Just a food Obsessed loser and blogging fanatic. Here I share my technical expertise and answer questions about blogging. 
Hello Roni, I just started my own blog to track my weight loss journal. I set up my blog on blogspot but was looking at Wordpress as well. I’m so new to this that I wanted to ask which of the two do you recommend. I see you write about Wordpress and it seems to have more gadgets. Should I switch to Wordpress whle my blog is so young? Later, I would like to add recipes and photos that I’ve taken…and I’m not sure if blogspot is the home for me… any advise?
I love and hate this question because I have used both and I do have strong opinions but that’s all they are… opinions. Both platforms have pros and cons but I lean towards Wordpress. Mostly because I think it offers way more flexibility IF you are willing to learn just a bit of code. And even if you don’t want to learn there’s always some geek like me to help out. :)
Plus, if you every decide to take your blog to the next level and move to a self hosted solution the shift from Wordpress.com would be a much easier import (if you stick with wordpress.)
Again, this is just my opinion. Blogger/Blogspot is super easy to use, has a large community of bloggers and offers some great templates and widgets. I’ve seen many an awesome blog hosted on BlogSpot. It comes down to the platform you feel most comfortable with. The most important factor of a successful blog is the content not the platform.
Do you guys agree? Any hard core blogger users out there?
If you’re looking for flexibility? I’d go for Wordpress over Blogger. While you can customize Blogger, you sort of have to play by its rules, and I’m not a fan of that.
If you don’t to secure your own hosting space but want more flexibility – TypePad is a great solution.
Emily – Thanks! I always forget about TypePad.. I just never used it so it’s not one I even think about.
Roni, thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I know you’re super busy and I didn’t expect to hear back from you so soon. I’ll definitely play with Wordpress. Alot of the blogs I follow seem to go with Wordpress. I’ll just have to trust the experts like you. Thanks so much
I have used both platforms, and I have to say, I am a Blogger fan. I am easily in the intermediate to advanced category in terms of HTML and CSS, and WordPress IS a more flexible platform, but Blogger is just so EASY. I think it comes down to how much time you want to devote to learning some code (or not) and the “rules” of either platform. WP does seem to have a lot more options in terms of templates, but if you know how/where to look, you can find tons of Blogger templates that look and act more like WP.
I like Blogger so much that I use it for my library’s website. The main reason being that several people have to update that site REGULARLY, and none of those people know any code. Blogger made this a non-issue.
http://www.dennispubliclibrary.org When most people find out that it’s actually a blogger blog and not a WP blog or “professionally” designed site, they are surprised.
Play with both and see what you like!
I actually like blogger more. I think it is because my knowledge is a bite limited in knowing how to blog. I do have a Wordpress account set up but I find it a bit complicated.
I am in the process of taking a class in web page design and CSS so hopefully I we be able to use wordpress with more ease in the future.
I use typepad and like it so far, but I also created a wordpress site for my wedding website, and it seemd much less blog-y in its format. I liked the way the wordpress templates seemed to look more professional. But I am not sure why. I am willing to learn some code. I don’t have any widgets installed yet. I am concerned about making the transition to another platform. What happens to all my old stuff? Also, I am starting a business and wanted to have website that is more commerical and have it be linked to my blog and have them look the same.
some small businesses and organizations(like Jessica and the public library) are use a blog platform as their own website. Maybe I can do that, too.
I am really confused as to what to do.
Ack. I just read what I wrote and it sounds like a long complaint! I am sorry if it came off that way. Sometimes all the choices are overwhelming to me, that’s all. :)
lol no worries. Thankfully Wordpress has an export feature where you can get all of your content in XML format. It’s another reason why I like it!