An Uncomplicated Life Blog: When Blogger IS Better Than Wordpress

Monday, April 11, 2016

When Blogger IS Better Than Wordpress

Wordpress is the site of choice for most bloggers, and for good reason. But sometimes, Blogger IS the better choice!

I might be one of the only bloggers, or at least one of the very few, to write a post favoring the Blogger platform. You see endless reasons to "switch to Wordpress" and why it's better, and why that particular blogger made the switch. I don't read those posts anymore. I get it. We all get it. Wordpress (self hosted) is indeed better - for the most part. You own your site, own your content, better image quality, blah blah blah. Got it. Kthanxbai. But I'll tell you what: There IS a time when Blogger is better than Wordpress.

Everyone raves about Wordpress, so is Blogger ever the best blogging platform?!


I don't have any formal HTML coding education or experience. I'm all self taught. When I started this blog two years ago, I had no idea what I was doing! I started on Blogger because I had a gmail account so it was easy to open a Blogger one, too. In case you didn't know, Gmail, Google and Blogger are all one big happy family on the internets.

Additionally, when I opened said account, I could figure out how to use it. I fumbled through some of my first posts, and certainly had a terrible site design until I got a professional to do a custom one for me. But it was manageable for someone who was a writer by trade and dumb as an ox with technology. I should mention, I also opened a Wordpress account. I stared at that screen for about 10 minutes before I gave up. It wasn't inherent to me; I had no idea how to even post on that platform the way I wanted to!

Are you on Wordpress, Blogger or some other platform?


So when is Blogger better than Wordpress? Simple: when you're not tech-savvy and furthermore, when you don't have capacity to sit and google or youtube hundreds of how-to videos/tutorials. And that's just for a basic post! Never mind the fact that self-hosted Wordpress sites crash, need to be backed up and regularly are down for maintenance. Kate from The Small Things Blog says making the switch was the worst decision she's ever made. Her site hasn't worked consistently since switching because of all the tech problems! She's also an enormously popular blogger who has a following large enough to crash a site #goals.

Blogger is user friendly. My site is ALWAYS up. That means that when I actually get 25 minutes of both kids napping, I can actually create a post. I don't need to fumble through tech problems or update the latest plugin. Blogger is better for us busy moms, or work outside the home moms, or just busy career gals who don't want to futz with tech problems - we just want to BLOG! I have juuuuuuuust enough time to crank out two posts a week, take the photos for them, edit them, insert them in my post, and schedule it. Just enough. I do not have time for site crashes, plugin installs and updates, hosting issues and heck - even figuring out how to get a dang post to look the way I want it to!

Blogger is the most realistic choice for me, right now

Look, Wordpress delivers better quality. You have more choices and control over your blog. Have you ever noticed how my images sometimes aren't quite the same size? I size them all in editing software to 950x1400. But when I upload them in Blogger, I can only select "small medium large xlarge" for the sizes, and for whatever reason, they don't always line up. That annoys me to no end. But it's not nearly as annoying as having your site down when you only have 15 minutes to crank out content! It's not nearly as annoying as having friends text you that your comment plugin isn't working, and you have to spend the next two hours troubleshooting why.

Blogger is turnkey. I never worry about any of those issues. Yes, I can't reply to people who are still "no-reply" bloggers, which some of my favorite bloggers and regular commenters are (that's why you haven't heard from me!). It's true, I have limited control over image size, and even though I have high res photos, I feel like the quality is always a bit blurry after uploading them to Blogger. But this platform is so user friendly! Since I stay home with kids and blog (I officially call myself a work from home mom now) I need my blogging platform to be as quick, turnkey, functional and easy to use as possible. My time needs to be spent on content, not technology.

Don't get me wrong. The second I have more capacity, I'll make the switch! But currently, my reality is that I have two kids under two that rarely nap at the same time. I have super limited time to spend that isn't with a baby or toddler on my lap. Blogger is conducive for that kind of blogger. And for folks like me, Blogger IS better than Wordpress.

55 comments:

  1. I'm with you, I mean, I don't have kids but blogging needs to be quick for me to get things done. I do not have time yet to learn wordpress. Maybe one day i will but right now blogger is where I need to be.

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  2. I love blogging on blogger! I have had various blogs since 2001, and have always had them on blogger. I think that it is definitely an easy platform to use, and I think there is a lot of customization that you can do with blogger if you seek it out. I'm not sure this tip will help with your pictures, but if I re-size my pictures and then upload them - I just pick "original size" and it will put the picture in with the dimensions I specified.

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  3. I like that you said it's turnkey...that's how I feel about it, too. I dont have to think about stuff or get frustrated with it. Just type and click!

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  4. I've never come across a post with this topic, so go Paige for paving the way! I don't know enough about both platforms to know one way or another; I also never had a technical problem or frustration with WordPress like you mentioned, but I'm sure it happens! I have a custom template and putting in my images and text couldn't be easier- I wonder if mine is different than others? I don't have to format or resize/position text or images. I'd never know the difference visually between a Wordpress and Blogger site - yours is so clean, easy to navigate, and organized.

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  5. I'm a huge fan of blogger and a lot of wordpress sites don't load at work for me...so that's a turnoff right now for me. I write for a stylist that has a worpress site so I'm very comfortable with that side of things, I just prefer blogger to wordpress, right now :)xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  6. Whatever works, right? Good for you for knowing where to focus your energies right now! I really love Wordpress, but I switched early in my blogging career, and didn't have many issues. I understand how someone might not want to switch, though, there are definite issues that come along with it - hosting issues, coding, etc.

