Blogging 101: So you want to start a blog- now what?

So you've decided to start a blog... What do you do now? The first step in starting to a blog is deciding to start that blog! Next step would be to decide whether you want to use Blogger or Wordpress. How do you know which one is for you? Here are some pros and cons that I found of each:

Blogger
Pros:

• Easy to use interface when it comes to posting.
• Easy to upload and edit templates/layouts.
• You can have your posts automatically posted to Twitter and Google+.
• You can see and use previous pictures you've uploaded.
• You can have as many authors as you need.

Cons:

Drop-down option

• Blogger tends to have sitewide issues that affect most users.
• Some spam comments slip through the filter without notification.
• Some videos/pictures cannot be uploaded even if they have the right extension.
• If you have a post with pictures and links centered to the left, it's hard to edit the HTML the way you want it to look.
• You can't have any subpages with a drop-down option.
• People who want to leave a comment must have a Google account.

WordPress

Pros:

• Easy to post.
• Can pin a post to make it stay on top of other posts.
• People who want to leave a comment do NOT have to have a WordPress account.
• You can easily move Blogger templates and archives to Wordpress.
• Comments are easy to find.
• You can add many different widgets to side bars instead of always going to "Layout" on Blogger.

Cons:

• Templates are generic, unless you decide to make your own or find a free template.
• What you see as your draft a post is not necessarily what others will see.
• It's not exactly user-friendly when it comes to finding your way around the settings.

As you can see, Blogger has more cons than WordPress, but that does not mean that Wordpress is better than Blogger and vice versa. It all depends on which fits you and your blog best. Try each out one to make sure you find the one you will enjoy using.

Once you have decided on which platform you want to use, stay with that platform. Flipping from one to the other will not only confuse your readers, it can also mess up your stats and traffic.

How do you get your blog noticed? Tell everyone you know about your blog! Find blogger groups on Facebook. Search for blog forums and communities. Ask your favorite blogger if they can help. Networking with other bloggers can help you feel more comfortable with your blog.

Next on Blogging 101: Social Media & Your Blog!