How to Choose the Best Blog Platform for Your Business Needs

Guest Aidan Hijleh serves up some blog platform advice today.

The business benefits of operating a blog are very compelling. It is a tool that is allowing companies of all sizes across multiple sectors to accommodate needs that range from engaging customers to driving in an even bigger audience from the search engines. However, for those on the outside looking in, getting started can be confusing, and it is largely because there are so many options to keep in mind. ‘

When it comes to blogging, one of the toughest decisions a business will ever have to make is what platform to go with. You have several to choose from, with options ranging from free to premium. It can be a frustrating experience no matter what, but the following factors will help you choose the blog platform that best supports the needs of your business.

Open or Closed

Blog platforms generally fall into two categories: free or paid. The paid kind are pretty much self-explanatory in the sense that you obviously have to pay something to use them. The free ones typically have a more interesting and mystical aura to them. This is because many of the free blogging platforms are open-source software, which in most cases, means you are allowed to modify the source code and customize them to meet your specific needs.

Does you business demand the utmost flexibility in terms of design and customization possibilities? If so, then an open-source platform like WordPress might be the answer. Are you more concerned about ease of use, stability, and ongoing support? If the answer is yes, then you might benefit more from a commercial platform such as ExpressionEngine. Understanding the ins and outs of open vs. closed software often goes a long way in this important decision.

Hosted or Self-Hosted

Another factor that can aid in your decision is the hosting aspect. Even the WordPress software, which is free no matter what, forces you to choose in this regard. With this platform, you have the option to host a blog with the organization on WordPress.com, or on your own server (or your web hosting company’s) by grabbing the software from WordPress.org and installing it yourself. I recommended self-hosted for two reasons:

1. It’s better for your image. When you host a free blog on WordPress.com, you get a web address something along the lines of “mybusinessblog.wordpress.com”. Taking the self-hosted route allows you to use your own chosen domain like “mybusinessblog.com”, which just looks more professional. The domain issue is a seemingly small deal that can make a huge difference.

2. It’s more flexible. Being able to tap into the core of the WordPress platform is a luxury that is only available to those running the self-hosted version of the software. Otherwise, you are stuck with a basic set of features and very little power in the way of customization.

Blog Features

Most blog software offers the same set of basic features. This includes stuff like the ability to edit posts from your web browser, add images to your posts, allow readers to post comments, and so forth. What you should worry about are the specific features your business needs to make the most of this blogging thing. Here are some examples:

- Pages. Necessary for essentials like your “About Us” or “Company Overview” sections.

- Multi-user support. Accommodates blogs that require multiple authors or administrators.

- Spam control. Prevents or reduces spammers from abusing your comments section.

- Social integration. Makes it convenient to share your posts on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Features dictate what you can do with your blog, so identify your needs, and set your focus on options that will satisfy them.

Management Interface

Last but not least is the management interface, one of the most overlooked aspects of blogging. Whether it’s called a control panel of dashboard, most software offers some sort of interface that allows you to handle all the administrative tasks. Some interfaces cater to novices, others are specially made for tech savvy users who are familiar with the finer aspects of system administration in web the environment.

I highly recommend learning as much as you can about the management console before committing to any blogging platform. If your administrators are not comfortable with the interface, then chances are, that software is not right for your business.

It Pays to Be Choosy

The blog platform for your business is something you want to give careful consideration to. It is not uncommon for organizations to upgrade to different software, but I don’t recommend making a habit out of it. Choose right the first time, and that will be something you rarely have to do — if at all.

Aidan Hijleh is a freelance copywriter and serves as the Non-Profit Partnership Liaison for Benchmark Email. Aidan advocates free email marketing services to assist with the flourishing of grassroots organizations.

This entry was posted on 2013/01/22, 12:01 am and is filed under Leveraging tools. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

57 Comments

At 2013.01.25 21:59, Dusan said:

Definitely recommend wordpress, its the best CMS out there
Dusan’s last post…Rick Ross – Box Chevy

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At 2013.01.26 19:40, Tim Potter said:

Thank You for this it is helping me make a decision. I am new to blogging so every little bit of information I can gather is important. I think I had tunnel vision with features and not looking at many other things. Like hosting.

Thanks Again.
Tim Potter’s last post…Funeral home finds rope

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At 2013.01.27 23:17, arafat said:

i think at first everyone should go for the free plan first for learning. and when u are doing blogging for business you need to go for paid services.

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At 2013.01.28 06:47, accountants lymington said:

Thanks for the information. So…Wordpress is the way to go?

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At 2013.01.29 05:13, Nathan said:

You have mentioned some amazing tips in your post to choose the best blog platform keeping our business needs in mind. If we wish make business from our blogs, we need to make them more attractive and convincing to the audience. Choosing the right platform now looks easier after reading your post. Thanking for sharing.

