The Top Five Free Blogging Platforms

Publishing content on a blog is like putting a human face on your brand, differentiating you from your competition and educating prospects and clients.

Many bloggers do not focus on themselves, instead, they focus on publishing long-form, brilliant articles that put their talent and knowledge on display. A blog with consistent, truthful and helpful content will allow you to bridge that gap between distrust and trust.

So What Are The Best Free Blogging Platforms Available On The Market? 

#5 - Svbtle

Pros - New, Writing is the centerpiece, custom domains, super responsive, fantastic Kudos system, great mobile layout.
Cons - Overcomplicated (Such as editorial subheadlines), magazine-like home page doesn’t filter content by category, image uploading doesn’t always work, needs tags/pagination

With the Svbtle platform now open to the public, its stripped-down take on layouts and post creation will be quite inspirational for anyone looking for a focused and responsive and clear-cut experience. Writing, in particular, feels tremendously inspiring despite the platform’s overly simplistic post editor, and page/post layouts do well with trimming off all unnecessary fluff and filler.

However, this soothing simplicity does come at a cost of disparity. With so few customization options available, creating a distinct look and feel for your blog is out of the question. And despite the platform’s custom domain support, your work — much like Medium — is still under the Svbtle banner instead of your own.

#4 - Wordpress

Pros - Elegance & Ease
Cons - Less Customisation & Fussy With Certain Features

This open-source platform is one of the most assiduous and capable blogging platforms ever constructed for popular use. The blog is saturated with a healthy dose of themes, plugins, and widgets that help pave the way for veterans and new users alike. Unlike the aforementioned Tumblr however, WordPress is a intuitive platform rooted in customization and a sprawling back end, allowing users to perform a diverse sundry of customization tasks and deep level of control regarding nearly all components of the suite. Initially creating a blog is simple and straightforward, whether you opt for an elaborate premium theme or choose one of the hundreds of freemium offerings


#3 - Blogger

Pros - Easy Setup, Simple Design & Layout, No Custom Coding Required, Huge Communities, Track Blog Statistics.
Cons - Does Not Support Custom Coding, Limited Opportunities To Monetise, Unprofessional Design Options.

Though incredibly easy to set up and use via a Google account, Blogger is enriched by a premiere host of customised utilities and design improvements carried out by Google over the course of the last couple years. Less tech-savvy users won’t find their lack of programming knowledge and HTML coding to be a hindrance due the platform’s drag-and-drop design and dynamic updating. Furthermore, It features all the traditional posting options we’ve come to expect on a dedicated platform — including text, video, images, etc — while additional options for geotagging location, incorporating RSS content and toggling between multiple languages are all readily available within the hassle-free backend. 

#2 - Tumblr

Pros - Simple & Easy To Use, Ability To Share Work, Integrates With Google Analytics, Ability To Use Custom Themes
Cons - Not Ideal For Conducting Business

Whereas many popular blogs boast a confounding number of features and customisation options, Tumblr revels in simplicity and ease of use. The platform remains ideal for publishing short-form ruminations and image posts, offering sleek layouts optimized for artwork and photos, while housing additional post options for text, links, music, video, and quotes. It’s not equipped with a particularly complex backend, making it ideal for first-time users and those looking to post within minutes of signing up, but the front end also tends to visually attractive enough to warrant the general lack of complex features. Still, customization and minor tweaks to the UI are available in the top-right corner when viewing your blog — such as theme and page changes — and the site won’t charge you a dime to use a separate domain name should you figure out how to register one elsewhere.


 #1 - Google+

Pros - Google Circles, Photography, 'Hangout' Feature, Multi-Language, Authorship, Rankings, Gmail Integration, Chat, Mobile Chat, Mobile Publishing.
Cons - Less Engagement Features Than Other Blogs Such As Wordpress

As is the case with Tumblr, people who discover your Google+ blog can follow or "circle" you. But follower growth happens faster on Google+ for several reasons. First, people share more actively -- by clicking two buttons, anyone can repost what you posted to all of their followers. If enough people do that, your post could make it to the Google+ "What's Hot" list, and a million people might read it. 

Second, your readers can share you as part of a circle. Good bloggers end up on circles that are shared and reshared -- circles with names like "Technology Women" or "Home Beer Brewers" or "Foodies." Once you start getting shared in these circles, it never stops, it only grows and grows, as more people add the circle and reshare it themselves. 

Blogging on Google+ sets you free. You can write entries of nearly unlimited length and post an unlimited number of pictures. Readers can click a button to discuss your post in a Hangout (a group video chat). You can edit, re-edit, share, reshare and link to anything (including Google+ Search or Google Search). You can narrow the readership of your post if you want by simply addressing it to circles rather than "Public." You can toggle commenting on and off, delete comments, mute or block users and much more. 

