by Sharon Hurley Hall

Created on: November 12, 2006   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

The easiest way to start a blog is to let someone else host it for you. That means you don't have to mess around with code. Good options for this include Google's Blogger.com, where you can be up and running in less than five minutes. Although it has a bad name because of the number of splogs, it is still probably the quickest way to start your blog.

Another favourite is Wordpress, hosted at Wordpress.org. This is popular because it is easy to get started, and has hundreds of cool templates and useful plugins. If you like Firefox, then you're sure to like Wordpress.

Although these are the most popular, there are many other blogging platforms where all you need to do is sign up. These include Typepad and LiveJournal.

If you want to mess about under the hood and have more control, you may choose to blog on your own domain. Most web hosts have one click installs of many popular blogging platforms. There is a standalone version of Wordpress, as well as Moveable Type, the standalone version of Typepad.

Many blogging platforms are free, so it doesn't have to cost the earth to get started in blogging. In fact, it's so easy that you can try them all out before settling on the ones you like.

Learn more about this author, Sharon Hurley Hall.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.