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

[Patrick]

Ew, and I hope that the user reported that guy to Blogger and had the site taken down.

I think Blogger's alright for a lot of users, but our clients are generally WordPress- and yes, it's because we're running them and we're very technically inclined :-).

[Kate]

Years ago I had a blog on Typepad. Every single month there was a billing issue - not just on occasion - every single month. Customer service was very nice and very ineffective. After nearly a year of this I bailed. I simply had neither the time nor the patience to cope with this issue over and over. I will add that this was the only problem I had.

Now I'm back in the market for a blog platform and only reluctantly am I considering Typepad since neither blogger or wordpress have all the features I know I want.

Still undecided.

Kate

[nonspam@jeffpaulreview.com]

I am using typepad because my friend always tell me to use this its good to i am using it and its really working good.

[rita]

I am sure TypePad is wonderful in many ways, but the question about the best blogging platform(s) hasn't been answered here. I was looking for the info on TypePad vs WP and here's what I didn't find:
1. Can you build a website with a TypePad -- not just a blog -- just like WP can?
2. Can you do full SEO on a TypePad blog like you can on a WP blog?
3. How many templates can you choose from when building a TypePad blog? How customizable are they?

About Blogger. It's not correct that all blogs on Blogger have a top navigation bar. Many don't. You can easily remove it. Also, it's not correct that Blogger discourages users from using their blogs for business. They don't. Many Blogger's blogs are business blogs.

[Denise Wakeman]

Rita, thanks for your comment.

1. Yes, you can build a "website" with TypePad. Like WP, there is an option to create pages.

2. Not sure what you mean by "full SEO". SEO takes a lot of forms and yes, you can optimize TypePad with keywords, tags, etc. AND you have to write content that is compelling and create blog titles that are keyword rich. That doesn't require any special plug-in.

3. There are dozens of templates for TypePad and TypePad can be fully customized.

Re: blogger - most people who use Blogger do not know how to remove the top banner and therefore don't. Doesn't matter if it's easy; they don't do it. And, we've heard many stories about Blogger shutting down blogs they deem too commercial. Our point is that you need to go into it with your eyes open and then choose the platform that's right for you.

[Denise Wakeman]

Kate, sorry to hear you've had trouble with TypePad. I've had an account for 5 years and never once had a billing issue. And none of our clients have ever reported that to me. I do pay annually so I can take advantage of the lower fee, maybe that helps.

[hotel search engine optimisation]

WordPress is the best - both for newbies and advanced hackers. I particulary am amazed how easily one can install/activate/deactivate plugins. Without captcha plugin for Wordpress I couldn’t live even one day.

[gronden te huur]

I am using typepad from last one month now.I observed it very useful and extremely helpful.

[AmazonMan]

Great info. Thanks. I use WP and it is pretty good, but I am concerned with the logging in for each poster....is there a way to not have to log in to WP each time?

[lose weight quickly and easily]

great stuff...this is the reason I come back every week...

excellent info, and great post!