Yola – Free Blogging Platform

 

Yola is a free blogging platform that offers a host of features for bloggers to create and publish their content. Users can design their website by choosing from various templates or customizing their own, add personalized content such as images, videos, and text, and publish it on a custom domain name. One of the most significant advantages of using Yola is that it offers simple, user-friendly, and intuitive blogging tools that even beginners can use. With Yola, bloggers can create professional-looking websites without any programming or design skills.

 

General Information

Yola began as a free blogging site in South Africa during 2007. The company is located in Cape Town and currently has over 12 million users.

Yola has around 80 templates — one minor issue with their templates is they are not categorized in any way. So, you will have to determine if you think the template works for the site you’re trying to create.

The Sitebuilder is available in six languages including English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Their goal is, “Making it easy for you to get your business online.”

With a free plan you get:

·         3 Pages

·         1GB bandwidth

·         1GB storage

·         Yola subdomain

 

Social media integration

An outstanding feature of Yola is that it offers seamless integration with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Bloggers can promote their content on these platforms and attract more readers and followers. Yola also offers a range of marketing tools, such as search engine optimization, email marketing, and online advertising, which help to attract more visitors to a website.

 

Pros and Cons

Pros

·         Easy to use drag-and-drop format

·         Plenty of e-commerce options, including Ecwid

·         Ability to edit code

·         Free plan lets you get started without paying a penny

Cons

·         No blogging tool

·         Ads included in the Bronze plan

·         No mobile app

 

Website: https://www.yola.com/

 

Sources and Additional Information:

https://www.ryrob.com/free-blogging-sites/

https://cybernews.com/best-website-builders/yola-review/

https://www.websiteplanet.com/website-builders/yola/#overview

 

LanguageTool – Free Online Grammar, Style and Spell Checker

 

LanguageTool is a free online AI-based proofreading service for English, Spanish, and 30 other languages. Instantly check your text for grammar and style mistakes.

No account needed to use this online service. LanguageTool Free option includes:

·         Basic punctuation, spelling, and grammar checking

·         Up to 10,000 characters checked

·         Picky mode

·         Synonym suggestions (beta)

·         The browser extension will check your text online, including Google Docs and Gmail

LanguageTool leaves a good first impression. It starts checking for errors as you start typing.

Different types of errors have different color codes. Spelling mistakes are highlighted in red color; grammatical mistakes are in yellow colors and styling errors have a blueish shade.

Clicking on the error suggestion replaces your text with the suggested one. You may also ignore the suggestion. You’ll also see a number of issues identified by LanguageTool in the current text check.

You may also create your free account for some additional benefits:

·         Distraction-free writing experience

·         Personal Dictionary

·         Quality scoring for your texts

·         Texts are securely stored

·         Access even more suggestions for advanced punctuation, style, and typography with the “Picky Mode”

·         Choose between dark and light appearance

Website: https://languagetool.org

 

Sources and Additional Information:

https://kindlepreneur.com/languagetool/

https://itsfoss.com/languagetool-review/

https://comparecamp.com/languagetool-review-pricing-pros-cons-features/

 

Webador - free website builder

 

Webador is a Dutch site builder geared towards beginners as well as those who prioritize ease of use. The provider's mission: To help anyone create a website that they're completely satisfied with. Beyond that, Webador claims to power its servers with 100% renewable energy, making any websites running off its platform Carbon neutral.

The platform lets organizations use built-in SEO capabilities to optimize website ranking across multiple search engines and communicate with clients using a custom email address.

Webador comes with a drag-and-drop builder, which allows users to customize templates and color schemes, add logos, images, videos, forms, product catalogs, and multiple webpages to websites. The solution offers a host of features such as social media integration, SSL connection, blogs, password protection, Google search console, multiple payment methods, maps, and more. Webshop owners can manage orders, calculate shipping cost for local and international shipments, print shipping labels, track delivery, and send customer notifications via email.

Administrators can also promote products on multiple sales channels like eBay, Amazon, Facebook, and Google Shopping. Webador also enables managers to gain insights into visitors’ geographic information, devices used for browsing, popular pages, and referral websites via the statistics dashboard.

 

Key benefits of Webador

- Build your website using an intuitive drag-and-drop system

- Free domain name registration and mailbox (e.g. info@domain.com) included

- Easily customize the colours and styling of your website design according to match your preferred style

- eCommerce features for creating an online store including online payments and inventory management

- very good reviews from existing customers regarding the customer service

 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

·         Simple to use

·         Free version with limited features

·         Easy multilingual websites (paid feature)

 

Cons:

·         Rudimentary blogging tools

·         Limited customization options

·         No app market

·         More suited to small shops or businesses

 

Pricing

The platform's pricing system is fairly straightforward: Along with the free version, two paid subscriptions are offered, Pro and Business, which can be booked at a monthly or (more affordable) yearly rate.

 

Pro package subscribers are limited to 10 products and 1 GB of mailbox storage. Business subscribers can add as many products as they like, and also take advantage of 10 GB of mailbox storage. Pro users have to make do without HD video content elements. Both packages include free domains.

 

Should you want to use Webador's free version, you'll be tied to a webador.com address. You also won't be able to use most of the additional features and can't open an online store. Blogging is possible for free users.

 

With free account you still get unlimited space, unlimited pages, and unlimited traffic.

 

Below, you can find a current price list for Webador:

Website: https://www.webador.com/

 

Sources and Additional Information:

https://www.experte.com/website-builder/webador

https://www.getapp.za.com/software/138907/webador

https://www.capterra.com/p/195774/JouwWeb/

https://sourceforge.net/software/product/Webador/

 

Quora - free service for blogging

 

Quora is a question-and-answer platform where people usually go to discuss different topics. It is one of the best blogging tools to get an idea of a detailed blog post. All you have to do is search for the relevant keyword and follow the topic related to it. You will get plenty of ideas to start a new blog.

