A blog question everybody always asks is “What platform do you use?” You can do WordPress, Blogger, self-host…I’m sure there’s more but I haven’t looked too far into it. I’ve been using WordPress for over 10 years now!
Recently I was researching where some of my blog traffic was coming from, and I ran across an article published a few months ago called Popular Mom Blogs Built with WordPress. I scrolled through and found Geek Mamas at #21. They did a nice little write-up and called the blog “informative, funny and entertaining.” I was pretty happy to read that, because that’s exactly what I’m going for. ð
*Blog post contains affiliate links
From Blogger to WordPress
I started my first blog around 2005, on Blogger. It was about my costumes and events. I later moved the blog to WordPress.com and have stayed here ever since. I find it easier to use and I like the templates better. I also like the built-in community and the reader function. I’m sure there’s all kind of wonderful things associated with self-hosting, but I haven’t even looked into it yet. I know I can manage to figure everything out about my WP blog on my own, and usually rather quickly. I can do all the tweaks, add the widgets and make it look the way I want just by clicking a few buttons. There’s also advanced stuff I haven’t even gotten into yet.
So right now, I’m happy to be a WordPress Mom Blog using a (free!) template. I still have a lot to learn about all this blog stuff. I may have been blogging for years, but I never really considered myself a “blogger” until this year. It’s been a great year too! Looking forward to learning more and growing even more next year.
*I should clarify that I do have a paid business account, because I don’t like all those ads on the blog otherwise, but I still use the original free template I started with. It’s called Colinear. If you are just starting out, I recommend starting with the free account, then upgrading to the next level so you can have your own domain and remove the ads. Click the pic to get started on WordPress!
2021 Update: I recently downgraded from Business to Premium and changed my theme. I’m still happy with my WordPress blog, but I didn’t find the $300 a year business account to be entirely worth it. Premium is more affordable and works just as well. The only drawback is that you can’t use plug-ins like Yoast. But you still get an ad-free experience, tons of templates and the ability to customize your layout with widgets. I also recently implemented advertising through Ezoic, which I highly recommend over WordPress ads.
Geek Mamas 
That’s fantastic!
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Congrats.
Personally, I have used WIX, I was on Xanga when they were around and tried wordpress a few years ago- I’ll never go to anything else.
It’s easy to use, easy to learn and one of the most popular (if not the most popular) platforms.
I actually did something I have never done- paid for a membership. I don’t monetize or anything but I like it being a .com instead of a wordpress.com
I call myself a “mommy blogger” but I started this to work on getting into freelance (all my jobs so far from been after showing my site) and I’m slowly moving my Etsy shop over here as well.
I would never use anything but wordpress. The site I write for now also uses wordpress- so it’s nice, I already know how to work the blogs.
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Hey what template do you use? I’m under the impression that you must pay to get better experience from WordPress. I use the free WordPress too.
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I actually paid for my account, but I started with a free template and stuck with it even after paying. It’s called colinear. It’s just a really clean set-up that you can make a lot of tweaks to.
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This site is paid.
I have the premium and will be going to business because I’m working on this one with moving my Etsy shop over here. With the other 2 I just use basic already made layouts.
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I briefly tried WIX too. I found it very limiting. I agree about having the .com! I don’t do the monetization thing either because I hate blogs covered with ads. It’s just too annoying so I don’t want to go there, lol.
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Thanks
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That’s amazing. I just started a blog. I’m a unconventional mom. And just blogging about my battle with severe epilepsy while trying to live a normal life. Normal isn’t always what we get. I’ve posted two blogs, no followers yet. ð Do you have any advice to promote?
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You are doing good if you are already seeking out other blogs and commenting! Thatâs a great way to get more followers. I actually have a whole blog post about how I increased my page views.Iâd link it but Iâm on the road right now. Family vacation ð
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I’ll look for it, you enjoy your family. Thank you for the reply.
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I self host on wordpress.org and honestly there are times when I wish I had stayed with wordpress.com, some things made it better and easier with my old blog. But I really do enjoy doing it myself at everydayadventureswithkatie.com, my self hosted site
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I’m curious what the difference is? What pushes people to self-host? I haven’t looked into it.
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Iâm also a mom and just started my blog on WordPress this year. I still have a lot to learn, but itâs great to hear youâve been content with WordPress for the past 10 years.
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I think it’s a great platform to get started on. There’s a lot of room to grow ð
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Over 10 years! Congratulations on sticking through! Iâm a little over a month in and didnât realize how much âworkâ it still is no matter how much I love doing it. The fact that youâve kept at it this long is amazing in itself. Keep up the good work ð―
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Well to be honest, I didn’t treat it like work until last year, lol. On my first blog I’d sometimes only post once a month!
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also, I clicked on your name to check out your blog but it doesn’t show up! It doesn’t seem to be connected to your profile.
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Love âĪ And totally agree, I love being a Geek Mommy, and a WordPress Mom Blogger too.
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