Further Reading:

Blogger. (2014). THE Best Places to Blog. Available: http://www.dearblogger.org/blogger-or-wordpress-better. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Elgan, M. (2012). Why I Blog On Google+. Available: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9232329/Why_I_blog_on_Google_And_how_. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Haines, B. (2013). The 10 Best Blogging Platforms. Available: http://onlinebusiness.about.com/od/blogging/a/The-10-Best-Blogging-Platforms.htm. Last accessed 16th April 2014. 

Patel, N. (2012). 7 Reasons Why Blogging Is Still Important in 2012. Available: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/7-reasons-why-blogging-is-still-important-in-2012/39225/. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Strzeszynski, M. (2014). Best Blogging Platforms Of 2014. Available: https://medium.com/blogging-and-seo-tips/d62682d9b0aa. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Widder, B. (2013). Best Free Blogging Sites. Available: http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/best-free-blogging-sites/#!Em5KD. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

4 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Twitter

Social media has transitioned into a way of life for online culture; changing the ways in which we communicate, share content and educate ourselves. As social media continues to grow in almost every market, the utilisation of companies such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ has been immense. 

1.23 billion active monthly users

The numbers associated with social media channels speak for themselves. In 2013 93% of marketers used social media for business purposes, and 70% of marketers have used Facebook to successfully gain new customers. Furthermore, with 1.23 billion active monthly users, Facebook remains the largest online social network.

Twitter have 241 million monthly active users; up only 9 million from their previous quarter and a far cry from Facebooks 1 billion users . That's much less than Twitter expected as CEO Dick Costolo anticipated having double that amount of users by 2014. As a result, Twitter shares are down 23% after the companies reported loss of £396m ($645m).

But how important is Twitter for the future of social media, e-communication and business?

In my opinion, Twitter is the most important consumer facing company around at the moment, and with little doubt, I can confidently say that I can see it outlasting Facebook. With over 240 million users and half a billion tweets a day, the growth potential is tremendous.

Saudi billionaire Price Alwaleed invested $300 million in Twitter in 2011, and recently told Reuters that he doesn't plan to sell a single share.

Four Reasons Why You Need A Twitter Account For Your Business

1) Twitter is the fastest way for news to spread 

Twitter allows you to reach your followers immediately through your Twitter feed, and anyone who checks their feed will see your tweets immediately. This is an indispensable tool for providing breaking developments, new products and services, and up to date coverage of live events.

2) Instant Feedback

As you are probably aware, the communication on Twitter is open for everyone else to follow and encourages others to get involved. For this reason Twitter is valuable for both broadcasting and communicating in business; and a great customer service network can be developed by responding to customer complaints and answering questions.

3) Increased Traffic

Generating as much traffic as possible is one objective for every organisation and Twitter helps companies do that! Through making site links present, and diversifying content, Twitter is indispensible in helping to deliver bursts of traffic following content updates.

4) There is a direct correlation between following on Twitter and sales

• 77% of top 100 companies are on Twitter
• 70% of small businesses are on Twitter
• 33% of Twitter users follow a brand
• In the last two years there has been a 663% increase in users asking for business recommendations
• 50% of shoppers have made purchases based on recommendations found through a social network
• 79% of Twitter users are more likely to recommend brands they follow
• 67% of Twitter users are more likely to buy from brands they follow

Further Reading:


Boesler, M. (2014). Twitter Shares Fell 24% After Earnings. Available: http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-is-getting-annihilated-2014-2. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Fredrick, H. (2012). Why Is Twitter Important?. Available: http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/twitter-important-5023.html. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Jones, K. (2013). The Growth of Social Media v2.0. Available: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/growth-social-media-2-0-infographic/77055/. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Prager, D. (2013). Twitter for Business: Why It’s More Important Than Ever . Available: http://blog.rivaliq.com/twitter-for-business-why-its-more-important-than-ever/. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Five Steps To Get More Visitors to Click and Buy on Your Website

There is no such thing as having a website that is 'good enough'. Why? Because every website can be improved. There is no website in existence where 100% of the website visitors take the precise action that the website owner wants, suggesting that there is always room for improvement.

So How Can I Improve My Website?

To start with, firstly identify the primary goal of your website. Is it to generate online sales? Get visitors to complete a form? Encourage visitors to call you? Encourage visitors to promote your site on social media platforms?

Once You Understand Your Goal, Work Backwards.

