Let's talk about blogs!

A blog is a website that is used to share stories and information with other people. Most companies have a blog, hosted by themselves (i.e., https://discord.com/blog) or other providers. Not only companies, small groups or individuals can make their own blog using other providers. Below are notable blog sites.

I. Notable Blog Sites

1. Wix

Wix offers a web development service that is very friendly to beginners. Everything is managed in the frontend (the browser), so the user does not need to touch the backend. With advanced customization tools and thousands of templates to choose from, it can also be used for other purposes besides blogging. Users can start with the free plan or a paid plan that suits their needs.

2. WordPress

Much like Wix, WordPress offers a web development service that is friendly to beginners. Everything is managed in the front-end, advanced customization tools are provided, and website templates are provided for convenience. However, it is less beginner-friendly compared to Wix. For example, if users want to do very advanced customizations, they will have to work with CSS code. Nonetheless, it is still a good service provider that offers a free plan and paid plans if users need more features such as custom domains.

3. Medium

Medium is a website for publishing writings. Compared to Wix and WordPress, the use of Medium is straightforward, which is to publish stories or articles and share information with other people. As such, its approach is considered more beginner-friendly compared to all previously listed websites if a user only wants to publish stories and share information. Medium is free to use, however users can only read a few stories before they must purchase a membership, which offers unlimited reads and direct support to writers or publishers. Notable individuals such as Barack Obama use this website.

4. Blogger

Blogger is a website specifically for making a blog. If users want to publish stories and information with a more customized design, Blogger is a great alternative to Medium. Blogger is completely free to use, and there are thousands of templates that are community-made all over the web.

II. Why Blogs?

Good question! There are multiple reasons for creating a blog, be it an individual, small group, or business.

II.1. For Individuals

1. Share stories

If you are passionate about something or have an experience that you want others to know, you will want to share it publicly. There are multiple ways to do so, and blogging is one of them. People from around the world can read about your story or experience, and perhaps you will find someone with the same passion as you.

2. Share information

If you have an information or opinion about something and you want to share it to the world, a blog is a great way to do so.

3. Socialize with people

Even though blogs are typically used to share stories and information, some blogging sites provide a comment section for each blog post that allows you and other readers to communicate with each other.

4. Education

Blog design can increase the creativity of an individual. Typical blogging sites provide additional customizations for their users to customize their blog further, so the sky is the limit of users’ creativity. If you are into web development, you can also take inspirations from some blog designs. You can learn how professional developers/designers make user interfaces that are elegant, easy to use, and provides a good user experience.

II.2. For Businesses

1. Increase customer engagement

Blogs allow you to share your work with customers in a flexible way. It also lets your customers know who you are instead of just the work that you do.

2. Social media exposure

Blogging can increase a business' exposure to the world, letting others know about your business and thus potentially introduces new clients to the table.

3. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Building blogs can improve a business' SEO as search engines tend to look at unpaid traffics rather than direct or paid traffics.