If you’re planning to start a blog with limited resources then you might want to consider a free blogging platform. But it’s important that you understand the difference between a free blog and a self-hosted blog.
Free Blogging Platform
It’s free to sign up for an account, get a sub-domain and set up your blog. You can start your free blog with services like Blogger.com and WordPress.com. On free hosting, your website’s files are stored – or hosted – on your blogging platform’s servers.
There are many cons and downsides of a free blogging service (limited monetization, customization, and traffic) but most importantly, you’ll have little control over your blog. And if you want to upgrade, you’ll need to pay more than you would if you hosted the blog yourself.
Free programs like WordPress.com and Blogger.com are easy to set up and maintain without any prior website design knowledge.
Cons of a free blog:
Unless you pay for your own domain, you’ll have the WordPress.com or Blogger.com sub-domain tacked onto yours, such as yourblog.blogspot.com.
Free blogs appear less professional than self-hosted ones.
Less control over your blog. For instance, people who self-host their blog with NomfroHost can install WordPress.org software can download plugins to expand their website’s capabilities. A free WordPress blog doesn’t allow this, limiting you to only a few options. CSS functions and theme selections are also limited on free blogging hosting.
You have a limited amount of bandwidth and memory space.
Who should use free blogs?
Free blogs are best for people who are just exploring the blogging world or are not very serious about blogging. If you’re just blogging for fun, then by all means start with a free blog hosting!
Self-Hosted Blogging Platform
A self-hosted blog is one that resides on your own server. NomfroHost is among some of the most reliable companies that provide hosting services. Essentially, these companies rent out digital storage space to users to make running a website possible.
Pros of a self-hosted blog
You have full control over your blog, including its layout, search engine optimization, advertising revenue, additional functions, and more.
You can install custom themes to brand your blog.
You have complete access to your backend files, which allows you to make any necessary code changes.
Using hosting company like NomfroHost usually costs from $1.65.per month.
Who should use self-hosted blogs?
Since self-hosted blogs look more professional and perform more functions, they are best for professional bloggers and businesses. They are also ideal for the individual who wants to improve his or her professional appearance and boost the functions available on his or her website.
Conclusion: When setting up a blog, ideally you want to get it right the first time, rather than set up with one service and face exporting your content and design elsewhere when you want to expand or scale your business.
Take a good look at the pros and cons above and try to make your decision based not only on the ease of set up, but also the long-term implications of being able to personalize and manage your website over time.
Ultimately, using a self hosting platform such as NomfroHost, with your own domain name and hosting, is a more customizable, scalable and professional looking way to get a site online.
Check out our range of excellent web hosting packages!
