Should you host your own blog, or just get a free blog from services like
BlogSpot.com and
WordPress.com? That's the first question most new bloggers ask themselves.
Although there are advantages and disadvantages to both, having your own web hosting server is always better at the end of the day. Let me give you two simple and valid reasons why you should never use a free blog provider:
Reason #1: Limited Resources
Posting content through a remotely hosted blog requires that you relinquish a tremendous amount of control over how messages look and work. This is mainly because a remotely hosted blog by design is built to accommodate hundreds of thousands of bloggers.
For such a big volume of activity, it can only afford to offer the very least. A blog that offers an extensive amount of features to a large number of people consumes much more resources than what its own servers can provide -- ultimately running the risk of major crashes.
Even something as simple as a low-graphic poll can consume an insurmountable amount of bandwidth if over 100,000 bloggers decide to offer one to their visitors. A popular blog already consumes more bandwidth than you can imagine.
Resources simply aren't an issue with a self-hosted WordPress blog these days. With your blog web hosting, you can deck out your blog with as many plugins and widgets as your heart desires without having to fear server crashes or time outs.
In fact, you shouldn't consume any more bandwidth with your own hosted blog than you would consume with your own hosted website.
Reason #2: Limited Monetizing Opportunities
We couldn't count the number of people who want to monetize their blogs if we wanted to. The simple fact is that everyone and his "mom" wants to monetize their blog but the ugly reality is that many (free) remotely hosted blogs don't allow it.
If you host a blog at
WordPress.com for example, you're prohibited from using any form of direct advertising like Google AdSense or affiliate links.
Limited resources could play a factor in this restriction, however since most monetized campaigns call upon the resources of a 3rd party, this restraint is mostly censorship. Providers than block third party ads usually do so because they want to promote their own services, or at the very least get more people to sign up for their free blog accounts.
If you have your own blog, you can use any type of advertising program. The only restriction you'll face are the ones imposed by the third party advertising programs. This allows you to tap into popular programs like Google AdSense, Chitika, Text Link Ads and much more.
Reason #3: Long Term Control of Content
One of the most overlooked reasons to get your own blog hosting is the complete control over content in the long term. Many smaller blog providers will eventually go out of business.
And when that happens, it can be difficult (if not impossible) for you to move your content to another free provider. Even in the case of BlogSpot or
WordPress.com (free version) you may want to move your content to your own blog host two or three years down the road.
Unfortunately, any search engine ranking you get, and the free traffic that comes along with it, will be lost. So even if you think you're saving a buck or two today, in the long term you're always on the losing end if you decide not to host your own blog.
Web hosting blog blogs nowadays is pretty affordable - mostly under $7 a month - so there's no real reason not to take your blog to the next level. The meager cost is nothing compared to the benefits you get, like flexibility and professionalism.
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