Introduction
Blogging has come a long way from being just a creative outlet. It is now established as an important side of a successful content marketing strategy. Whether you share personal stories, technical guides, or you want to promote your business — blog posts can help you find your voice, connect with a target audience, and build your online presence.
However, as there are so many blog platforms, picking the right one can be a little daunting. The platform you choose can make or break your blogging journey—it needs to align with your blogging goals and level of creativity. Fortunately, choosing a platform doesn't have to be stressful. You can start with a simpler one and then migrate to an advanced platform. Some platforms even offer features like custom domain integration and drag-and-drop website builders with a simple interface to help you create a professional-looking blog without requiring design skills.
For those in the tech world—especially developers and SaaS professionals—platforms like Medium, Dev.to, and Hashnode are popular blogging platforms. Not only are these excellent choices for tech enthusiasts, but they also establish a built-in audience where your tech-centric content can thrive. The wider audience on these platforms can help increase your blog’s domain authority as well.
In this blog, we'll explore why tech and SaaS talents prefer these platforms, and other key factors like SEO optimization, customization, and usability.
Key Factors To Choose The Best Platform for Blogs
There are several key factors you need to consider when choosing the best platform for blogs. Let’s break them down.
A. Simplicity and Accessibility
Let's face it—nobody wants to spend hours figuring out how to use blog software or blogging platforms. For beginners, especially non-technical users, it's better to choose a simpler one.
Platforms like Wordpress.com and Blogger are known for their simplicity. Both are very easy to use and allow you to get started within minutes. You don’t need any coding skills—just pick a range of templates, make a few customizations, and you’re good to go. Traditional blogging platforms like these are excellent for building personal blogs as well as professional ones.
However, simplicity does not solely refer to how easy or quick it is to set up; your blogging platform should also contain additional features such as H2 and H3 for headings to assist in your blog’s navigation. This makes it easier for both readers and search engines to be able to understand your content.
Another important factor? Responsiveness. Your blog must be appropriately designed to fit all devices, including PCs and mobile phones. Currently, more than 60% of the traffic comes from mobile devices, so it is vital to have a platform that optimizes your blog for mobile users. For those using platforms like Wordpress, adding Google Analytics can help track your blog entries and understand where your traffic is coming from.
B. API Integration
API integration is a must-have for SaaS or engineering businesses. Platforms like WordPress.org are built with APIs that integrate your blog with CRM, analytics, and marketing automation tools. The integration assists with tracking users’ interactions and maximizing content’s effectiveness.
Take Buffer, for example. For the blog, they employ WordPress that integrates well with the analytics, assisting them in monitoring the site results and user interest.
C. SEO capabilities
Search engine optimization is the foundation of blogs’ visibility. When it comes to SaaS, selecting the right platform that plays well with SEO is essential from the beginning. Businesses that establish and maintain a blogging strategy can get 55% more website traffic and 67% more leads than businesses that do not (Source: Draft.dev). Blogs such as WordPress or Ghost are created with SEO in mind, and plugins like Yoast SEO make them easy to use. Custom domains can also be integrated easily, which boosts credibility and enhances SEO efforts.
Frequency is another component that cannot be overlooked as well; it is important to update frequently. It means that blogs that are updated more often are indexed 434% more often by the search engines, thus needing more technical or engineering content (Wazobia Technologies). This is why DuckDuckGo uses Ghost—it’s fast, it’s simple, and it’s ideal for private businesses that also need active SEO. Traditional blogging platforms like WordPress also offer a drag-and-drop website builder and mobile app options to help users create content on the go and maintain a consistent blogging schedule, thus ensuring wider audience reach.
D. Cost and Budget
Your budget is another thing that you should consider. For example, you can start with Medium or Blogger, but if you wish to get more advanced options, such as your own domain or some deeper SEO opportunities, you’ll need to take a paid plan.
