Best Free Blog

Dunno if this should go here or the help forum.

I'm setting up a small presentation concerning blog use for a few people. I have already set up things like the motivation, good guide lines, etc. However, I want to have a run through with one or two blog services.

I have been looking into blogs (and have used some in the past), but wanted to see which one was the best in your opinion.

Note the following:

There needs to be some options of who can see what message. Like, everyone, friends only, and private.

It should be as user frieindly as possible.

If possible, it would be nice to upload small videos and pictures.

Customization is nice and welcome, but doesn't outweigh simplicity. Yes, we all can do a lot with various Blogs,but the group of people I am talking to range greatly in computerish abilities. Also, the harder it is, the less motivation there is.

What? You have no server for this? If you do, try Wordpress.org. If you don't, make an account at Wordpress.com, I hear it's limited, but it must beat nothing.

Xanga, LiveJournal, MySpace, Blogger, all those other shitty services are not options. Do not use them.

I was just about to ask wether this should be limited to free blog services or actual blogging software as well. WordPress is by far the best (free) solution out there, if you have your own server and know how to set it up.

Originally Posted by Rock

I was just about to ask wether this should be limited to free blog services or actual blogging software as well. WordPress is by far the best (free) solution out there, if you have your own server and know how to set it up.

I must whole heartedly agree with Wordpress, it beats all of these mediocre blogging services that are popping up here and there, it gives you the true freedom to do what you want and has an excellent community behind it.

Its free, simple to use, and with a few simple mods can do exactly what you want it to. But of course you will need some webspace, alot of free services which offer 100-250mb webspace with no ads do exist out there and I suggest you google them. But for better results you can get a cheap hosting plan.

Out of personal experience I find Myspace to be hell, the only other service I have used is Blogger and that was pretty lacking in the features and functionality department. Otherwise my friends use MSN's blog service which does allow you to upload pictures etc.. and its not too bad because its simple and works with Msn Messenger, buddy's etc.. but even that I find is mediocre at best.

But like Rock said it would be nice if you could clarify.

Whoa! Okay, I must have confused people...

I am not setting up a blog server (sorry for the confusion). I don't have the resources. I am looking at blog sites (i.e. Livejournal) to see what is the best, simpliest and cheapest (and by cheap i mean free) one for people.

In other words, I was wondering what was the best (or some of the best) of blogging sites currently available.

Originally Posted by mortis

Whoa! Okay, I must have confused people...

I am not setting up a blog server (sorry for the confusion). I don't have the resources. I am looking at blog sites (i.e. Livejournal) to see what is the best, simpliest and cheapest (and by cheap i mean free) one for people.

In other words, I was wondering what was the best (or some of the best) of blogging sites currently available.

Seriously, take Ultima's advice.

Originally Posted by mortis

I am not setting up a blog server (sorry for the confusion). I don't have the resources.

Like I said before you could use free webhosting with Wordpress so it costs nothing, or like Ultima said make an account at Wordpress.com.

Does ChocoJournal count?

The best free blog site anyone can have is the one all your friends and peers use, which are all the typical and mainstream ones everyone seem to hate yet still use because of what I just mentioned at the begining of this ridiculously long sentance.

Originally Posted by Rasputin

The best free blog site anyone can have is the one all your friends and peers use, which are all the typical and mainstream ones everyone seem to hate yet still use because of what I just mentioned at the begining of this ridiculously long sentance.

I hate them and I don't use them. For Wordpress anything you don't even need an account to comment or read, so all these typical and mainstream blog sites fail.

They aren't even blogs by definition. They are more of social networking sites. MySpace, for instance, is a social networking site with some sort of a botched blog feature. Xanga, LiveJournal, etc, are blogs by definition, but sites where you sign in through a service are really heading towards the social networking stratosphere and are floating away from blogs. Contentwise, they really were never blogs to begin with, just rantspaces for teenagers that got raped by the guy they used to dream about or got dumped by their girlfriends and are slitting their wrists.

What gives. Just get Wordpress and be done with it.

Yep Wordpress is good, I use it, but i you are gonna use the free service, your limited to the themes that cant be customized.

My vote also goes for Wordpress (+ webhoster)
Easy, full customizable and great support through various communites.

Edit:
Ok, use Wordpress.org

Whta? Is wordpress.com different from Wordpress.org? Whats the difference?

WordPress.com is a free hosting service based on the WordPress blog software.

WordPress.org is the official development, support and file resource site for the WordPress software.