What is a Blog? Why Blog? & How to start a Blog?

What is a Blog?

A blog in simple form is derived from the words Web+Log. It is a website or few web pages one may use to log personal information or to share information/knowledge. A Blog is generally frequently updated and will be popular if it reaches an audience of interest.

Why Blog?

For several reasons. It can be a substitute for a diary if you want to maintain it personally. It can be used to log you daily activities which you want to maintain for record purpose. Or it can be used to share your knowledge/experience. Several reasons for maintaining a blog is as follows:

1. To share information/knowledge/experience
2. To be updated, as the more you write/type the more you will research and learn
3. If you are in the academia or in a senior position of career it might be a requirement and/or a community service
4. If you have a knack for writing and maybe you want to publish your work
5. Finally, maybe to monetize as a good blog can be a good revenue source.

You can read more about why you should maintain a blog through the following articles:

• 9 Reasons You Should Blog (Forbes) - http://www.forbes.com/sites/danreich/2011/10/15/9-reasons-you-should-blog/#7475a5815ab0
• 10 Reasons You Should Start Blogging (The Huffington Post) - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-b-fishbein/10-reasons-you-should-sta_b_5326353.html

How to start a Blog?

There are many available blogging platforms. However, I will discuss of 4 platforms available and the best in my opinion.

Blogger

Blogger is an acquisition by Google and hence has a steady and scaleable platform. Some the features highlighted by Blogger is as follows:

Source: https://www.blogger.com/features

Some of the key features of Blogger is as follows:

• Google platform, hence easy to integrate with Google Login, G+, YouTube and Google services
• Better Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 
• Ability to monitize using Google AdSense
• Easy to use with Android Platform (Mobility)
• Good analytics provided within Blogger (However, you can integrate Google Analytics)

WordPress

WordPress is an Open Source online publishing platform that is preferred by millions. Like Blogger, WordPress has hundreds of themes which can be selected and provides good SEO and mobile friendly features. However, Free features are limited and a plan is required for some of the features.

Source: https://wordpress.com/pricing/

Weebly

Weebly is a very user friendly platform for creating a website/blog. It has nice drag and drop features with many themes and features. Following are some features:

 

Source: https://www.weebly.com/features/start-a-blog

However, there are plans to be purchased if you want certain customization such as Custom domians and to remove Weebly branding.

Source: https://www.weebly.com/pricing

Wix

Wix too has some nice features that makes it a very attractive Web platform that can be used to create a Blog. Following are features highlighted by Wix:

Source: http://www.wix.com/start/blog

The stunning templates, easy blog editor, social & promotional tools, video & photo galleries, etc.. makes it attractive. However, it too has Wix Branding for the Free service and Custom domains only in the paid versions.

Source: http://www.wix.com/upgrade/premium-plans

Based on above comparisons following would be the comparison of each Blogging platform:

Features	Blogger	Wordpress	Wix	Weebly
Easy of signing up	1 Step	6 steps	1 Step	1 Step
User friendliness	5	4	5	5
SEO	5, Uses Google platform	4	4	4
Custom Domains (URLs)	Allowed  Free	Not available for Free version	Not available for Free version	Not available for Free version
Google Analytics	FREE	Only through Business Plan	Only through a Plan	Only through a Plan
Rank	1	4	2	3

*Some of the cells above uses a rating from 1-5 where 5 is the highest and 1 is the lowest. Except in the Rank Column

The highest Rank is on Blogger.com . Whilst the merits of each platform is different one should use the best platform that suits the requirement. Please feel free to share your comments and opinions in the comments column below.

If you have a Gmail/Google Login creating a blog is straight forward. Just visit- Blogger.com login and click on New Blog and you will get a screen as follows:

Just type in a Title a new address mine is sasay.blogspost.com and I have created a custom domain -Yasas.me and linked it to this blog. However, if you want more information check the following video...

HAPPY BLOGGING!