After deciding what to blog about, your next step is to choose the best blogging platform.
There are tons of blogging platforms and below are usage statistics showing the distribution of blog technologies.
As you can see from the graph, WordPress CMS (content management software) is the most popular platform with over 80% market share for starting blogging (source). This was also mentioned in this guide on “how to create a website from scratch“
And, I also personally recommend building your blog using the self-hosted WordPress software (even though I also followed this process to build a WordPress blog using Bluehost).
WordPress.org is a free blogging platform (the actual blogging software is free and open source) but requires a domain name and web hosting to start a blog on it (we’ll discuss this in the next step).
This blogging software lets you start a blog in any niche, whether it’s a personal blog, business website or an eCommerce / WooCommerce store and control its contents completely.
You will set up your blog using a custom domain name and web hosting (I’ll show you how, in the next step).
What About Free Blogging Sites?
I assume you may aware for some free blogging sites like WordPress.com, Blogger.com, Tumblr etc. are tempting you to start a blog in 2023 using these free hosted platforms.
However, for you it’s important to understand that “FREE” always comes with limitations:
- First, your blog name will be named something like “yourblog.wordpress.com”, “yourblog.blogspot.com” or “yourblog.tumblr.com“.
- Second, you’ll be subject to their rules and restrictions. It means, they may delete your blog site anytime, even without notice.
And there are some cons or disadvantages included too, as below:
- If you prefer to choose a free blogging platform, it means you are serious and don’t want to become a blogger like me.
- You’ll be able to manage your blog the way you can control a self-hosted WordPress blog.
- You will not be able to monetize the website as you’d like by for example using various ads or affiliate programs.
- You won’t have full control over your website. They can shut down your site anytime without notice.
- The free blogging platform provider can insert ads on your website without your permission, which are actually unable to remove.
- Free blogging sites are a type of testing platform. So, if you’re serious about setting up an online business and want to real money from it, you’ll have to start paying for full services and a custom domain name & paid hosting services sooner or later.
As you understand from the above, there are many cons and downsides to using a free blogging service (limited monetization, customization, and traffic). Most importantly, you’ll have little control over your blog.
In short, below are the main differences:
| Free Blog | Self-hosted Blog |
|---|---|
| 100% Free | Minimum $35 required |
| Fast to setup | Longer setup process |
| Files stored on the blogging platform | Files are stored on your hosting server |
| Blog URL located on a subdomain | Blog URL located on a custom domain |
| Can use only available themes | Unlimited themes available |
| Limited features & functionalities | Unlimited features & functionalities |
| Limited storage space | Storage can be expended anytime |
| Not easy to monetize | Limitless monetization options |
If you’re planning to blog just as a hobby and are not interested to make money through it, then creating a free website might make sense.
But, if you’re REALLY serious about blogging, the self-hosted WordPress option is the way to go.
Creating a blog will cost just a few dollars per month for the webspace (hosting account + domain), where around $12 or above for a domain (in fact, Bluehost offers a free domain for a year to all WP Blogging 101 readers).
Let’s get a custom domain name and hosting service for your blog site by following the next step.
