The internet has revolutionized the business landscape, by making it possible to easily reach customers worldwide. Similarly, blogs have emerged as a popular way to generate income online. With numerous platforms available to launch a blog, which is the best for monetizing your content? Join us as we dive into the top blogging platforms and discover their money-making potential!
What is a Blogging Platform?
A blogging platform is a service for creating and publishing a blog online.
What is Blog Hosting?
Blog hosting involves storing your blog’s files and data on a server, making them accessible to your readers. A blog host equips you with the tools and resources needed to create and maintain your blog, including a custom domain name, templates, and expert support. Most blog hosts also offer security, backup, and spam protection features. With various blog hosts to choose from, it’s essential to select one that provides the features and support necessary for your success.
How do beginner bloggers make money?
Blogging can be lucrative in several ways, with your earnings varying based on your strategy. Advertising is one option, where you can sell ad space on your blog or join an advertising network like Google Adsense. Alternatively, affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services on your blog and earning commissions on generated sales. Lastly, you could consider selling products or services directly from your blog. The income potential depends on factors like your blogging niche, content quality, and audience size.
Why It’s Hard to Make Money on a Free Blogging Platform
While starting a blog is an excellent way to share your thoughts and ideas, making money may require investing in a paid platform. Why is monetizing a free blogging platform so challenging? Here are a few reasons:
1. Free platforms often impose strict limits on ad types, restricting access to more profitable ad opportunities.
2. Limited customization options on free platforms can lead to slow loading times, negatively impacting search rankings.
3. You might quickly outgrow the limited storage space provided.
4. Your blog may lack a polished, professional look and have a subdomain, which appears less professional than a custom domain.
5. Free platforms typically lack features and tools to grow your blog, making it harder to attract readers and generate income.
It’s generally recommended to invest in a paid platform if you plan to monetize your blog.
How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform and What to Look For
Purpose:
Blogging platforms can be an excellent source of income. Regularly sharing content attracts potential customers, and engaging with your audience in the comments section helps build relationships.
Monetization:
Monetizing your blog is essential for generating income, and there are several popular methods to achieve this. Advertising, either through direct partnerships or networks like Google Adsense, can provide steady income based on impressions or clicks. Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission on sales through unique links. Another method is to promote brands’ products or services through sponsored blog posts. Additionally, selling digital products like e-books or courses, physical products such as crafts or merchandise, or offering services like consulting or coaching can all be lucrative. Finally, memberships and subscriptions that grant access to premium content can generate recurring revenue from loyal followers.
Control and Customization:
Control and customization are crucial aspects of a blogging platform that will help you stand out in a sea competition. The right platform will offer a balance between design options, plugin availability, content versatility, and technical control, tailored to your unique needs and preferences. When considering design, some platforms provide pre-made themes, while others allow for custom designs. Plugins can greatly enhance your blog’s functionality, but availability varies among platforms. Additionally, versatile content options such as images, videos, and interactive elements contribute to a more engaging blog. Lastly, the level of control over technical aspects like site structure and coding will depend on your technical abilities and preferences.
Cost:
While some fantastic blogging platforms are free, like WordPress, other costs are associated with running a blog, such as web hosting, domains, and themes. Platforms like Wix offer paid plans with additional customization options, storage space, and support.
Skill Level:
Consider your skill level and blogging purpose when choosing a platform. WordPress is popular among businesses and professionals, but it may be more challenging for beginners. Platforms like Blogger and Tumblr are user-friendly and require less technical knowledge, making them ideal for simple blogs.
Ease of Use:
A platform with more features will likely be harder to navigate and use. For beginners, intuitive platforms like Blogger and Tumblr are ideal, while more experienced bloggers may prefer feature-rich platforms like WordPress, despite their steeper learning curve. Consider your comfort level with technology and the time you’re willing to invest in learning a new platform, as well as your blog’s purpose. If you’re starting a personal blog or testing the waters, a user-friendly platform is best. However, for professional blogs or online businesses, investing time in learning a more advanced platform like WordPress could be worthwhile.
