSFW and some other kinds of content. So overall, it isn’t the most flexible platform.

LinkedIn Also Has Blogging

What about LinkedIn? This is the perfect place for budding professionals. Content about finances, running small businesses, or workplace management spreads like wildfire on here.

If you’re on LinkedIn, you probably already know how to post to your feed. But, did you know you can create articles? With images, formatting, links, and everything?

Their editor is pretty simple, and all you need is an account to get started. Most of all, this is a great way to draw attention to your profile (AKA your resume). If you want to blog your way into another job or a particular industry, this is where to begin blogging.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Again, it’s not exactly the same as having your own site. There are limited customization options. Most of all, LinkedIn’s content is almost entirely about business or work issues and aimed at professionals. So if your niche or target audience isn’t those, LinkedIn may not be for you.

Or Other Social Media!

Of course, don’t forget Facebook or Twitter. Again, those aren’t exactly blogging, you question? True, but appreciate all the similarities. Bloggers create content (in the form of blog posts) and derive income by sharing affiliate links or promoting their products. Plenty of social media users create content and get paid for it.

I follow plenty of people on Facebook and Twitter who create informative and engaging posts, just with fewer characters than a blog post. Then, they share affiliate links or promote their Etsy, Gumroad, Shopify, or other storefronts. They convert social media posts into products sold, like many bloggers.

Consider social media posting short-form blogging. Maybe see if it suits you better than a real blog. Or try creating content and marketing on social media to practice for your own blog.

Start Posting on Medium

Medium is a nice, no-hassle way to start posting and maybe even get paid for it. Medium is basically a giant blogging collective. Everyone who wants to read or write pays to subscribe, and anyone can post.

Create a Medium post that meets the guidelines of the Medium Partner Program, and you get paid for all the times subscribers read your article. The payment isn’t much, but it’s nice to start getting paid for your content right away.

Medium writers can create short stories, poetry, advice posts, NSFW, news—practically anything. There are so many popular niches and publications of all types. Get your work into a big Medium publication, and you’ll see hordes of viewers.

Worth mentioning: If Medium decides your article is good and meets their guidelines, they’ll “curate” it and feature it to readers interested in your topic! Getting an instant audience for your writing is amazing and valuable in the blogging world.

(Pssst, I wrote a post comparing Medium versus WordPress directly, if you’re curious.)

Of course, plenty of writing doesn’t get curated. Medium never gives a reason for not curating a piece. Also, not everything you might want to blog about fits into their Partner Program guidelines (for example, listicles). You have to pay to get started. Finally, the site has a nice, sleek, minimalist look—which you obviously can’t customize much.

Start Blogging on Wix, Squarespace, Blogger, or WordPress

Are you looking to jump straight into the world of serious blogging? Then you’re going to need to buy your own hosting or domain and create your own website on a pro-level platform. Most bloggers start their journeys on a big platform like:

• Wix
• Squarespace
• Blogger
• WordPress

Most of these platforms are fairly easy for beginners. Pick a theme or use the platform’s editor (plenty are simple drag-and-drop programs). Customize your website as much as you like, and get posting!

Using Wix for free gets you a free domain (with Wix branding attached) and free hosting. But you can upgrade to Premium to get a custom domain and email if you like. Plus, if your site needs are simple, Wix’s editor can auto-generate your blog. Or, they have millions of customization options.

If you want to make money by creating an online store and promoting it with a blog, Squarespace might be a good choice for you. They make it super easy to create an online shop, even for digital products like ebooks or services. You can start with a free trial, but you have to pay for a plan after that (hosting cost included).

Photo by Caio from Pexels

If you have a Google account, you could already be creating a blog via Blogger. You can start at no cost with a BlogSpot domain. Like Wix, hosting is free, but you need to pay if you want a custom domain (AKA a website URL that doesn’t have your host’s branding shoved on it). Still, Blogger is a really simple choice great for new bloggers.

I chose to go with WordPress, which is a blogging favorite. You need to purchase a domain and hosting. I pay approximately $14 per month for these.

WordPress is super flexible and has a million themes and plugins. It’s the most popular choice for bloggers everywhere. As I noted, self-hosted WordPress is far better than WordPress.com for most users.

Pros & Cons of These Blogging Platforms

There are plenty of advantages to these platforms. You get your own domain name. You can post and market any content you like. You can easily incorporate and promote your products or affiliate links. Easier monetization is the reason most bloggers opt for self-hosting.

But, you often need to pay out a bit for these features. Also, all the customization options and the task of designing your own site may overwhelm you at first. And you need to find ways to draw readers in on your own, unlike social media or Medium.

How I Started to Blog

Personally, when I began my blogging journey, I took baby steps. As I mentioned, I didn’t know where to begin blogging until I did research. I started blogging on Medium. I wrote posts once a week and tried different ideas. I also built a following on social media, so I’d have an audience when I started my own site.

When I felt ready, I bought hosting and dive into making my own site. But, I still struggled and had to overcome some issues. The ultimate result? A self-hosted WordPress that I love and makes me a little bit of money back for my effort.

Wherever you begin to blog, I promise you that just taking the first steps is the most important part. It will take a while to create a successful blog, but you’ll thank yourself once you do. Your next step: Start blogging.

I hope this post helped you think about where to begin blogging on your journey and maybe even helped you decide! Do you have any questions about blogging platforms? Drop me a comment! And if this did help you, please give it a pin or share. I’m grateful for every one.

Mint Miller

Mint is a writer and digital marketing pro who lives in coastal Virginia with her family and one lovable pitbull. Her passions include helping people and businesses display their best side through the power of communication, buying her dog costumes he doesn’t want to wear, and talking all day about Batman.