Whether you’re just about to start a blog or looking to switch platforms, choosing the one that’s right for you is a big deal. It’s like choosing a city to live in. You can always move, and you can rent an apartment rather than buy a home, but no matter what you’ve got to weigh the pro’s and con’s. Many fashion bloggers out there feel like WordPress.org is the New York City of platforms (minus the insane prices) but there are many other great options to consider, especially ones that are free. Depending on how invested you are in your site, and just how customized you want it to be – there’s a perfect platform for you!
Personally, I’ve blogged on OnSugar (when I first started – and I loved it), Blogger and now on WordPress for IFB and Eat, Sleep, Denim. They all have their merits, and all get easier and more intuitive the more time you spend.
What’s The Right Platform For Your Fashion Blog?
Blogger
- Run by Google
- Free to join and run your site
- Ready-to-go templates that can be customized with advanced adjustments and gadgets
- Track your stats with Google Analytics
- You can run 3rd party ads or Google AdSense, as well as use affiliate links and post sponsored content
- You can buy your own URL and still run your site through the platform
- Fashion bloggers using Blogger: This Time Tomorrow, Atlantic-Pacific, Classy Girls Wear Pearls, Flashes of Style, Could I Have That
WordPress.com
- Free (the not self-hosted service from WordPress)
- Easy to set up and customize without knowing HTML or CSS coding
- Technically, advertising, paid or sponsored content and affiliate links are NOT allowed on WordPress.com sites
WordPress.org
- Self-hosted version of WordPress
- Free to use, but your site must be hosted first (somewhere like BlogOnCloud9, for example, which costs money)
- More functionality and full control over your content
- You can run 3rd party ads or Google AdSense, as well as use affiliate links and post sponsored content
- Widely believed to be the best self-hosted platform available
- Thousands of plug-ins for customization
- Fashion Bloggers using WordPress.org: Eat, Sleep, Denim, The Coveted, (and most other style bloggers, too)
Typepad
- Between $8.95 – $29.95 per month, depending on your plan; includes hosting fees
- Widgets for customization, domain mapping and professional support for tech issues
- Select a theme or template, or design your own with custom CSS
- Monitor your stats through integrated Google Analytics
- Fashion bloggers using Typepad: Style Bubble, Sea of Shoes
OnSugar
- Free platform
- Templates and post formats made to cater to fashion, beauty & lifestyle bloggers
- Free access to Getty Images (as long as you maintain a .onsugar.com domain)
- Built-in capability for ShopStyle and ShopSense affiliate program to earn money
- Use your own 3rd party ads or advertise with ShopStyle
- Fashion Bloggers using OnSugar: FabSugar, PopSugar, Fashionologie, The Fash Pack, At First Blush
SquareSpace
- Pricing: $8/month for standard and $16/month unlimited service (both include hosting fees & a custom domain)
- Drag-and-drop layout feature is easy-to-use and makes for a quick set-up (pre-made templates available as well)
- Functionality for pages, galleries and traditional blog format (or any combination of them)
- Capability to auto-publish content to your social sharing channels (or easily add share buttons to your site)
- Automatically formatted for mobile viewing
- Built-in analytics tools
- Fashion Bloggers using SquareSpace: Parker, Etc., Treasures & Travels
Tumblr
- Free
- Micro-blogging platform
- Easy to follow and re-blog content from your favorite Tumblrs
- Simple pre-designed post formats like text, photo, video, quote and chat make content production on the fly
- Push your Instagrams instantly to your blog with Instagram’s sync tool
- Fashion Bloggers using Tumblr:Girl With Curves, Pizza Rules, Wit + Delight, GirlSack
For more: So You Want To Switch Platforms; Why Blogger Isn’t The Best Platform, 10 WordPress Plug-ins I Can’t Live Without
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I use blogger but am building a new site on WordPress and at first didn’t realise there was a .com and .org difference, on top of the fact that .com does not allow advertising or affiliates. Well, I guess that means I better get on the .org bandwagon for sure.
Thanks for the list.