Tiny Tools for the Tiny Web

I was blogging back in the mid 1990s when tools were sparse and you needed HTML skills. I designed my own blogs until Blogger came along and then I embarked on a journey through a variety of tools and content management systems.

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, being online was fun - it was creative, quirky and a little eccentric. There was community. Somehow we found each other (commenting on other blogs was the way to go) and followed each other's exploits. Websites were basic. Publishing was the thing.

And then came other tools. While WordPress is not complicated, the management of it became more time consuming. I craved the simplicity of those early days.

Fortunately, there are tools out there now that form, what I call, the tiny web. By that I mean, easy to use tools that deliver the end result without necessitating huge investment of time.

These are the tiny tools I'm using.

• Bear - I've had my Bear Blog for a while. The writing of it lapsed but I use it as the starting point for my Now and About Me pages. 
• Scribbles - I have three blogs here. Each covers a different topic. One day, I might bring everything under one roof but, for now, separate works best.
• Blot - this is my Digital Garden tool. Simple, syncs with Dropbox and makes publishing a synch.
• Public.Me - one of my favourites. A very simple text to web app. I publish from iMessage. 
• Alto.so - using Apple Notes, Alto.so is another mini blog.
• Recuremail - a pared back newsletter. Send from your Inbox. A simple sign up form and archive.

Unlike me, you don't need to use all of these tools. You could choose just one for your blog. Each of these options is either free or minimal monthly cost. 

They're all low maintenance so you can get busy creating.