Best Blogging Websites, 1-3

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3. Blogger (blogger.com)
If I'm ranking the website that I am currently using as third, why am I using it? Who knows.

The homepage is colorful and not too crowded while still giving the brief overview of the site as a whole. The process of signing up isn't quick, but it covers all the blog basics, including naming it and choosing a template. I figure it's because Blogger wants serious bloggers that have somewhat of a direction, but I can be wrong. You can have more than one blog on your account and manage both at the same time, which is great if your intention is to do more than one blog about completely separate things or even similar things. You can also add multiple pages to a blog.

When first using the site, you sometimes have to go in circles to do something before actually finding what you're looking for. However, after going through these circles, you'll never have to again because you'll know exactly where everything is.

Half of the user homepage, after logging in, is a "Reading List," which is like following on Twitter, friending on Facebook, or "add to friend's list" on LiveJournal. I wish that this space could be used for something else or at least smaller. If you plan on favoriting a lot of blogs, it's perfect, but if not, it's a waste.

This is a basic easy-to-use blog. If it's a blog that you want, here you get it.

2. Weebly (weebly.com)
Clean, simple homepage with a 1-2-3 sign up. There's a very helpful guide that has video and picture step-by-step outline for new users as well as a "To-Do List" to help you create the blog. Actually, it's more of a website than a blog. To blog, you need to add a new text box every time or edit one that you already have. It takes away the simplicity of it without a "New Post" button.

It's very professional and can be used as an online resume and portfolio to give the URL out to employers.

Good for a blog? No. But don't count it out. If you want a place to put everything (links, bio, .pdf downloads, word docs, resume, ect.), this is perfect. It's all easy to do and in one place, since navigating from different pages on the site is easy to do.

Click-and-drag is the method of doing everything, to add features where you want. Sometimes, it says something won't go somewhere when it seems like it clearly could, but that's no biggie. Having the power to quickly delete and add everything is nice in comparison to having to go to a website section and unchecking something or just having that extra step.

1. WordPress (wordpress.com)
The homepage is of recent and popular blogs along with website news. It incorporates social media very well; it can be integrated with Facebook and Twitter, sending new posts to them automatically, and has it's own app.

It's by far my favorite. It's a blog and website all in one, if efficiency is important to you. The main page of your blog is, duh, a blog that has the "New Post" quickness and you can add pages with other information that won't be updates as much as the blog, but still relevant. Mine can be used as an example: daniraekay.wordpress.com

It's very easy to use for beginners and has advanced options as well. There's easy navigation as well with the dashboard that is always on the top of the page. A variety of templates and a visitor counter and we have ourselves a winner :)

Best Blogging Websites, 4 & 5

5. LiveJournal (livejournal.com)
My knowledge of LiveJournal is very extensive and I must be honest, it isn't the easiest if you've never made a blog ever before.

LJ is more for personal use than professional, hence the name of it being LiveJournal. It's for connecting to people more than blogging and wanting to build a resume. You can join communities that interest you and "add to friend list" blogs that you like by people who aren't your friend (it's like friending on Facebook, except they don't need to add you back and you can view their profile).

Also, it's not professional. Putting "johndoe.livejournal.com" on a resume may make your employer think they're going to read a journal on your site and not anything worth knowing about for the job. The reputation of LJ isn't one that's appropriate, either. It's known for gossip communities, high school emo blogs with poems, and fan fiction. Not really a site you would want to represent you.

4. Squarespace (squarespace.com)
At first glance, this website is the most professional. It upfront answers "what is it?", "who is it for?", and "why use it?" If I wasn't a poor college student, I would very much seriously consider using it. They highlight everything from the get-go on the impressive homepage, such as a visitor counter, iPhone app, and integration.

So why is this amazing website not number 1? For a couple reasons that aren't just based on the fact I'm a poor college student.

You have to pay to use it. At least $8/month and up to $50/month for the community package. No URL is provided with the purchase, so in addition to paying to use their site, you'd have to pay a different site a couple bucks more to change the link. Why use this site if you can go to another one that's better for free?

There isn't much flexibility, which wouldn't make the monthly $8 worth it. It's half Blogger, with how the site itself is set up, and half Weebly, with the way you do editing of the page.

There is a 14-day trail with no credit card is needed and it's really easy to set up. I did and played around with it. There are much easier sites out there that can cater to your needs better than this one. Even if there wasn't a fee, I still wouldn't make this my first recommendation. In fact, it would probably be the same because I favor the other three.

The homepage is very convincing, though. It had me going even after seeing the pricing tab. It's organized well, but once you get to your actual page, it's more complicated.


Who's hosting should you use if you want a blog of yours taken seriously and able to send out to employers?

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Have a good weekend!

Blogging Websites

vs. vs. vs. vs.

Most I have knowledge of, but a couple I don't.

Googling "blog websites" on Sunday, the 12th, I took the blog sites that were on the first page to thoroughly investigate them. Which one is best for a professional use and, more importantly, you?

The five actual sites that were shown are as follows:
1. Blogger
2. WordPress
3. LiveJournal
4. Squarespace
5. Weebly

How to brainstorm for a blog

First, think about what interests you, what questions you may have, and what makes you wonder. Chances are that others have the same thoughts, too. Topics that even brush your curiosity can be used and developed into something more that you may have never considered.

Also, take inspiration from other users and websites. I wrote about a lot of iPhone apps already on here that I discovered. I took that and formed it into an idea of critiquing free interview apps to best prepare a candidate. Also, Yahoo has a lot of articles from not only their bloggers but other ones across the internet as well and news sites. As you can tell, I get a lot from Yahoo. Read them, share them, and comment on them.

Link different ideas to find something new. After reviewing interview apps, I'd thought it'd be best to review blogging websites to find which would be the best for a professional approach (I'm in the process of it as we speak). Reviews are beneficial for everyone to help them decide what it is they want to use. Lists are always fun, too, so making a "Top # of your favorite -whatever-" is interesting and a way to better get to know you. Remember, always think of the reader because that's who you're writing for.

Photo courtesy of blog.nialbarker.com