For instance, Wix and Squarespace provide free trials, but for domains, you have to sign up for one of their paid versions. A survey by Stack Overflow reveals that 72% of developers rely on blog content while seeking technical information to solve their problems; thus, your blog is a significant asset to your SaaS business.
Which blogging platform is best for writing about Engineering and SaaS products?
If you are in the tech niche — especially if you are a developer or SaaS writer — specific platforms are good for your pieces.
According to a report by W3Techs, WordPress is used by more than 43% of all websites because of its versatility and compatibility with other systems. According to the Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, for companies focusing on security, 29% of all data breaches are related to websites, which means that SaaS companies handling sensitive information need secure blogging platforms. In addition, BuzzSumo revealed that the incorporation of multimedia in blogging elevates engagement by 41%, which is crucial when B2B SaaS businesses are to retain and educate their clients. The updated blogging frequency is indexed 434% more often by the search engines, which will definitely improve posts' visibility.
For advanced users, platforms that offer more customization and integration options might be essential, while beginners might start with simpler tools. Also, including affiliate links within your content can be a valuable strategy for generating revenue and building partnerships.
Now let’s compare some of the platforms that are used by successful SaaS companies with the trends we described above.
1. Medium
Medium is quite popular with the tech writing audience and SaaS content. It has a simple and elegant design, and it also has an active audience that would make your ideas reach many people. Medium also has a ready-made audience, so when you post, your writings will go viral without much need of optimization.
Since Medium attracts more than 60 million active readers monthly, your post will not take long to go viral. However, what I find most appealing about Medium is that its interface is simple—just like writing on a notepad—and the posts are instantly distributed to a network of readers after hitting the ‘Publish’ button.
However, Medium receives over 700,000 posts every month, and hence, you are likely to face stiff competition for readership.
2. Webflow
When it comes to engineering and SaaS products, Webflow is a platform that is focused on customization and does not require significant knowledge of coding. Engineering products might need certain features that are not available in typical blogging sites, and Webflow offers a visual website development tool enabling you to design the necessary interfaces.
Through Webflow, one can add features such as interactive ones, designing and adding multimedia objects that help present difficult information to the target audience. This customization can be particularly helpful for SaaS companies who intend to demonstrate particular aspects of their product in a manner that is more expressive than on platforms as basic as Medium.
3. Dev.to
For developers, Dev.to is an incredible platform. It is more like a whole community and not just a blogging site. It is possible to share code snippets and tutorials that might be interesting to other developers and articles. Also, it is open-source software, and users do not need to pay for it; thus, many tech writers use it.
With over 700,000 active developers who publish and participate on the platform, Dev.to is a very active platform for any developer or SaaS writer looking to share expertise. It also has decent search engine optimization, so it fits very well for those who are interested in SEO.
After posting on Dev.to, you can use Reddit and Tumblr to simply write a brief summary of the article with a link back to your post. This can increase your article’s reach and help you connect with relevant audiences outside of Dev.to.
4. Hashnode
Hashnode is another platform designed mainly for developers. What makes the service unique is that it enables you to blog under your domain, but at the same time, it ties you to the large tech community of the site. In this way, you are also able to cover two aspects—branding and exposure to the community. Although Hashnode is quite helpful in writing about almost anything, it is more suitable for writing about SaaS products as well as other topics related to technology.
Hashnode is used by over 500,000 developers, tech writers, and other professionals, meaning that its audience is highly engaged with tech content. In addition, it has features that support SEO optimization, and that makes it simple to rank your posts on Google.
5. Mintlify
Mintlify is more of a developer tool, and its main purpose is documentation rather than blogging as such, but it is great for technical content or guides. It is extremely flexible and aims at enhancing usability for developers. For those who require clean, interactive documentation, Mintlify can be a perfect solution, particularly for teams with SaaS projects.
6. GitBook
GitBook is another social documentation platform designed for developers. It enables you to write new content and post articles, manuals, guides, or other technical write-ups. The emphasis is on simple and concise documentation for software projects, which makes it suitable for most SaaS businesses and software developers.