Compatibility:
Imagine you’re building a dream blog, the ultimate online destination for your audience. You’ll need it to play nicely with other services that help you run your digital empire, right? Compatibility is a make-or-break factor when choosing a blogging platform. Like a jigsaw puzzle, you’ll want your blog to fit seamlessly with critical third-party tools such as payment processors, email marketing buddies, e-commerce partners, and data-crunching analytics. A blogging platform that’s a team player not only makes your life easier but also amps up the user experience for your audience, paving the way for your blog’s meteoric rise to fame!
Best Blogging Sites to Make Money
1. WordPress.org
Picture this: you want a versatile blogging platform that’s a breeze to set up and packs a punch. Enter WordPress.org! It’s no wonder it’s a favorite among bloggers.
Top hosting providers offer a one-click installation, and you can either start with a free theme or browse thousands of stunning third-party themes for purchase. With a plethora of plugins and monetization options, your professional online presence is just a few clicks away. And the cherry on top? You own all your content!
That’s pretty cool, right? Just remember that you’ll need to cover hosting costs, and mastering WordPress might take some effort, so gear up for tackling that learning curve.
2. Ghost
Ghost isn’t your average blogging platform. It’s tailored for bloggers who mean business. Boasting a clean and user-friendly interface, Ghost offers a range of custom themes and easy editing.
Plus, it’s built to help you grow your online biz with features like newsletters, paid subscriptions, and analytics.
As of August 2022, Ghost now has its own native commenting platform, but you can still choose a third-party system if that’s more your jam.
3. Wix
Wix makes building a website feel like child’s play with its uber user-friendly drag-and-drop builder.
Additionally, they provide numerous business and eCommerce tools, though be warned – you’ll be shelling out anywhere from $16 to $45 per month, which could feel steep for some budgets.
4. Medium
Think of Medium as a side gig for blogging.
It’s free to set up, and its built-in community can help your content get noticed without heavy marketing or SEO.
However, it doesn’t allow traditional advertising methods like banner ads, limiting your revenue options. Instead, you can charge a $5 monthly subscription fee for access to your posts. It’s perfect for some extra cash but not ideal for a larger business.
5. SquareSpace
You’ve likely seen your favorite YouTuber promoting SquareSpace, and for a good reason. It’s got a fantastic drag-and-drop builder and loads of templates, plus it plays well with eCommerce tools. You can also sell digital products, schedule appointments, and even add a paywall.
But just a heads up, you’ll need to open your wallet for this one – their exclusively paid plans start at $23 per month and climb up to $49.
6. HubPages
HubPages is a community-based blogging platform where you can earn money by publishing articles, running ads, and affiliate marketing. It’s perfect for sharing your work with fellow writers.
But keep in mind that you don’t own your site, and revenue options are limited. HubPages is more of a side hustle than a primary income source.
7. Jimdo
Jimdo is ideal for the self-employed who need a straightforward blog and shop for their products. It doesn’t have all the features of WordPress, but their plans start at just $14 per month. The themes are minimalistic, so if that’s your style, Jimdo could be a great fit.
8. Vocal.Media
Vocal.Media is giving Medium a run for its money.
Users report higher earnings since Vocal.Media pays per view and offers bonuses for milestones. Plus, readers can tip or make recurring donations.
But like Medium, you don’t own your blog, so we’d recommend this platform only as a side hustle.
9. Weebly
Think of Weebly as the wallet-friendly sibling of Wix and SquareSpace. You’ll find many similar perks, like tailor-made themes and a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder, but without burning a hole in your pocket.
The catch? Weebly has a limited theme selection, with fewer than 100 options at the time of writing. If you can find one that suits your taste, great! If not, you might want to explore other blogging platforms to make money.
10. Tumblr
Picture Tumblr as a delightful blend of a blog and a social media platform, enabling users to generate and share bite-sized content.