Think about the path you require visitors to follow in order to achieve your primary goal.
For Example, if your website sells one product on it, the desired path for website visitors is to view your homepage, click your products page where they can learn about what products you have on offer, click the order button to fill in details and finalise the transaction, then complete the order form and transaction and arrive at your thank you page.

This Path Is Known As Your Conversion Funnel.
The Key To Success Is To Improve and Optimise Every Piece Of This Funnel.

For Example, lets assume that on your website, 50% of the visitors on the homepage then go to your product sales page. 30% of those visitors proceed to your online sales form, and 50% of the remaining visitors complete the order and arrive on the thank you page. In this case, 7.5% of all visitors completed the funnel, also known as a 7.5% conversion rate.

The Key To Improving Your Conversion Rate, And The Success Of Your Website, Is To Improve Each Page In The Conversion Funnel.

Think about it, if you increased each page in your conversion funnel by 10%, then your overall conversion rate grows by an astounding 33%.

Unfortunately, most website owners fail to measure their websites conversion rates, and if they do, they only look at the websites overall conversion rate.

So How Do You Improve The Conversion Rate Of Each Page?

There are many factors to consider and ideas to try, however your choice of text, text size, font choice, image choice, colour and layout of each page are influential factors.

Five Steps To Improving Your Website's Conversion Rate.

1) Remove Multiple Calls To Action 

What frustrates most users is seeing multiple options on a landing page and not being able to decide which one he/she should be using. This is also called the Paradox of Choice.

If you have, "Try It Free",  "Buy Now", "Learn More" buttons side by side, a visitor is bound to get perplexed about which one to choose. We assume people know exactly what they want. But, instead, people want to be gently guided towards a possible solution instead of solving a maze to eventually get to what would benefit them the most.

2) Be Memorable And Know Your USP

A good site will include all the information a visitor requires to assist them in their buying process. Users start with research online, and if you can make contact with the user at this stage of their process, it will give them a favourable impression of your website and there is a good chance that they will come back and buy from you when they finally decide to make the purchase.

Furthermore, your USP is what sets you apart from your competition. Whether its great customer service, low prices, niche products or free delivery, tell your visitors what yours is.

3) Emotions Rule. Try Using More Powerful Images.

Many people buy for emotional reasons. If you make them feel just right, they’ll take action. The same rule applies when choosing images for your site. A positive image brings out positive emotions. It could be a smile, a smirk or a gesture.  

Many people buy for emotional reasons. If you make them feel just right, they’ll take action. The same rule applies when choosing images for your site. A positive image brings out positive emotions. Your customers and prospects aren’t stupid. They know what you’re trying to convey, they see it. Make them feel good, happy, proud, wanted – they’ll agree with you and connect better. The perks of leveraging emotions can be very powerful, but it’s how you do it that matters.

Human Touch is a company that sells massage and wellness products. Their website very intelligently uses images to convey their message. They’re not only showing the product, but are also letting their customers get a feel of it. The image used here clearly expresses joy and happiness. It gives their prospects a fair idea of what they can be experiencing.

4) Show Validation - Testimonials Are Powerful.

What makes TV commercials work? Models, actors, and random people are shown using the product. Praising it, loving it, and going bonkers. People want a third opinion as they want to feel safe before buying something.

Infusionsoft is a company that sells a complete sales and marketing software tool for small businesses. Their website is professional and well placed. They’ve strategically used images of customers along with their testimonials on their homepage. They didn’t hide their customer photos somewhere deep down. Why? Because they know how to make their prospects feel at home by showing how trustworthy their product is. Something that’s essential to grow your conversion rate.

5) Remove Clutter And Provide Lots Of Whitespace


We always try to cram a lot of information on a page. As designers, we’re in love with our product and we want to talk about it as much as we can.

But visitors think in a different way. They need space to pause, think, and analyze. Whitespace helps them do just that. It provides a natural structure to the page, so that the eye can jump to the information it is seeking in an effortless fashion. 

Dont Forget To Monitor Your Conversion Rates Monthly, And Look At Each Pages Conversion Rate As Opposed To The Overall Conversion Rate To Optimise Each Page.

Further Reading:

Gube, J. (2013). 5 Ways to Improve a Website’s Conversion Rate. Available: http://designinstruct.com/web-design/improve-conversion-rate/. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Khundmiri, M. (2012). 7 Tips to Boost Your Site’s Conversion Rate Using Images. Available: http://blog.kissmetrics.com/boost-conversions-using-images/. Last accessed 16th April 2014.

Lavinsky, D. (2014). How to Get More Visitors to Click, Buy or Promote on Your Site. Available: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231530. Last accessed 16th April 2014.