10 Free Blogging Platforms – The creation of the internet has created many spaces for interaction, one of which is a blogging platform. Blogs have succeeded in bringing together writers and readers from all over the world without any boundaries. This meeting between the author and the reader on a blogging platform has succeeded in creating a very lively ecosystem because it is very useful.
In the world of blogging, writers certainly have a strategy so that the writing they make can be read by many people. Of course, the more people who read an article from the author, the greater the chance for the writer to get success. However, not only that, choosing the right blogging platform for writing publications also greatly affects the success of the writer.
In the era of the internet which is developing very rapidly, there are lots of alternatives to choose a blogging platform and it can be used for free. Each free blogging platform offers its own features and advantages. Therefore, this article will explain the 10 free blogging platforms along with their uniqueness, advantages and disadvantages. This article was created with the aim that prospective blog writers can have sufficient information before plunging into having the required blogging platform.
A. 10 Free Blogging Platforms
Of the various free blogging platforms available, there are the 10 most popular free blogging platforms most frequently used by Indonesian people. The following is an explanation regarding the best types of free blogging platforms, including:
1.WordPress.com
Currently, WordPress.com is arguably the most popular free blogging platform in the world. WordPress itself provides two main types of services, namely WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
The free blogging platform that WordPress has is WordPress.com. With WordPress.com, writers can publish content very easily, not only that, WordPress.com can also load all types of content, from text, images, video, to audio.
To register, the author only needs to register on the website. With one registration, the WordPress.com blogging platform can be used directly using the WordPress web hosting server.
This blogging platform is also very flexible, because writers can use it to add various kinds of plugins, change themes, and even create their own custom themes. Apart from that, WordPress.com users can also be used to find hundreds or even thousands of themes from online stores, office applications, to the latest technology. However, some additional features like that can only be used by WordPress.org as a paid version of WordPress platform.
2.Medium
Medium is a blogging platform that can be used for free. This alternative blogging platform is the most popular blogging platform after WordPress. The Medium platform itself was originally developed by Evan Williams. He is the former CEO of Twitter and one of the developers of Blogger, along with Biz Stone.
Medium is a dedicated platform for writers, journalists and other experts. Medium is expected to be a place for them to provide their thoughts in the form of essays or opinions. Uniquely, articles in the form of listicles in the form of news containing facts are less desirable on this blogging platform.
Since 2012, Medium has been used by many writers to share their essays or opinions. A clean, minimalist but attractive appearance makes people comfortable using this platform. In addition to a comfortable display, Medium also rejects various types of advertising and product promotions. This free blogging platform has the notion that advertising and endorsement activities make the world of content just a field for selling.
So, instead, Medium provides a Medium Partner Program for users who want to make money. This program with Medium is a form of medium attention to writers by providing incentives based on the length of time readers enjoy articles and the number of applause that users give for articles.
3. Tumblr
Tumblr is a free blogging platform that has a work system similar to Twitter. When users upload content, followers of these users can give love as a sign of liking, reblog or re-upload or distribute to other platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. In no time, a follower of a Tumblr blog will get content subscriptions on their Dashboard.
Some time ago, this free blogging platform had caused controversy after the Ministry of Communication and Information decided to block Tumblr. This blocking was allegedly because Tumblr was considered that some of the content that was distributed had violated the law. Tumblr has actually been blocked twice, namely in 2016 to 2019. However, now Tumblr is normally accessed as usual again.
The concept of Tumblr can actually be said to be Twitter in the form of a blog, but it’s not the same. Tumblr allows users to create seven different types of content. Like other blog platforms, Tumblr really supports uploading text content, photos, images, videos, to audio. Not only that, Tumblr also has an attractive appearance, especially for content such as quotes, links, and chat-like conversations. This attractive visual is what makes this free blogging platform very popular and liked by some bloggers.
4. Wattpad
Wattpad is a blogging platform created for fiction writers. Wattpad actually has the same characteristics as social media, but this platform is specifically for fictional stories. On Wattpad, account owners can exchange comments, create networks, and develop their own writing skills and abilities. In fact, there is a special writing competition on Wattpad.
In addition, Wattpad also provides opportunities for novice writers so that their work can meet with book publishers, film production houses, and even many works of fiction from Wattpad have been featured in TV series or web series.
