This is a hot topic. It really comes down to personal preference and what will work for you. Both are great platforms and have pros and cons. Both can help you grow. Blogging is a great way to grow strong and a search and to connect with people. Your own 'social media channel'. Links below you can read if you're on the fence on what to chose. Im also going to add my advice.
Some info outlining some pros and cons.
http://shopthebbar.com/blog/wordpress-vs-blogger-the-pros-and-cons/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9224441/Blogging_service_shootout_Blogger_vs._WordPress?pageN...http://www.coolcatteacher.com/moving-blogger-to-wordpress/http://www.epreneur.tv/blogger-v-wordpress-the-best-blog-platform/Im very fluent with both platforms. I design them for people, Ive used them and been there done that. ;)
My professional and personal preference is Wordpress. A private hosted Wordpress. Its not free but, well worth the investment. It will cost about $120 for a year. Domain, hosting, and a pro theme.
Wordpress is a platform you can grow with and into. You can start small. You have complete full control. It has so many capabilities, plugins, beautiful professional themes that are a website and blog in one. One dashboard runs both. Website with a built in blog is Superior for SEO. Blogging is fast becoming one of the best and practically one of only ways to rank well in a search.
A blog built into your site is a way to keep constant new content. Its VERY beneficial running a blog on an eCommerce site for the search. Any kind of site. Blogging gives you an 'updated' website. The search engine is all about content, content, content, and Updated content. It feeds off it, you need to feed it, you Need to feed it All the time.
Its dog eats dog on the net, you want to rank you need content, content, content, then add more content. I cannot stress this enough. Add growing with fellow bloggers and following tips Vintage Rescue Squad posted in this thread you will be golden. You can grow Very well with fellow bloggers.
http://www.etsy.com/teams/19737/blogging-how-to-qa/discuss/13645261/Optimized content and tips VRS offers will give you Super strong organics.
I posted some tips on optimizing content for the search engine.
https://www.etsy.com/teams/19737/blogging-how-to-qa/discuss/13651447/The best investment Ive ever made in my 7 year run as a small business owner is my website and business cards. The only two investments Ive gotten return 10 fold and still giving me returns. I spent $400 on my first site, broke as a joke! lol While awesome... I WISH I started with Wordpress. I needed to 'upgrade'. Learn from my 'mistakes'. You wont ever have to upgrade from Wordpress, you just upgrade Your Wordpress. Some of the most powerful websites on the net are WP and fortune 500 companies use it too.
It has a learning curve a bit steeper than other platforms but, trucking through the curves will have great pay off if you really want to grow your business. So much info on the net to learn how to use it.
How to use Wordpress:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how%20to%20use%20wordpress&sm=3My 10 cents on Blogger. Blogger Is a great platform and easier to use but, it has limits, its owned by Google,(not a bad thing its just not yours) its photo quality is blah and restricted.(picture quality is SUPER important to me personally)
However, they have some paid for themes that give you more options.
If you grow 'big' you will probably have to 'upgrade' out of blogger or have another site and the blog instead of just one to work from. You will find yourself restricted when its time to grow.
The SEO tips and Vintage Rescue Squads info works with any blogging platform.
Great Etsy sellers make themes for both. Even with a freebie pay for a nice theme, it will be worth the $25-50.
If you can afford it hire an Etsy seller to set your site up and you take over. :) Skip a big learning curve this way. Tons of web designers on Etsy! :D
Bottom line blogging is great for your business. Always write for your readers, optimize the content you are writing for your readers, and the SEO just falls into place naturally. It really does, you dont have to 'think' about it. Just follow those basic SEO tips and keep posting, you wont have to worry about 'SEO', it just happens for you! :)
Sorry if this seems a bit of a ramble, I hope its simplified enough to understand it! I suck at writing! haha
