These days, it's possible to make money online by creating a website for your business or passion. However, it can be difficult to differentiate your blog from all the other blogging sites out there.
According to 2o2o statistics from Statista, there are 31.7 million bloggers in the United States alone. Among these companies and individuals, some highly successful blog sites like the Huffington Post can generate up to $14 million per month, while other bloggers can earn much less.
Luckily, there are plenty of free blogging platforms that you can choose from that are easy to use, including WordPress, Medium, Tumblr, Wix, and Weebly. To get started on your new venture, here are some of the best blogging platforms that can help you create a free blog.
WordPress.com is one of the best blog hosting sites for aspiring writers who want to make money blogging for free. It should be noted that WordPress.org is a different blogging site, functioning as an open-source content management system. In contrast, WordPress.com is a more basic version that functions as a website builder.
WordPress.com has various levels of pricing, including free and paid plans. However, only the paid version comes with a free domain, so the free version may be best for a hobby blog or personal use. In contrast, WordPress.org is free to use but will cost around $11 per month to maintain including domain name, hosting, and more.
Blogger, also known as Blogspot is a free blogging service created by Google. It's one of the oldest blogging platforms out there, and hosts totally free blogs without If you are okay without having your own unique domain name. Otherwise, your website address will look something like "www.yournamehere.blogspot.com." unless you're willing to pay for a custom domain name through a third party.
Blogger is an entirely free blogging platform. Their free plan includes free blog hosting, which is great for a business on a budget looking to start a blog. This means that their themes, gadgets, and the other bells and whistles are completely free as well, helping you to stay focused on blogging. There are, however, third-party themes and plugins that you can pay for.
Tumblr was founded in 2007, and it's one of the best and completely free blogging platforms that can help individuals and businesses make money. It has a simple layout that can help you get started on earning, especially when it comes to publishing different types of media like photos and stories on their platform.
Tumblr's greatest strength is that it is a free blogging platform, meaning that there are no hosting or subscription fees if you don't want to pay for blogging. However, you may choose to pay a small amount for custom domain names or premium themes if you would like a more unique website on the Tumblr platform.
Another blogging platform that can help you make money is Medium. It enables bloggers to earn money through the Medium Partner Program, depending on how long someone reads your article. It is fundamentally a writers' platform that tackles a huge range of topics with millions of readers, and anyone who creates a free plan can get started right away.
In terms of writing, Medium might be the best blogging platform that can help boost visibility for your business. While it is free to create an account and publish your work, a reader can't view more than a certain number of free articles per month unless they pay for their membership, which costs $5 per month.
If you're trying to use a blogging platform to make money, it is possible to do so with a free blog and affiliate marketing. However, the vast majority of blog sites come with subscription fees and added costs for greater functionality in terms of selling products and more.
The best platform for earning money is WordPress.org, due to its ability to create a custom domain name and increase your professionalism. You can drive traffic to your blog posts through free marketing and paid advertising. The free alternative that is WordPress.com is also a great option.
The best blogging platforms that can help you start your site for free include Blogger and Medium, due to their ease of use. However, if your intended audience is of a younger generation, Tumblr is a great option when it comes to creating a trendier site.
Typically, individuals and businesses can use blogging platforms to make money online by choosing a niche market, attracting readers, and generating clicks through ads on Amazon Associates, Google AdSense, or getting started with affiliate marketing. Selling an e-book, informational guide, and other related products on a blogging platform is another great way to generate income.
If you're having trouble choosing a platform to get started with your blog, feel free to read up on our WordPress review for more in-depth information on whether this is the right platform for you. However, depending on your brand, content, target audience, and overall budget, you may prefer a different platform.
For more help on choosing the best platform for your needs, let PageKits help you! Contact PageKits today for a personalized comparison of blogging platforms.