Blogging is still relevant in 2021 and is one of the best tools available for promoting a new business. Plus, for beginners, it is one of the easier methods to learn. Blogging used to be a little more difficult since some web design knowledge was required but these days there are many platforms, and even free blogging platforms, where everything you need is provided:
The best thing about these providers is that they are already established and therefore have a high SERP ranking in Google. This means that should you write a blog on one of these platforms, you have a higher chance of showing up in organic search, although this is not guaranteed.
Less a blogger site and more a publishing platform, Medium is home to many talented writers and bloggers. The site acts as a collator, gathering all types of blog categories from different authors on the platform. While you aren’t going to get a following anything like celebrities or sports stars like Michael Jackson or Virat Kohli, this well-designed tool can help you get a good sense and a solid foothold of what blogging entails.
The writing suite is very easy to use, and if you have ever used any kind of word processor then you will be right at home. All the necessary editing tools are included in their editor however it is very basic.
Also, you will have minimal control over how the blog actually looks. There are some customization options but nothing like a full web tool like WordPress or Wix. This can be a little off-putting for anyone wishing to establish a brand identity, but Medium is really meant for article writing rather than running a business site.
Although Medium is not a full site platform and focuses more on writing, trending blogs get featured on the front page of the site which can get you more exposure, and Medium will pay money to popular blogs.
If you are looking for a full control web tool platform then Wealthy Affiliate is one of the best tools out there. This excellent site boasts free beginner training, free web hosting (on their own domain), WordPress integration, 24/7 support, and a very helpful community.
While you will get the best out of WA by signing up for their paid premium package, the free option is very generous and is an excellent starting point for anyone wishing to learn web design, how to use WordPress and blogging in general.
Free domains are available through their "siterubix" domain (yoursite.siterubix.com) but they will let you run it as your own. You can also purchase domains through their web hosting service which provides full support for up to 50 domains.
What makes Wealthy Affiliate an excellent choice is that it essentially an all-in-one package. Support, tools, development, and hosting are provided and you can build your blog using either their own WordPress integrated blogging tool or through a linked WordPress site and account.
Wealthy Affiliate provides free training courses for getting your site up and running and also on how to blog using WordPress. You can also write a personal blog for the site if you wish, which will further develop your skills.
One of the most impressive things about WA is the very vocal, active, and helpful community that is always ready to help in any way they can. Not only is the Live Community Chat feature an excellent tool, but users of the platform have also created many articles, videos, and tutorials for helping those starting out with blogging and online business.
While not a blogging platform, rather a social media platform, LinkedIn provides tools for writing articles similar to blogs. The advantage of writing for LinkedIn is that the platform focuses on being a centralized gathering place for professionals that connect in the same industry.
So, if you are an SEO blogger and you begin writing articles about SEO, you will certainly get noticed by other professionals in the SEO (and related) business. This can lead to more exposure from shares and mentions as well as employment opportunities.
The benefit of writing a blog on LinkedIn is that you will develop the skill of writing for a more professional audience rather than general blogging which may have a more passive or colloquial tone. Professional blogs on LinkedIn are highly shared and seen by some of the best eyes in any particular industry.
The high authority factor of LinkedIn means that articles you place on the site can also rank in Google searches, further helping with your exposure.
