Those of you that operate blogs/personal websites, share your knowledge.

[Valtharius]

I'm thinking of starting a literature blog and am totally new to this. Any tips and recommendations to offer? What's the verdict on WordPress vs Blogspot? What hosting company do you recommend for people who know 0 about doing this sort of thing?

 

[LeonStevens]

I am on WordPress. I assume it's very similar to Blogspot as each will host your website/blog.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

I'm on wordpress.com too.
I would recommend wordpress.com. If, at some time in the future, you ever get your own website then you can install wordpress on it and download your stuff from wordpress.com and upload to your own site

Blogspot is owned by Google and all the baggage that goes with it

11 Huge Reasons to AVOID Blogspot (Blogger) - 2023 Update

Wondering if you should create a free Blogspot blog in 2023? Don't do it. Click here to learn 11 reasons why you shouldn't use Blogger.

www.gotchseo.com

Here's a (probably biased) comparison

WordPress vs. Blogger - Which one is Better? (Pros and Cons)

Trying to decide between WordPress vs. Blogger? Use our beginner's guide and list of pros / cons to decide which one is better: Blogger vs WordPress.

www.wpbeginner.com

and another

WordPress vs Blogger (2023) — What Are The Key Differences?

WordPress vs Blogger is one of the internet age's oldest rivalries, and we dive in to look at how the modern versions stack up to each other.

www.elegantthemes.com

All that said I have a problem with the direction wordpress is going. It's heading to all blocks, and I much prefer the classic wordpress, but then I am a web developer and like having micro-control over everything. But it's still preferable to being tied into Google

 

[Valtharius]

I just launched my blog. Be gentle.

Thoughts from the Mind of Joseph Valtharius - Books I've Inherited

Books I've Inherited is a "blog" operated by fiction writer and philosopher Joseph Valtharius. Come take a look!

booksiveinherited.com

 

[Valtharius]

Bumping this thread so I can get peoples' opinions on mailing lists. What service do you use? Mailchimp? Mailerlite?

 

[Ogma]

I use mailchimp. It's free up to 2000 subscribers.

 

[StilLearning]

Mailchimp, although I don't rate mailing lists as quite so indispensable as most folks here do (yeah, i'm a rebel).

 

[bretbernhoft]

I'm thinking of starting a literature blog and am totally new to this. Any tips and recommendations to offer? What's the verdict on WordPress vs Blogspot? What hosting company do you recommend for people who know 0 about doing this sort of thing?

In my experience and professional opinion, the answer to your question is "WordPress on Bluehost".

 

[Brian G Turner]

I just launched my blog. Be gentle.

Thoughts from the Mind of Joseph Valtharius - Books I've Inherited

Books I've Inherited is a "blog" operated by fiction writer and philosopher Joseph Valtharius. Come take a look!

booksiveinherited.com

I'm getting an error that the website doesn't exist?

 

[Valtharius]

I'm getting an error that the website doesn't exist?

Yeah I let it die. Didn't have time to update it frequently. I might start a substack in the future if I want to start blogging again.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Make sure you get your own domain name and go for the Wordpress org if you don’t want ‘Wordpress’ in your web addy. I use 123Reg for name and Krystal Hosting for the hosting duties.