Getting your blog up and running on the web is easier than ever. With open source blogging software you can create your blog content quickly, and the multitude of free blog hosting sites let you “go live” quickly and at no cost. But, just as with any other thing you invest time in, the quality of the results is probably important to you. So, while- yes, you can certainly blog for free- the control and customization of your blog hosting affect the presentation of your blog and will ultimately help determine its success (or failure).
The old adage that “nothing is free” also applies to blog hosting. Free blog hosting sites pepper your blog with advertisements, as well as offering limited visual customization. Blogging has developed to a point that those who have “serious” blogs will invest in blog hosting, ridding themselves of advertisements and other customization limitations. Most importantly, with paid blog hosting you gain your own domain, and consequently the potential to build a blog “brand” on the web. Getting your voice to stand out amongst millions is an achievement that begins with first investing in paid blog hosting.
Remember that the blog web hosting provider you choose must support and be compatible with the software you’ve chosen. WordPress, being the most popular blogging software, is more often than not supported by blog hosting companies. But, if you’ve gone with different software, make sure the service provider you invest in supports your program.
If you have any intentions of gaining affiliate advertising revenue from your blog in the future, paid blog web hosting is really your only avenue. Free blog hosting sites almost never allow you to post your own advertisements, working instead to build their own advertising clientele. Expanding site traffic- vital to having your blog having any value as advertising real estate- is also limited with free blog hosting. You need to be able to grow and expand, not just in your appearance, but in your readership and usership. Comment functionalities need to be available and function smoothly- or you lose “customers”.
So, while free blog software has elevated the blog online, free blog hosting continues to affirm the belief that “you get what you pay for”. For a serious blog, with room for development and future revenue potential, paid blog hosting is the only way to go. Keep in mind that “paid” doesn’t mean you’re handing over your first born child; blog hosting, just like web hosting, has a wide range and array of costs and providers. Do your research and don’t think you have to pay a lot for what you want….but you will have to invest a little.
