Create a successful blog
A guest post by Sarah Sibert of Navadaru.com
Many bloggers start out with a free blog from wordpress.com because it is extremely simple to set up and there are no running costs. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to blogging and blogging software.
However, if you really want your blog to take off then you need to be thinking about self-hosting using wordpress.org.
Self-hosting isn’t as complicated as it sounds and the interface remains the same so there really isn’t too much to learn. In effect, all you are doing is taking your blog from wordpress.com and putting it into your own hosting account. The basic WordPress software is still the same and still free.
You may be wondering therefore, what’s the point of going to all that hassle if it’s essentially the same? Well, there are some great advantages to self-hosting that you do not get with a hosted account and making the switch soon pays for itself.
Here’s why:
1. You will have a real brand
On wordpress.com the free blogs all have domain names like myblog.wordpress.com. If you are trying to build a recognisable and memorable brand then you need to have your own domain name. It is possible to pay to have your own domain name on a hosted account but you’re still not in control of your blog whereas a self-hosted blog will have your domain and you will be in control.
Having a proper domain name will provide your blog with a brand and you can also have the emails that go with it. Even the most basic blogs can be branded and help you stand out from the competition.
2. You can customise your blog
On wordpress.com you are limited with the themes that you can install and if you want to tweak the look of anything yourself then forget it. You have to pay to have that kind of simple access to the controls. If you self-host then you can do what you want to your blog. You can install any one of thousands of themes (paid or free) and you can make simple customizations if you wish. You have complete control of how you blog looks, making you free to style your blog to your brand.
3. You can advertise
If you want to make money from your blog through advertising whether through Google Adwords or affiliate schemes, then you will have to self-host, no question about it. It is against the ToS to have affiliate links on the hosted sites.
Not only can’t you have ads on your wordpress.com site but they reserve the right to put on their own ads so they make money. This can be a very bad thing, believe me. A blog I know that focuses on the safety concerns of some exercise machines actually has adverts, put there by wordpress.com, that advertise these exact machines! Not what the blogger wants I am sure.
4.You can boost your blog with plugins
Any self-hosting blogger will tell you that they rely heavily on numerous plugins to really give their blog a boost. If you self-host you can install whatever plugins you like, if you still have a free blog you can’t.
Plugins can provide all sorts of added functionality to your site, such as social media links, enhanced commenting, increased speed, event calendars and membership sites to name but a few. You can provide your readership with a more engaging experience using plugins like these and keeping your readers happy is the name is the name of the game.
5.You will look more professional
Self-hosting is not expensive, for a domain name and hosting account you can pay as little as $60 per year. Yet there are still many bloggers who refuse to make the switch.
But, by making this small leap you are saying to the world ‘Look at me, I’m serious about my blog‘. If you are still using a free account then the message you are sending is that this is not a business, this is just for fun.
By making the switch to a self-hosted, wordpress.org site you instantly take control of your blogging business. You can make whatever updates you choose, design it how you wish, monetize as much as you like without anything holding you back.
Make the switch today and you’ll soon wonder what took you so long!
Sarah Sibert is a web developer and blogger with a passion for WordPress and helping other people with their WordPress blogs. You can catch more of Sarah’s WordPress hints and tips at Navadaru.com.
Thank you Sarah, for sharing such wonderful benefits of self hosting a blog. With just $60 per year, we can drive a lot of traffic to our blog and make it more successful. One more point is on your self-hosted blog you can control all the advertisements and get the revenue generated from them.
Rosalia recently posted..Cuales son los peligros de fumar
Self-hosting a blog is an amazing idea and shows how you are trying to get the best from the available resources. I think $60 per year is a reasonable amount that can get your blog a lot of traffic. The best thing is that all the advertisement revenue goes in your pocket.
Leo recently posted..El engaño del tabaco light
Having a website is so essential for every business and entrepreneur. Thanks for the great tips, Sarah, on why a self-hosted site is so vital!
Thanks for the comment Mandy!
You’re right, it really is essential for anyone who is running a business and if your blog is there to earn you money then it is a business.
Many professionals that I talk to understand they need a web site to create a web presence, but most of them don’t really understand why. If you as an entrepreneur don’t understand why you should have a web site, you are going to be wasting a LOT of time and money. Using the Internet and Internet Marketing Strategies is extremely smart for a professionals and corporations. It doesn’t matter why kind of business you are in, the Internet opens your playing field big time. Thank you!
Dino recently posted..Man boobs help blog
I find Blogger to be way better then wordpress.com these days, especially for newcomers, who are not prepared for self hosting or don’t want to waste money on such a thing.
