There are basically two hosting options for WordPress blogging software:
1) Host it for free using wordpress.com.
2) Find a hosting provider and pay a monthly fee (this is called “self-hosting”)
Option 2 is the best choice by far. Here’s why:
- WordPress.com free hosting does not allow you to use any custom or commercial themes; you can only choose from the limited number of themes they make available. (a theme provides the “look” of your blog)
- You cannot modify themes in any way.
- WordPress.com free hosting does not allow you to upload plugins (plugins provide various optional useful features to WordPress).
- You are not allowed to sell ads on a free WordPress.com site.
- With WordPress.com free hosting, you have no control over your blog site; you must live by their Terms and Conditions. Your blog is not really yours, and they can shut it down if they don’t like something that you’re doing.
- The default URL for free hosting is “yourdomain.wordpress.com” rather than “yourdomain.com”. This means that you’re using someone else’s domain rather than your own, and you don’t really “own” the address. Furthermore, Google will not recognize the site as belonging to you, and you will get no search engine ranking benefits.
The only advantages of free hosting with WordPress.com are:
- It’s free.
- It’s stupidly simple to set up a site, and there are no maintenance or technical considerations.
These “advantages” are not worth the price you pay in other areas.
Self-hosting provides the following advantages:
- You can use any themes that are available from any source.
- You can have someone modify your theme to change the look and functionality of it.
- You can upload any plugins you want to add functionality to your site.
- You have full control. You can do whatever you want with your blog, because it’s yours. Nobody can impose any of their rules on you.
Considering that self-hosting costs less than $10 a month, this is an easy decision.
Hosting companies that offer WordPress hosting provide very simple installation processes and good support. Check out www.bluehost.com.
This is a guest post by Tom Harris. Visit his awesome and amazing website here.
This post was written by
Sandi Maki, InSights Group – who has written 791 posts on InSights Group.
Bliss in a Bubble – In the moment – my favorite place to be. As a creative outlet, I enjoy ‘Heavy Breathing Just Before Midnight‘ – a series of podcasts on fun, interesting, and random topics that I share at sandimaki.com. At InSights Group – I mastermind, coach, consult, and use Organic Marketing to empower businesses tell their stories to the world to become more productive and profitable – especially in the online world. I am also a coach and take on personal clients to help empower positive changes and growth within their lives and businesses. I have experience in many areas of philosophy and psychology including face reading, personality studies and motivation, as well as many holistic modalities such as Reiki Master, and core-conscious transformation. With Legendary Escapes I’m a partner in a trio of swimming pool companies from construction to service to online sales – we are changing the industry – and the experience of customers across the country – based in Brighton, MI.