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Choosing a good blogging platform for you or your company

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Contactually

Choosing what to base your company blog on is never easy. The number of different choices that are out there are bonkers, and the differences among them can be drastic. So how do you choose? Depending on whether you stand in the technologically savvy spectrum, you've got options. Here's what I found in my experiences:

WordPress (link) - This is by and large the easiest to use and most popular of the blogging platforms. Not only is it a more-than-competent editor, it's also highly modular with thousands of plugins allowing you to customize your CMS (content management system) with a ton of features. Just about any domain host supports WordPress, so you should be up and running quickly without having to spend time worrying about anything else but posting. The best part about it? It's free.

Tumblr (link) - Wildly popular among the average computer user, in the business world Tumblr is the up and coming contender to the incumbent Wordpress. Tumblr is built on sharing content you find on the internet. It isn't packed to the brim with features, e.g., you can't see how many people have viewed the webpage or any other analytical data. Like WordPress, Tumblr is also free.

Squarespace (link) - Squarespace is an all-in-one service, providing both domain-name hosting as well the writing platform. Building out the look of your site is easy and all visual, so no coding necessary (although, you can if you wanted to!). Plans start at $8/month, and it's terribly easy to use. 

Movable Type (link) - Personally, this is up there as far as my list of favorite CMS's goes. Movable Type is versatile and highly functional. It isn't the easiest to use or the most "noob"-friendly right off the bat, but if you know how to code, then you can do great things with Movable Type. It's stable, modular, and there's an active community to help you get on your feet if you're ever lost. NPR, USA Today, and Huffington Post also use Movable Type for their site, if you wanted to see how good it can loook

Typepad (link) - Like Squarespace, Typepad is a service that provides both the hosting and the CMS. The plans start just shy of $9 and companies that do use it are Rdio, Yelp, Zynga, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel.

Do you have any blogging platforms you like using? Drop them in comments below!

Posted by

Staying in touch with those who matter has never been easier than with Contactually.

Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

This is the only place I blog Tony...........long story, but it works for me.  BTW........I'm looking forward to you catching me on the Leaderboard and taking my spot!

Aug 20, 2012 05:01 AM
Tony Cappaert
Contactually - Washington, DC

Roger - Oh, I absolutely get it! Active Rain is a great place to blog, too! The points system is fantastic!

 

Aug 20, 2012 05:10 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Tony, I am so ignorant. Some of these names are so foreign to me. I will check into them though. Thank you for doing the prep work.

Aug 20, 2012 10:58 AM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

Okay, I only recognize one of these.... time to do some research.

Aug 20, 2012 11:16 AM
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Tony~ blogging is the future, thanks for showing the best platforms to use, you mentioned great new platforms, thanks!  Great posting,!

Aug 20, 2012 11:51 AM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

I think I will follow the links and see if there is something I can't live without. Good Luck and God Bless

Aug 20, 2012 11:56 AM
Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL
Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

I too am stuck in the Rain now that I am doing it daily. 

And thus far have found nothing that gets me to page one of google faster than AR.

 

Aug 20, 2012 11:57 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Active Rain is the blog for me but when wearing my other hats perhaps these are good options.

Aug 20, 2012 01:48 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Very informative post Tony, it's good to know the other options out there.

Aug 20, 2012 05:12 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Tony sometimes I think I'm pretty tech savvy and then reality hits me square in the face.  Some of these sites I've heard of but haven't taken time to visit

Aug 20, 2012 08:50 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTORĀ®

I am running out of time to keep up with what I have. I like ActiveRain. It's all I have time for right now, and it is working for me. :O) Maybe this winter I will play more with my WordPress blog.  Thanks for the other blog sites. This is very helpful!!

Aug 22, 2012 05:35 AM
Tony Cappaert
Contactually - Washington, DC

Oh, absolutely. These aren't necessarily meant to replace Active Rain, they supplement it and serve a different audience. Sorry if that wasn't clear in the article :)

Aug 23, 2012 11:43 PM