For those looking to blog about their work here are a few reliable sources that have been around for quite sometime and don’t look like they will be going anywhere too soon.
Each service provides for private or public blogs.
1. Blogger/Blogspot — photo albums are not on site but are associated with Picassa and documents associated with Google Docs so you need to travel around. No ads, you can add Adsense but you need to have the visitors to make any money (need traffic). Customize your template with the designer or CSS access. Ten (only 10) stand alone pages. Files and forms available through Goggle Docs. Can use a purchased domain name — www(dot)your name(dot)com.
2. WordPress — a bit fancier than Blogspot with lots of perks that you will come to understand. Plenty of templates to choose from and you can customize most of them but you don’t have access to CSS unless you pay.
Each template comes with an associated font.
You can also create photo galleries and slide shows. Unlimited pages. Ads are present but indiscreet and appear above the comment box on blog post. Certain scripts are not allowed. Files can be directly uploaded on your site making everything neat and tidy. Plenty of space and if you need more, you can buy more as well as purchasing a domain name. Also, tags you use per post are linked up with other WP users using the same tags which can generate traffic for you. If do not want this, just use “categories”.
3. Tumblr — micro blog now owned by Yahoo/Flickr (spring 2013) — great to show case your work. You must have an outside photo album to post your images as they do not provide an album. Many templates to choose from and you do have access to the CSS to change things around. Some templates have standing web pages, and some do not. Blog URLs can be changed also BUT remember, change a URL and you will leave dead links all over the internet if you posted the old ones. No ads or stats on Tumblr.
4. Thoughts — blog, create pages, add media (videos, podcasts, photo albums). You can now customize the backgrounds but most other things are fixed/static. Your blog can allow private or public post viewings or comments. Profile page includes “updating”/tag board type communication. Thoughts recently (2010) revamped their whole system and as of early 2011, still is suffering from some bugs that are being fixed as you read this. It is a FREE site and there are discreet ads once in a while. There are no bandwidth limitations or space limitations at this point.
Photo sharing was allowed but after the upgrade, not sure.
The following are reliable and free with ads.
Ad removal is a reasonable annual fee of approx $20. per year.
5. LiveJournal — has photo albums and many templates but you have to pay to customize the CSS.
6. Weebly — like WordPress, templates are old WP styles. Weebly has now set up a new pricing program depending on what you choose. Weebly is very reliable. Free sites have limits.
7. Jigsy and Bravenet Sites are pretty much the same and very easy to use. Templates are clean looking and there is a variety, drop and drag features and limited customizing (but enough) on free accounts. A free site offers only 7 pages and limited space to develop. If you have a small site, this may be for you. You can add your Flickr stream to the site also. A paid account is reasonably priced per year and you can create unlimited sites.