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At 2013.01.29 08:05, How To Make Him Want You More said:

Hi, A lot of good info here about choosing a best blog platform. I personally use WordPress and recently I have started using Tumblr which is working great for me.
How To Make Him Want You More’s last post…Ways To Make a Man Want You More updated Tue Jan 29 2013 6:40 am EST

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At 2013.01.29 15:44, neva masquerade said:

been there done that) self-hosted’s good for self interest however if you’re serious – gotta pay for hosting + domain.. the reason is obvious – in order to do onpage seo u need an access to code which free wordpress doesnot allow..

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At 2013.01.29 16:22, Tammy said:

Thanks for the article. I’ve had a great experience with Drupal for many home services websites (plumbing and heating, carpet cleaners for example). It’s really appealing to a lot of small-medium companies to have a means of updating their sites on a regular basis.

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At 2013.01.30 01:46, Helen Wright said:

Well i use word press I think beginners should use free plan for learning Well detailed post Informative
Helen Wright’s last post…Home

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At 2013.01.30 04:48, Ellie said:

Hi – great article – I have just started a blog and am using WordPress – still trying to get to grips with editing the theme and stuff but it seems OK so far! It’s good if you don’t want anything too fancy. Although there are some good plugins so I don’t really see why you’d pay for one..
Ellie’s last post…The Green Deal: Is it set to be a flop or a triumph?

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At 2013.01.30 07:46, KevinR said:

I agree, choosing the right CMS is essential, and doing so sets you up for blogging success right from the get-go!

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At 2013.01.31 00:19, Dyon said:

Very Good post, thanks for sharing. it is very essential to have a plan before selecting a platform for your blog, because every platform has its own special benefits. Tumlr is best for me & the best part is, it is free.

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At 2013.02.01 05:04, Sam said:

I use blogger, It allows advertisement. I am looking for a blogging platform which let you show advertisement on its free account. I have got a lot of useful information here. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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At 2013.02.05 17:28, work from no home system review said:

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At 2013.02.06 00:05, shaunmicky said:

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At 2013.02.06 03:24, Leena Dasot said:

Hello, I am a new blogger and I am using Word press. You mentioned lots of things which are really good for publish our blog in a perfect platform. I will be taking advantage through your blog. Thanks

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At 2013.02.06 03:24, ramnivas said:

Finding the best blog is needed to every one to develop their business level to an extended position thanks for the share

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At 2013.02.06 05:15, Alexander Kloeble said:

I really enjoy reading this article. It is indeedly very helpful.

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At 2013.02.06 05:27, Jemma Taylor said:

If you have the technical skills WordPress (dot org) is the best choice, it’s very flexible and easy to maintain. Although, it could take you a while to figure out how to add some plugins and modify the theme, but it’s worth it at the end!

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At 2013.02.08 11:34, Chad Levin said:

Thanks for posting the great article. This article really helpful for new blogger who want to find the good blogs. It also helpful how could they select the best free blogging sites except WordPress. Keep me more updates.
Chad Levin’s last post…Google Dance Prevails Along With Page Rank Update February 4 2013

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At 2013.02.12 05:46, Enchanted Jewelry by Laura said:

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At Enchanted Jewelry by Laura, we really care about the products we sell, and we’d like to share our most important services and products with you. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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At 2013.02.12 18:25, Enchanted Jewelry by Laura said:

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My DIY Craft Store is family-owned and operated right here in Shelby Township, Michigan. Since our company opened in 2006, we’ve treated every customer like they were part of our family. Other companies may offer similar product, but our product is unique and hand made by creative hand, and come with a personal touch.

With a lot to offer, My DIY Craft Store is the only Jewelry craft store in Shelby Township truly the place where Americans can have the unique handcrafted jewelries at the cheaper price but high quality products.

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At 2013.02.14 06:38, Senorita said:

Firstly, thanks for sharing you knowledge. I been struggling with getting traffic to my blog and I hope that your advices will help me increase the amount of visitors. Guest blogging seems like a nice idea. Thanks for sharing this useful resourceful information.

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At 2013.02.15 14:56, vehicle wrap Brands Imaging said:

Thanks for posting some great and informative article which helpful for those who want to choose the best blog platform keeping our business in mind, and making our blog more informative and attractive so that visitor stay as long as possible on the website or blog.

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At 2013.02.18 16:41, Daniel noah said:

Thanks for posting great and informative blog .your advices will help me increase the visitors’ am waiting your next post

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At 2013.02.18 22:42, Steve Cooper said:

Thank you for the very informational article. I was indecisive on what platform to use for the first full site I just built. I finally chose to go with the masses and built on the WP platform and I’m glad I did. It is for a small construction company in a small town and when I started 3 weeks ago, the Alexa rank was in the 19M’s. Thanks to WP (and partly to my content I hope), the site is now ranked below 2M globally. I see the pros and cons of all three platforms but for me its WP all the way…

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At 2013.02.22 12:52, colleges las Vegas said:

I really enjoy when I read this article best platform is really need to forward your business thanks for sharing with me.

