TypePad vs Wordpress vs Blogger

Nearly every week someone asks us which blogging platform they should use. As most readers of this blog know, we prefer TypePad. OK, we're biased because all our blogs are on TypePad. Well, not all. We also have our main hub site on SquareSpace and we're having a website built on the Wordpress platform so we can get more familiar with it.

As a guest blogger, I've also used Movable Type, Blogger and Wordpress.  This week we were copied on an email to Tom Antion by one of his clients who we met at Tom's recent ButtCamp in Los Angeles:

Hi Tom, I’m near the end of my trial run on TypePad.com and so far I’m more impressed with Blogger and WordPress as blog sites.

Patsi and Denise offered a lot of value on Blogs at your event in LA and I know The Blog Squad likes TypePad best, but I don’t...yet.

Can you see any reason for me to extend my subscription with TypePad? If not, I’ll let it lapse and build on my other two blogs.

Since we were cc'd, I responded:

Thanks for copying us on your note to Tom.

The Blog Squad recommends TypePad for very specific reasons and for specific types of bloggers.  Here's a post that explains our position.

We also stress that it depends on the purpose of your blog.

We advise you to stay away from Blogger if the purpose is for business and to promote yourself, your brand, your products & services.

For a professional solution we recommend TypePad and Wordpress.org.  If you're technically inclined or want to pay someone to set up and manage the functions of the blog, then WP is a perfectly good choice.  There is no support however.

You have to choose what you're most comfortable with and what works best for your level of expertise and for the defined purpose of your blog.

Hope that helps,

Denise aka The Blog Squad

The same day we got an email reporting this about Blogger -- one of the reasons why we don't recommend it for professional business blogs:

I checked out the website of a prospect (www.nbxbikes.com) and went on their blog.  No biggie. Then, I noticed at the top it had a spot for "next blog". Being completely new to this I clicked, saw someone selling handbags, then the next, and THEN on about the 5th I saw full frontal pictures of some guy from Spain or wherever!!!!  Not something I'd want my customers (kids) seeing, so when I was done with my sales schpeil, I related this to the store owner, so he could at least be aware of a potential hornet's nest.  He appreciated the heads-up.

I know, we've covered this before, but since it regularly comes up, I felt it worth revisiting. Comments welcome. We know  people feel strongly about their chosen platform.   

Comments

[Michael Martine]

TypePad has some definite advantages that may make it right for a business blog, such as upgrades and comment spam are handled by the service.

However, It seems there aren't too many people who can make a TypePad blog look even halfway decent. I can spot a TypePad/MT blog a mile away. They all look the same.

The sheer mind-blowing number of add-ons and designs for self-hosted WordPress blogs (called plugins and themes) coupled with a vibrant community is what makes WordPress the dominant blog platform.

We all have our opinions of course, and that is mine. Just like taste in music or Mac vs. PC, some debates will never end! :)

[Jeanne May]

I'm a typepad user and supporter... not only for my business but also as a visitor and commenter on other blogs.

I echo the advantages of using typepad... but what really won me over to continue using typepad was the ease in which people can leave comments. Many other platforms require you to log in and some require you to jump through so many hoops … offputting to say the least.

Jeanne

[Dulcita Love]

Hi Denise,

I'm glad you pointed out your "next blog" cautions with Blogger.

I'll keep that in mind for future clients when it comes time to suggest a blogging platform.

~ Dulcita Love

[Bob Sommers]

I can't tell you how many times I've seen people refuse to use Blogger based on the "Next Blog" button at the top of a Blogger blog. It is so simple to remove. This video will show you how to remove it.

http://www.recognizedexpert.com/blogger/
115-hiding-the-blogger-navigation-bar-314.html

There are many other reasons I would not use a Blogger blog for a business blog, but this in not one of them.