Hello everyone!
I’m interested in starting a travel and book blog to share my journeys and write reviews about the books I read.
Which platform would you recommend among Substack, WordPress, or Medium for someone just starting their blogging adventure? I prefer a traditional blog layout, but I’m uncertain if Medium or Substack can provide that since I don’t know how to code my own website. Would either Medium or Substack be better for sharing my writing? Thank you!
If you’re looking for a basic blog, then WordPress.com is a solid choice. If you want to create a blog that you can eventually monetize, consider getting a domain name and web hosting to install WordPress. You don’t need any coding skills. I’m a developer but haven’t needed to code anything for my blog either. All you need to do is install a “block theme” and you can edit the appearance of your site by clicking on blocks.
Substack works more as a newsletter platform, while Medium is like an online magazine. With those, you have very little control over how your site looks.
You’ll see many good suggestions here, but here is an argument against using Substack and a list of better alternatives
I’d recommend WordPress because it gives you full control. Substack and Medium are quite similar.
WordPress is a good choice.
For a travel and book review blog, I think self-hosted WordPress (wordpress.org, not wordpress.com) is your best option due to its customization and plugin support. It gives you the creative freedom to showcase your travels and reviews in a visually appealing way.
If your main focus is writing and engaging with a community, Medium can help you gain readers quickly, but it offers limited customization.
Substack is better suited for content that focuses on newsletters.
The most important factor to think about is where you want your blog to go in the future. If you’re planning to monetize it, like through ads, you should start on a platform that can support that, which is WordPress. If your goal instead is to generate income through subscriptions, you might want to consider a different option. Take some time to consider your end goal and choose a platform with that in mind.
WordPress is definitely the best option for beginners looking to start their blogging journey!
Medium has good SEO capabilities, which makes it easier for Google to find and index your articles.