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At 2013.02.24 17:21, Oshadami MJ said:

good post, for my company, we are using wordpress because it gives us better control over the blog.

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- At 2013.03.01 14:24, Harvey@dggarage said:
  
  Great post for those who can create blog it give more positive ideas to the blogger thanks to share
  
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At 2013.02.27 22:59, logo design said:

This is really practical info thanks

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At 2013.03.02 18:44, SEO India Blog said:

As I know that web 2.0 is a good platform if you want to promote your content but your content should be powerfully. Otherwise it will reflect negative results. And WordPress is one of the most power full web 2.0 properties have many attribute as per your convenient. I use these sites to promote our website branding and for the content popularity.

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At 2013.03.04 12:09, Retaining Walls Coventry OH said:

Thank you for sharing this article. I have been playing with the idea of adding a blog to my own landscaping website, but being a novice, to say the least, I really don’t know where to begin. I see from your post that I should really put some consideration into it first. It seems to be take the time doing it right the first time or spend the time fixing it later.

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At 2013.03.06 09:51, 訂花服務 said:

i personally would suggest wordpress, free hosting by wordpress should be good for beginner

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At 2013.03.06 09:53, 送花服務 said:

for experienced blogger, a shared hosting server with wordpress installed would be the best choices for them

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At 2013.03.07 13:30, Paul Carla said:

A blog allows you to build a fuller picture of who you are. Most people will meet you through other places…but if they like what they read on Twitter, then they’ll follow you back to your blog and find out more about who you are. Blog give me lot of benefits some as..

Give your Company a Face and Voice
Boost Your Traffic
It Allows for Better Customer Service
It Establishes you as An Expert
It Gives you a Voice
Thanks for sharing your ideas it’s very useful.

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At 2013.03.11 08:10, Cyberlodge said:

Self hosted blogs seems to be much more better when it comes to blogging. Examples ones like wordpress, joomla.

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At 2013.03.11 08:13, Free PSX ROMS said:

It all depends on the budget of the blogger. Some will choose non-self hosted ones.

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At 2013.03.13 00:41, Mohankumar said:

great and powerful blog . Im always interested in seo and these techniques really are very helpful . Please submit more info as you insight is brilliant .

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At 2013.03.15 12:04, Office Trailers for Rent Toledo OH said:

I have been trying to incorporate a business blog on my company’s website, so I’ve been trying to get the ins and outs of it down before presenting it to my boss. I would just like to say that this article was very helpful in getting me started with making the basic decisions for our new business blog. Now I think I can make a blog that is suitable and usable for our business and its intent.

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At 2013.03.17 17:21, Rencontre lesbienne said:

I use wordpress cause it is simple and rapid to create and the PR is very interesting. My blog was quicliy indexed by Google and I am in the first page on my top keyword. So you should use WordPress to create your business blog

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At 2013.03.18 13:09, Furnace Repair Akron OH said:

Very nice article. You definitely know what you’re talking about (I’ve read several of your posts today and I’m impressed). I’m not saying that you can’t build an excellent blog without spending money and using freebies, but, it can be a challenge, and sometimes the price you pay for other software and plugins can be justified by the convenience and time to be saved.

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At 2013.03.27 02:23, costumes said:

I’ve used joomla and wordpress for clients blogs and websites. For me the choice depends on which cms has the best plugins for the task at hand.

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At 2013.03.28 15:17, Ibrahim Abdullahi said:

WordPress is more easier and best platform to use. I migrated my first blog from blogger to wordpress and within 2 months, i couldn’t use blogger anymore, so the second blog joined the club. Thanks for the artilcle

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At 2013.03.30 13:45, kate jackson said:

wow. you really amazed me with your posts. i am using wordpress and im happy coz it’s easy to navigate, especially im a newbie in this field.
kate jackson’s last post…10 Ways to Save on Your Online Shopping

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At 2013.04.03 01:45, ramiszaro said:

While Reading this post me i have got some diplomatic ideas related to guest bloggers because the credit goes to wordpress it shows the variety of needs in making a business thanks for the Awesome post.

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At 2013.04.05 15:30, Las Vegas traffic School said:

Nice post! putting very good and informative ideas heads. Thanks for sharing with me.

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At 2013.04.06 12:45, Dardenplumbing said:

Good post. You give the best blog platform to increase business. It’s really helps to me. Thanks for sharing…….

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At 2013.04.18 19:21, Iphone Application Development said:

Thank you so much of this great Article. It is very essential to have a plan before selecting a platform for your blog, because every platform has its own special benefits. If we wish to make a business from our blogs, we need to make them more attractive and convincing to the audience.

[Reply]