Despite some drawbacks, Tumblr’s unique benefits make it a viable blogging contender. It’s super user-friendly, which makes it a breeze for blogging newbies to share their creations. Plus, its vast and engaged community can be invaluable when growing your blog’s audience.
Monetization options include Google Adsense, ad networks, sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and links to your online store. However, Tumblr falls short in customization and monetization flexibility compared to other platforms.
But if you’re after a user-friendly platform with social media flair and a built-in community, give Tumblr a go.
11. Substack
As a fairly recent addition to the blogging scene, Substack has rapidly become a popular platform for monetizing content since its 2017 debut.
It makes setting up paid subscriptions a cinch and provides readers with a straightforward way to support their favorite bloggers.
Substack isn’t without its challenges, though. For example, the platform takes a cut of each subscription, which can hinder earnings potential. Additionally, hosting content on Substack means forfeiting some control over presentation and sharing.
12. Write.as
Write.as is an anonymous blogging platform that keeps things simple. Click “Start writing” on the homepage, and you’re off!
The platform has some perks. There are no ads on free plans, and you can monetize through reader micropayments and exclusive paywalled content. The Pro Plan, priced at $6, even includes newsletter blasts for affiliate marketing.
However, Write.as emphasizes minimalism and a distraction-free experience, resulting in basic, unexciting themes.
13. Blogger
Blogger is a user-friendly, beginner-friendly platform that’s free to use, but rather basic. For those looking to create a blogging business, Blogger’s limitations can be stifling.
By default, you’ll have a Blogger subdomain, but you can purchase and redirect a custom domain. Integrating Adwords for monetization is simple since Google owns Blogger. However, the platform’s limited themes and third-party add-ons make migration to a new platform a hassle. Thus, we recommend something more robust.
14. Kajabi
Kajabi is your all-in-one marketing solution, ideal for educational content and online courses. It lets you build landing pages, sales funnels, email lists, newsletters, and blogs to drive traffic and generate leads.
The main hang up we have is the price. Plans range from $119 to $319 per month. However, if you’re serious about your business, Kajabi’s comprehensive services are worth it.
15. Twitter
Twitter has evolved from a platform for joining topical conversations to one for sharing longer-form content. Users chain multiple tweets together and leverage hashtags to gain exposure and grow their following.
From there, you can direct followers to your blog, online store, or affiliate marketing content. Twitter’s Super Follows feature even allows you to charge for exclusive tweets, making it ideal for longer-form content.
Also, if you’re willing to pay $8/month to get the verified badge, your content will appear at the top of everyone’s feeds.
16. NewsBreak
NewsBreak stands out as a niche platform for news and current events, enabling locals to report on unfolding stories. To monetize, you need at least 100 registered followers and 10 published articles.
While this can provide supplemental income, NewsBreak takes a percentage of each article’s earnings, affecting profitability. Nonetheless, it’s an excellent option for dedicated writers seeking extra cash.
17. Wattpad
Wattpad is a storytelling-focused platform with a built-in audience of 90 million readers. As you gain recognition, you can publish stories and potentially connect with executives to adapt them into movies or TV shows.
Wattpad offers in-story ads and a Creator Program for monetization. However, this platform is specific to storytelling and isn’t suitable for other types of content.
18. Steemit
Steemit brings innovation to blogging as a blockchain-based platform, rewarding top-quality content through user upvotes and its own cryptocurrency.
You can use these coins on their platform or exchange them for other cryptocurrencies or fiat currency. They use a Reddit-like UI, so for that reason we consider it more of a social media platform, but we still thought we should mention it.
Final Thoughts
So, which is the best blogging platform for you? It all depends on your goals.
If you want flexibility and options, WordPress is likely your top choice. If ease of use is your priority, Blogger or Tumblr might be more suitable.
Take the time in the beginning to choose the right platform because migrating your blog down the road can be a huge pain.
Looking for more blogging tips? We’ve got a whole section for that!