On Blogger you can have all the above, except the plugins thing which I guarantee, you can live without.
Cristian Balau recently posted..Did 4.1 require a syntax of set-variable = max_connections=500 in my.cnf?
I’m a fan of self-hosting, but nobody warned me about the downside.
I ran into a scenario last week where my hoster I had too much traffic and used too many resources of shared hosting and had to move to dedicated. My cost per month went from a few bucks to a few hundred over-night.
The upside is that forced me to take a serious look at monetization to see if I can fund my site now. So far, so good, and I’ve only just begun to test the waters of what’s possible.
J.D. Meier recently posted..Make Plenty of Miss-Takes
Yup, the plugins is the big one I think. There’s a lot of limitations at wordpress.com whereas plugins let you do basically anything you want.
John recently posted..Utopia Systems Hosted CRM
I really want to see some improvements in my blog.. And your site is the best to visit! I learned a lot from you.. Just keep posting some more! you are a big help!
Levinz recently posted..Ski Blog
I found this topic a very informative one, this could really help a lot for a newbie like me. Maybe they can provide some tutorials. Thanks for sharing.
Charisma recently posted..What Can help Me Get Pregnant
Self hosting definitely gives you more creativity to do waht you want to your site. Pluggins are awesome. Hosting one site could cost maybe 60-75 bucks. Total control is what you want. Great post.
Mr MakingUsmile
Mr MakingUsmile recently posted..Improve Productivity Today for a Better Return on Investment for Life
I believe that if you want to really be successful on the blogging platform then you need to self-host the blog. Apart from the benefits, mentioned beautifully above, it offers, it also helps us get into real business. Paying a small price is sometimes necessary to get great benefits
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Hi Mary
I believe that what you mention here is really accurate and I have noticed the difference since I started Self Hosting. I like to hear more from you and have a nice day.
Cathy S.
Cathy S. recently posted..abs workout men
I do think too that if you want to really be effective on the blogging platform then you need to self-host the blog. Apart from the advantages, mentioned superbly over, it offers, it also helps us get into actual business. Paying a little cost is sometimes necessary to get great benefits.
Grace recently posted..How to Make Him Fall in Love With You
I write down everything in point form and sometimes a sentence or two if I don’t want to forget a certain phrasing. I love to follow it!
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I really want to see some improvements in my blog.. And your site is the best to visit! I learned a lot from you.. |
ghostfighter0506 recently posted..Personal Injuries
I have learn a lot from your posting, At first I find it difficult to catch up what needed to boost my blogging. But with info’s like this it’s much easier to understand. Thanks!
Isabella recently posted..Trying To Get Pregnant Tips
Great article Sarah, I didn’t know that about the plugins, I was just about to set up a free blog for my son but now I may hold off and do it right, although he is only 7?
Ciara Conlon recently posted..Paper V Tablet?
Thanks for all the great comments – free blogs are good in the right circumstances but if you want to make a business out of it then self-hosting is most definitely the way to go.
WordPress.org is not that difficult to get to grips with and you’ll be soon glad you did!
Sarah @ Navadaru recently posted..WordPress Quick Tips: Finding Your Page ID
I believe that if you want to really be successful on the blogging platform then you need to self-host the blog. |
hunterX0506 recently posted..car games free
I really want to see some improvements in my blog.. And your site is the best to visit! I learned a lot from you.. Just keep posting some more! you are a big help for me, thanks for sharing.
Brett Lee recently posted..Best way to win the lottery
I love to read such a good quality blog post here, now it gives me some knowledge like self-hosting to boost my blog.
Janis recently posted..What Can help Me Get Pregnant
Thanks for the info! Very helpul .
Yumigee recently posted..Online Payment for Sears Credit Card
If you as an entrepreneur don’t understand why you should have a web site, you are going to be wasting a LOT of time and money. Using the Internet and Internet Marketing Strategies is extremely smart for a professionals and corporations. |
lanzones56 recently posted..paleo diet food list
Thank your for explaining how self hosting can benefit our blog.. I always learn something whenever I visit you here!
sandraw2580 recently posted..Forex Brokers Accepting Us Clients
Why not? I have mt blog on hold for a while since I do not know much the mechanics of blogging. Now that I have read your post then why not I go for it. Your post is very timely, since I got a lot of questions in my head and now it has been answered through this post.
rosanava recently posted..Learn How to Sing
I agree, I host my own blog and I would not have it any other way. Freedom.