Getting Started: Where Should I Set Up My Blog?

• This great post on ProBlogger will help you think through your blogging goals and needs, which will help you choose the right platform.

• Many beginning bloggers like the simplicity of Google's Blogger.com. You can set up a blog in minutes, and customize it easily without needing to be too tech-savvy. However, while many bloggers start out here, many of them also end up moving later to Wordpress or Typepad.

• Wordpress is a very powerful blogging tool. It's available in a free version or a version you host yourself. (If you're confused by those terms, see the link section on this topic.)

The free version of Wordpress offers somewhat limited options for customization, and you can't install any ads on it. The hosted version can be customized almost infinitely, but you'll need to understand HTML (web design programming language) to use it.

• Typepad is also a powerful blogging tool, but doesn't offer any free options (beyond a limited free trial). It's best for people who have some technical savvy.