Should You Get a Free or Self-Hosted Blog / Website?

Are You Aiming to Be One of the World's Top Bloggers?

In the last few years, blogs have become one of the worlds & # 39; s most powerful media of communication. With their current and up-to-date content, it's not surprising that bloggers have captured the world's attention and have satisfied their readership of craving for something fresh and new. In fashion, for example, top bloggers such as Bryanboy and Rumi Neely sit front row at major fashion shows around the world.

So if you're thinking of becoming a blogger, it's not too late to join the ranks of the world's most successful blogger celebrities. All you have to do is create a blog and get started.

Self-Hosted vs. Free Blog / Site

There are several blogging platforms that let you create a blog for free. WordPress and Blogger (or Blogspot), for example, are two of the world's leading blogging platforms. Both of them have strengths and weaknesses, but many people prefer WordPress because it has more functionalities.

The only problem with these free platforms is that you do not have to get your own domain name and that you do not have full control of your site's content. For example, if Google suspects your blogger of spamming, it can easily shut it down in seconds. As for WordPress, you will not have full control of all available functionalities and widgets unless you pay for an upgrade.

This is the reason why serious bloggers opt for a self-hosted website. With a self-hosted site, not only can a blogger have full control of its content, but it can also establish its brand through an unique domain name. In addition to that, a blogger can easily customize his blog to the appearance that he prefers.

However, having a self-hosted blog comes with its own share of disadvantages. For example, in order to maintain your domain name, you have to pay for hosting services and domain registration fees on a regular basis.

How to Get a Self-Hosted Blog

There are three general steps to have your blog ready and live on the Internet. These steps are outlined below.

1. Register your domain name.

If you create a blog, your URL (or the web address of your blog) carries the name of the blogging platform you registered with (eg, yourwebsite.blogspot.com or yourwebsite.WordPress.com). But when you have a self-hosted blog, the "blogspot" or "WordPress" part will disappear. To achieve this, think of an easy-to-remember domain name, and register that name with a reputable registrar. Take note that domain registration is not free.

2. Buy web hosting services.

Having a domain name is not enough. You need to have a web host to store all your files and the content of your blog / website. So after registering your domain name, you need to buy hosting services from a reputable hosting company. You can buy hosting services from the same registrar or from another company.

3. Build your website.

Some web hosting companies offer free applications to help you start building your website. Some of these applications include WordPress and Joomla. When installing any of these applications, you can start by selecting the best theme for your site, customizing it to the desired look and feel and filling it with unique and quality content.

Source by Jeremy B. Kim

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