In addition to giving ideas and answering your queries, Quora is a site that allows you to advertise your product or service on the platform. Since a lot of people visit Quora, there is a fair chance that you will get the attention that your business demands.

What is Quora?

Quora is a popular question-and-answer website where users can ask questions on a wide variety of topics, and receive answers from other users who have knowledge or expertise in that area. Users can also follow topics, and receive updates on new questions and answers related to those topics.

Quora was founded in 2009 by former Facebook employees, and has since grown to become one of the most popular question-and-answer websites on the internet. The website is known for its high-quality content and active community of users, who range from industry experts to casual enthusiasts.

Quora is free to use, and users can sign up for an account using their email address or social media accounts. Once registered, users can ask questions, answer questions posted by others, upvote or downvote answers, and interact with other users through comments and direct messaging.

 

Quora Pros

Quora has several advantages that make it a valuable resource for users. Here are some of the main pros of using Quora:

1. Knowledge and expertise: Quora provides access to a wide range of knowledge and expertise on virtually any topic. Users can get answers to their questions from experts, industry professionals, and other knowledgeable individuals who are passionate about sharing their knowledge.
2. Quality content: Quora is known for its high-quality content, which is moderated to ensure that it meets certain standards of accuracy and relevance. This helps to ensure that users can trust the information they find on the site.
3. Community engagement: Quora has an active community of users who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and engaging with others. This can help to foster a sense of community and connection among users who share similar interests.
4. Easy to use: Quora is designed to be user-friendly, with a simple interface that makes it easy to search for and find relevant content.
5. Networking opportunities: Quora can be a valuable tool for networking and building relationships with other professionals or individuals who share similar interests.

 

Quora Cons

While Quora has many advantages, there are also some potential drawbacks or limitations to using the site. Here are some of the main cons of using Quora:

1. Quality control issues: While Quora is known for its high-quality content, there may still be some inaccuracies or biased information that slip through the moderation process. Users should always exercise caution and verify information before taking it as fact.
2. Time-consuming: Quora can be addictive, and users may find themselves spending hours scrolling through questions and answers. This can be a time-consuming distraction from other important tasks.
3. Information overload: With so much content available on Quora, it can be overwhelming to sift through all the information to find the most relevant and accurate answers to your questions.
4. Limited topics: While Quora covers a wide range of topics, there may be some subjects that are not well-represented on the site, or for which it is difficult to find accurate or helpful information.
5. Privacy concerns: Quora collects and stores a significant amount of user data, which can be a concern for those who are sensitive about their online privacy.

 

How Quora can be useful for blogging?

Quora can be a valuable tool for bloggers who are looking to reach a wider audience and increase their online presence. Here are some tips on how to use Quora for blogging:

1. Identify relevant topics: Look for topics related to your niche or area of expertise that are popular on Quora. This can help you to identify areas where you can provide valuable insights and expertise to the Quora community.
2. Answer questions: Answering questions on Quora is a great way to establish yourself as an authority on a particular topic. When answering questions, be sure to provide detailed and insightful responses that demonstrate your knowledge and expertise.
3. Include links: When answering questions on Quora, you can include links to your blog or website to provide additional information or resources to users. Just be sure to avoid spamming or self-promotion, and only include links where they are relevant and helpful.
4. Engage with users: Engage with other Quora users by commenting on their answers, asking follow-up questions, and participating in discussions. This can help you to build relationships and establish yourself as a valuable contributor to the Quora community.
5. Monitor your analytics: Quora provides analytics tools that allow you to track your views, upvotes, and other metrics related to your activity on the site. Use these tools to monitor your performance, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your strategy as needed.

Overall, using Quora for blogging can be a valuable way to connect with a wider audience, establish yourself as an authority in your niche, and drive traffic to your blog or website.

Website: https://www.quora.com/

Ghost Blogging Platform

 

Ghost is a blogging platform designed for writers who want to focus on their content without any distractions. It offers a simple, minimalist interface and a range of features, including a built-in editor, SEO optimization, and analytics. Ghost is also open-source, so you can customize it to your liking.

 

Ghost is a modern and powerful blogging platform designed for writers who want to focus on their content without any distractions. Here are some details about Ghost:

1.       Minimalist Interface: Ghost offers a clean, minimalist interface that is easy to use and navigate. The platform's focus is on writing, so you won't find any unnecessary features or distractions that get in the way of your content.

2.       Customization: Ghost offers a range of customization options that allow you to make your blog your own. You can choose from a variety of templates or create your own using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ghost also allows you to use custom domains and offers integration with third-party services like Google Analytics.

3.       Built-in Editor: Ghost has a built-in editor that is easy to use and allows you to format your content using Markdown. The editor includes features like drag-and-drop image uploading, inline image resizing, and automatic embeds for popular platforms like YouTube and Twitter.

4.       SEO Optimization: Ghost is designed with SEO in mind, and includes features like customizable meta descriptions and automatic XML sitemaps to help your content rank well in search engines.

5.       Developer-Friendly: Ghost is built using modern web technologies like Node.js and Ember.js, and is open-source, which means that developers can contribute to the platform and create custom themes and plugins.

6.       Membership Features: Ghost offers membership features like paid subscriptions and member-only content. You can set up multiple tiers of membership with different pricing levels and benefits.

7.       Pricing: Ghost offers both self-hosted and fully managed options. The self-hosted version is free and requires you to provide your own hosting, while the fully managed version starts at $29/month and includes hosting, backups, and automatic updates.

 

Overall, Ghost is a powerful and flexible platform that is perfect for writers who want to focus on their content and build a community around their ideas.