Blogger platform is dead, let’s move on. Do not get me wrong, it is still offered as a free product for those who want to use it for. I am referred to as a user for on and off cover for a very long period of time, using blogger and WordPress, from free host to current I hosted it myself at the time I write this post.
Let me explain, so you get the context for what I talked about. In the very early days, html based personal website service providers were there for people to create and develop their own website for all kinds of purposes, whether for personal to business.
You cross reference, it is the time for Apple, inc introduce its revolutionary package iLife app, where they cover iWeb to make personal website design and development as simple as it can, and they are hosting it for the customer as well. Despite being so popular, Apple decided to kill off that, and move on.
Google acquired Blogger in those days, really if you are a long time user you will notice the only place they make improvement is how to integrate it insert advertisement to make money from the content, since blog platforms attract a lot of people who share a lot of content. That is the reason behind free blogging platforms and how it sustains the running cost.
At the same period of time we saw the rise of WordPress becoming the only and not disputed platform, content management system (CMS). Other platforms like Drupal, Joomla are all falling behind. It is the only platform we see keep upgrading to the latest version and with a ton of plugins and addons you can integrate into your website, together with a lot of website themes and templates you can use for quickly setting up your website and running. No one likes to be in the same look and feel as other users, when it comes to design and look and feel, in that aspect, the WordPress ecosystem is very successful, this is why they are the only leading blogging platform. Blogger platform in comparison for so many years, it is easy to sign up and post, but the template offer is limited, no to mention extension, plugin and addon ecosystem is not there.
This is why, at the time you watch this post, I write it in the WordPress. If you are considering investing in one of them, whether hosted or self hosted, pick WordPress, it saves you a lot of time to migrate data.
I am aware that for some people, who pickup blogger platform is for posting censored content like violence, adult or pornography, where in general, it aims to make money from the blog post content, where I think its content serves the purpose for it.
But for ordinary people who want a personal website for their own post, write here and there, and want to make it advertisement free, self hosted WordPress is the key, else you pay for a professional hosting company to host it for you at a reasonable fee. For those who aim for self hosted, be prepared for backup and downtime handled by your own. For those who are building a personal blog for branding, I believe WordPress package hosting is the way to go.