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  7. Whatever works, right? Good for you for knowing where to focus your energies right now! I really love Wordpress, but I switched early in my blogging career, and didn't have many issues. I understand how someone might not want to switch, though, there are definite issues that come along with it - hosting issues, coding, etc.

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  8. Same here! I am not very tech savvy and I find Blogger so incredibly easy to use. I tried Wordpress briefly and was intimidated by the learning curve -- maybe at some point in the future! - Trish

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  9. These are very valid points. I really love Wordpress (I've been on there for almost a year) and am happy I switched after 4ish years on Blogger. The biggest annoyance I think is the hosting problems that pop up, but I'm also a tech geek so I love all of the plugins and coding things :)

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  10. I definitely think it comes down to preference! I'm lucky because my husband is super techie and has been able to help me with certain issues. But I definitely think I would be looking for a more user friendly option like Blogger if that wasn't the case.

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  11. The fact that Blogger is free is really nice. That's why I started there. I didn't have any problems transferring to WP and have since had no problems. Everyone has a preference and I'm so glad I switched. But it can be a scary to make that move for sure.

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  12. girl preach! I thought I was a lone duck when it came to blogger blogging! Thanks for sharing this. I love Blogger and am sticking with it!

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  13. Switching over was really hard but has been awesome. I tried to do it myself and then almost lost everything so I ended up paying somebody to transfer the site for me. For the first week it was hard to try to find my way around the site, but I ended up buying a theme from Pretty Darn Cute (I have an affiliate link if you want and get discounts all the time in my email) and they walk you through everything. Even with that, it was a learning curve. Definitely recommend doing it when you have more time. Something I wish I had more of too! The non overlapping naps are the bane of my existence! I feel guilty but I just turned on the TV for my 3 yr old because mom needs to get some work done!

    xo
    Annie

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  14. I'm on blogger right now and actually love it as well. It's so free and easy and I can blog without having to feel guilty or like I need to be doing it since I haven't invested a lot of money in it.

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  15. I love using Blogger! I have never had a problem with using it for my blog. I think as of now, it would be just too much work to switch to Wordpress when I can get all the same great stuff with Blogger. Thank you for sharing!!!

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  16. I've been with Wordpress since 2008, both wordpress dot com and self hosted sites. The one reason I moved from Blogger to WP 8 years ago is because back then WP offered password protected blog posts and I was writing about ex husbands. Also, you had the option to have posts only people who signed in to your blog could read. All kinds of secret things that made me feel like I was getting away with bad mouthing ex husbands online.

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  17. I loved being on Blogger prior to my Wordpress switch back in October. The only reason I do prefer WP is because of the SEO capabilities but I would've stayed on Blogger if it wasn't for that.

    xoxo, Jenny

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  18. I always come across posts which say how Wordpress is the best. And I have my blog on Blogger so I get thinking of switching but then it's a lot of work. Glad that I read this!! :)

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  19. You are so right! Blogger is incredibly user friendly. I made a Wordpress account so I could check out the platform and see if I wanted to make the switch.. I gave up after 5 minutes. SO frustrating and difficult to figure out.

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  20. Good for you for highlighting the benefits of Blogger. I fell prey to the Wordpress hype a few years back and tried to start an alternate blog there. The level of frustration I experienced caused me to abandon that project. I'm sticking with Blogger for all the reasons you cite.

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  21. When I'm with my sister and her kiddos, finding the time to blog is damn near impossible so I totally get where you are coming from with not wanting the time commitment of the switch. I think having a good person who can pretty much do it for you is the key!

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  22. I used blogger before self hosting - and I liked that you had more control over the background.

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  23. Alrgiht..so Ihave been wrestling with this controversy for months! Ha I am on blogger as well, and SUCK techy stuff. I keep hearing ..You cant monetize on blogger, your site will never take off..blah blah blah...well I know two very high profile fashion bloggers on blogger that are monetizing just fine..Brooklyn Blonde and Levitate STyle. I keep feeling the pressure to switch....but all you say is exactly the things I battle....I am afraid I wont blog once on word press. I do fight too with the pics sizes on blogger.. you read my mind! I have been frustrated over this as of late. But all the reason you mention for not switching are so valid! So until I can afford to pay someone to manage my tech stuff I am staying on blogger, might stay here for good..who knows! Great and fabulous post!

    Valerie
    MapleLeopard.com

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  24. Blogger is also better for those of us just starting, with limited experience, and not enough of a following to merit paying for self-hosting etc. If I make the switch to WordPress or SquareSpace it won't be any time soon. My blog is about four months old. I don't know where it - or I - will be in another four months. I'm not willing to shell out the cash on my very limited budget for something that may not even pan out. So I agree with you that Blogger is better for people like us.

    -Kaitlynn

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  25. Totally agree! I still use Blogger. Every time I contemplate the switch it comes down to, I already have a full time job, am studying for my PMP, like to hit the gym 4 days a week, spend time with my boyfriend, family and friends... as if I have the time to create a new blog platform right now!

    Blogger is definitely turnkey and I love that. One day Wordpress, but not any time soon!

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  26. i love blogger! i have no issues or judgement for those who want to use wordpress, but it's not for me. blogger is definitely user friendly.. to me, anyway.

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  27. I love blogger too. It's the platform I use.

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  28. I love Blogger! It was so easy to start and you are so right about always working. I thought about switching... but it seemed more trouble than it was worth.

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  29. I have been on blogger for 3 years. I constantly hear and feel the pressure to switch.or your blog wont be considered professional..blah blah blah! I am the exact same as you...I don't have the expertise, time or patience to deal with all that techy nonsense on WP..besides my blog is not really a biz at this point, so I am staying on blogger. Thanks for sharing this!

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