Choose the right Blog platform

Original Address??? | Chinese Translation: iyee

"If a worker wants to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools" - A Blog platform not only affects work efficiency but also directly relates to your long-term development.

After you've decided to join the Blogging ranks, choosing an appropriate Blog platform should be the next important issue to consider. Regarding the selection of Blog platforms, we often hear these questions from beginners:

"Which Blog platform should I choose?"

"Should I use the free Blog provided by BSP or pay for an independent Blog?"

"Can I start with a free Blog and then upgrade later?"

This article cannot directly tell you which Blog platform you need, as every platform has its own advantages and applicable audience. How to choose a Blog platform depends on yourself.

Below is professional Blogger Darren's advice that can guide scholars in choosing a Blog platform. Yee translated it and made some edits and partial modifications.

Questions to Consider Before Choosing a Blog Platform

Like making any major decision, choosing a Blog platform is a question worth spending time on. It is recommended not to jump into the first Blog platform you encounter - do some research, try out a few options over a period of time, and then make a decision. Before starting to choose a Blog platform, there are a few questions that need answering:

What is your goal? - To choose a Blog platform, the most important thing is to first consider what you expect from your Blog. Of course, predicting the future of your Blog requires some time and imagination. Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability:

Will I stick to Blogging long-term?

What is the theme of my Blog?

Am I Blogging out of interest or aiming for professional development?

Can I foresee adding ads to my Blog in the future?

You may have many other questions that need answers, but remember the responses to the above questions. They will greatly guide you in finding a Blog platform because some platforms suit casual enthusiasts, while others are more professional.

What is your budget? - Blog platforms range from free to expensive (indirectly referring to Movable Type - Yee supplement). You may need to pay for the following "three essentials":

The Blog software itself

Storage space (usually web hosting)

Domain name

Different Blog platform solutions correspond to different service levels. Sites like Blogger.com and wordpress.com provide not only Blog platforms but also free domains and storage space. Others, like Wordpress.org (not wordpress.com, they have different domain names), offer free program code but you need to purchase your own storage space and domain. There are also more complex ones like MovableType, which charge through licenses for platform usage (the fee depends on the number of Blogs you use and whether the Blog is for commercial, personal, educational, or non-profit purposes - the last free version was 2.661 - Yee supplement), and then you still need to handle storage space and domain names on your own.

In the early stages, you may face other expenses:

Design - Although all platforms have free templates, if you want personalized visual effects, you either need to learn design methods yourself or hire someone to create a template for you (which may cost money).

Blog Tools - You can buy many tools that help with Blogging. These may include traffic statistics systems (you can apply for free versions, but paid versions offer more functions), offline Blog publishing tools, etc. If you're a beginner, you may not need many Blog tools at first - but as you delve deeper, you'll find them very helpful.

What is your computer skill level? - This is a crucial factor in choosing a Blog platform. If you lack experience in setting up Blogs or creating web pages and have limited understanding of computer technology, you should choose easier platforms (PJblog is recommended - Yee supplement). Additionally, you need to supplement some basic knowledge. (iyee.cn provides content in this area.)

Besides self-study, another method is to seek help from tech-savvy individuals (for a fee or as a favor). One of the greatest aspects of Blogging is that most Blog platforms form good-natured communities where many enthusiastic netizens help solve various problems in forums.

Blog Hosting Services (BSP) vs Independent Blog Platforms

Now is the time to consider your choices and answer questions you might encounter during this process.

Will you choose Blog Hosting Services or Independent Blog Platforms?

The previous section mentioned the budget issues related to different Blog platform solutions. In fact, Blog platforms are mainly divided into two camps: BSP and Independent Blogs (some fall somewhere in between, which can be quite complicated).

Blog Hosting Services (BSP)

Most Bloggers start their Blogging journey with this method because BSPs are easy to operate and offer free services. The most popular BSP globally is Blogger.com - of course, there are others, such as MSN Spaces, Blogcn.com, Donews, etc.

The common features of these BSP services are:

You can set up a Blog by completing a few simple application steps.

You will be assigned a URL, usually adding your username before or after the BSP's domain. For example, the relatively famous Female Blogger Li Anqi on Blogbus - her URL is [...]