GitBook is perfect if you require a platform that is easily scalable to document code or build detailed tutorials. It also facilitates SEO best practices, ensuring that your technical documentation can rank in search engines. If you begin creating documentation with Mintlify and realize that your needs exceed its capabilities, try using GitBook, which is more suitable for large-scale projects. Both of the platforms are easy to migrate, but always create a backup of your data before importing.
Free vs. Paid blogging platforms
One of the most important choices to be made is whether you’d like to have a free or paid blog. Both have their advantages as well as disadvantages.
A. Free blogging platforms
Free platforms like WordPress.com and Blogger are ideal for beginners who do not want to spend money. However, there are always pros and cons when it comes to the use of these platforms. For instance, they might not offer a custom domain (which will cost some extra money), and you’ll have minimal design choices. However, they are quite useful for experimenting and gaining a small audience.
B. Paid Blogging Platforms
The other type of blogging platform is the paid platform, which includes Squarespace and Wordpress.org, that allow for much more in terms of customization, branding, and search engine optimization. They offer your own domain, advanced features, and the ability to build your site to your own specifications. These are good for bloggers who want to grow or who view blogging as a part of a bigger strategy anyway.
Top Strategies for Choosing the Right Blogging Platform
Selecting the best platform for blogs has the potential to mark your success in blogging. Here are some best practices to consider:
A. Define Your Goals
What is the goal of your blog? Do you want to blog for entertainment’s sake, or would you like your blog to have a secondary function for your business? Knowing your plans will assist you in considering a platform that can be beneficial to you in the future.
B. Think Long-Term
Initially, your blog can be small, but as time progresses, you can see the blog growing. Ideally, you will choose the platform that has the capability of expansion and can be customized in the future. For example, if you start with Mintlify to write some simple articles related to a SaaS project, you may need to switch to GitBook to work on larger projects. Platforms like WordPress.org also offer plenty of room for growth as your audience expands.
C. Consider Your Technical Skills
If you are not a technical person at all or have a very limited technical background, then you should choose simplicity over flexibility. For example, WordPress and Blogger are some of the most popular blogging sites for novice bloggers.
D. Commit to SEO from Day One
SEO is an important aspect that should be applied right from the start. Select a host that provides tools for easy search engine marketing of the content that you intend to publish.
Conclusion
It is therefore important that you choose the best platform for blogs for your business. Regardless of the beginner or growth stage you’re in, the platform that you adopt should be appropriate for your goals, technical skills, and budget.
Remember that platforms like Medium, Dev.to, and Hashnode are appropriate for tech-savvy bloggers and developers. These are the platforms that you need in the tech space to get community support and exposure.
Call to Action
Are you new to blogging, and you’d like to begin? Go through the platforms discussed here and choose the one that is most suitable for your content type. You don’t have to stick to one platform; feel free to try and learn because you can always change to another platform in the end.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the best platform to write blogs?
For developers, Hashnode and Dev.to are top picks. For a more general audience, the recommended platforms are Medium or WordPress.
2. What is the best website to make a blog?
For more tech-related content, use Hashnode or Dev.to. In terms of ease of use and adaptability, Medium and WordPress are perfect.
3. What is the most used blog site?
WordPress is the most used and best platform for blogs. For developers, Dev.to and Hashnode are very popular.
4. What is the best platform for a beginner blogger?
Dev.to and Hashnode are perfect for beginners in tech. If you’re seeking to begin as just a blogger, you might want to go with Medium first. WordPress is a little more flexible if you, yourself, want to learn how to customize.
5. Should one choose a free or paid platform?
I find that free platforms are rather useful when you are just starting, but paid ones are much more productive and versatile. It depends on your goals and the budget that is available for the business.
6. What platform is best for SEO?
WordPress and Ghost have excellent built-in SEO tools, and there is always a plugin available that will make your content SEO friendly.
