WordPress & Blogger & TypePad, oh my!
After asking about and doing some Google searches you distill your list of options down to (most probably):
Blogger, WordPress, ActiveRain, TypePad and Posterous
Which is the best format for REALTORS?
Well, that depends on your goals and level of technical acumen. I will cover my point of view of the pros and cons for each, but I really hope to use this post as fuel for informative comments that a new blogger can take as sage advice and questions that experienced bloggers can answer.
Blogger:
The service that brought blogging to the everyman. This service (now serviced by Google) was revolutionary for early adopters in 1999 who wanted a quick and easy service to start their blog.
- Pros: FREE, super to easy to use at any experience level
- Cons: Not great for branding, limited templates, widgets can be hard to use, support may be difficult
WordPress:
The most popular blog format today, WordPress is open source CMS blogging software.
- Pros: FREE, lots of template options, widgets and applications are added daily, flexiblity in hosting options (you can start at www.wordpress.com and convert to a self hosted domain with www.wordpress.org later)
- Cons: longer learning curve
ActiveRain:
A free social network and marketing platform for real estate professionals. This network helps agents to create business relationships both within the industry and with the consumer.
- Pros: FREE, super easy to learn to use with WSIWYG editing, great feedback from peers
- Cons: barely customizable, not easily imported to other blog options, limited interaction with general public
TypePad:
Based on Moveable Type, but intended to be minimal in technology experience needed.
- Pros: Easy to use interface, built in photo album, ability to add scripts, highly customizable if you have the skills.
- Cons: NOT free: starts at $8.95 per month, few integrated widgets
Posterous:
Boasts integrated and automatic posting to other social media tools such as Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook, a built-in Google Analytics package, and custom themes.
- Pros: FREE, great for photo blogging or mobile blogging, very easy to use, can push content to a large number of sites including WordPress.
- Cons: No disqus commenting, limited themes.
There are so many other venues out there that I haven’t covered because I wanted to focus on the ones I hear most discussed, but I am looking forward to hearing your opinion of the options I reviewed as well as others.
photo by Mike Licht on Flickr