However, like using social media, Wattpad requires its users to be smart in strategizing so that many people can read their writing. Authors on this blogging platform are required to always be productive in publishing their latest work. In addition, writers are also encouraged to use hashtags that are in accordance with what is trending, are active in the author’s community, and are active in promoting on other channels and social media. The goal is to encourage a large number of readers to open the author’s writings on Wattpad.
5. Wix
Wix is a solution for everyone who wants to get a website with a very attractive and artistic appearance. In this free blogging platform, users are not required to fully understand what coding or website settings are technically. Wix users only need to have an artistic taste in styling their website or blog. The rest, the task of optimizing the website has been taken over by Wix.
In using Wix, users only need to design by dragging and dropping. In some cases, Wix only needs to provide a name and checkmark customization. Not only that, Wix also provides the Wix Artificial Design Intelligence feature or abbreviated as Wix ADI. With the Wix ADI blogging feature, users only need to give a tick in a kind of questionnaire provided by Wix ADI. After that, Wix ADI will automatically carry out the commands that the user has given in the questionnaire.
Apart from Wix ADI, Wix also provides hundreds of professional templates that are different from other blogging platforms. Like other website developer platforms, Wix also offers additional applications that users can use to run applications as needed, such as social media to online stores.
Wix itself is here to challenge other website builders. Wix offers offers for website development from very simple for new users to very complex website development for users who are used to website development. Until now, Wix has been used by more than 125 million users worldwide.
6. Bloggers
This free blogging platform is certainly very familiar to internet users. Blogger was the first popular blogging platform at a time when Google was fairly accessible. Blogger was recorded as having existed in 2003 which was developed by Google through Pyra Labs. In general, bloggers are accessed using the blogspot.com domain address.
As a free blogging platform from Google, Blogger has many features that are integrated directly with applications or services from Google. At least Blogger users can make a profit from the Adwords, Adsense, and Google Analytics features in it.
In addition, the guarantee of security and convenience provided as part of Google is a positive value for this blogging platform. Blogger users will automatically be given an SSL certificate on their blog. This certificate will be useful to always ensure the security of the blog and prevent the blog from hacking attempts.
The development of this website platform is also relatively easy. The navigation features provided have been arranged to make it easier for users who have never even opened a blog. Not only that, Blogger also provides a custom domain feature that can be used to create websites, it’s just that this feature is paid.
7. Penzu
With the slogan “Your Private Online Journal”, Penzu.com offers a free blogging platform to share journals with a high level of security. Penzu can also keep user journals safe with double password protection and very strong military encryption. Penzu uses this high level of security to ensure that what users enter is safe in the Penzu Vault.
Not only that, the flexibility offered by Penzu is also an attraction in itself, including the three types of blogs offered: Daily Diary (public), Expressive Journal (private), and Travel Journal.
8. Webs
Webs.com is a website that is quite easy to use in building attractive sites. Users can make adjustments to the appearance of the browser-based interface simply by dragging and dropping elements to adjust the page. This platform is perfect for users who want to create a professional website like a company profile. Apart from creating websites such as company profiles, users can also create various types of websites according to their respective goals and uses.
9. Weebly
Weebly or Weebly.com is a free blogging platform that has many features to help users compile and build websites quickly; without the need for coding techniques. Weebly focuses on website builders, this is what makes it very easy for users to be able to create personal, business, blog, portfolio and event websites. Weebly also provides a variety of themes that can be used directly without having to build from scratch.
Weebly.com itself offers an offer in the form of website development with drag and drop only. Much like Wix, users can easily customize the look without having to deal with lines of code. In fact, Weebly provides more than 200 excellent quality applications to make website development simpler. These applications include scheduling, live chat, accounting and so on.
10. Ghosts
Finally, this free blogging platform was founded by John O’Nolan in 2013. Ghost can be a solution for users who are still confused about which platform to jump on. This free blogging platform is a new open source platform and might be able to compete with WordPress and Blogger. That’s because Ghost is written using the JavaScript programming language.
One of the advantages of the Ghost blogging platform which is very interesting is its navigation feature. This navigation feature can be easily understood even by novice blog users. In addition, because it is written using the JavaScript programming language, Ghost has a very fast access time.
B. Conclusion
There are many free blogging platforms that can be a means of spreading user writing easily and for free. In addition to offering convenience and cheapness, the blog provider also provides a variety of themes and an increasingly attractive appearance so that it is not boring for visitors to read the articles in it. Users can also use several platforms at once to spread the writings or content they want to write.