Does It Matter What Website Hosting Service You Use for WordPress?
Many website owners have more than one blog or website. Maybe you have a photography blog and a lifestyle blog. Or, maybe you have a business-related blog that you need to maintain from an office in the UK and a French blog that you need to run from a small office in France. No matter what, running multiple blogs is a complex job and it requires a lot of maintenance and attention to keep them all up to date.
If you’re looking to create a new blog or extend an existing one, you need to decide whether you want to use a free platform or a paid platform. There are pros and cons to both options, so let’s examine the arguments.
Free Blogging Platforms
There are many reasons why you might want to consider using a free blogging platform over a paid one. The main reason is that you don’t want to tie up your finances in order to run a blog. Having a free blog also means you have the freedom to upgrade, change, and optimise your site as you see fit. You don’t have to worry about locking yourself into a contract with a web host either, because there are no commitments and no obligations with a free platform. You can take your blog and run as soon as you want, without worrying about paying for hosting or installing a caching plugin. If you do decide to stick with a free platform, make sure to look after your blog with the right content and regularly update your posts to make sure your content is fresh and interesting.
Paid Blogging Platforms
If you want to monetise your blog, you’ll have to invest in a paid blogging platform. These are more sophisticated tools built with the blogging industry in mind. Some of the most popular and well-known platforms are WordPress, Blogger, and Typepad. When you use a paid platform, you’re giving up a little bit of control and privacy in exchange for quality content that will attract and retain an audience.
There are a few differences between WordPress and Blogger. Firstly, WordPress is a bit more complex and has a lot more features. It’s also a bit more flexible, so you can use it to create almost any kind of website or blog. The main downside to using WordPress is that most hosting providers charge a nominal fee that can add up quickly if you have a lot of traffic. However, aside from the cost of the platform itself, WordPress has the advantage of supporting a vast array of plugins that can enhance user experience and functionality. The advantage of using a plugin is that it can be extremely easy to implement and can provide a lot of value quickly. If you’re looking to create a professional-looking blog, WordPress is certainly the right choice as it comes with a lot of pre-installed functionality that can be extremely handy.
The Main Differences Between Hosting Services
As we mentioned above, WordPress is a really popular and stable blogging platform, which is why it is so prevalent in the first place. It’s a fantastic choice for beginners because it’s incredibly easy to use and set up. However, over time, as your audience grows and you start to receive more traffic, you might want to consider moving to a more advanced platform. When it comes to hosting services, WordPress is very compatible with a wide range of web hosts. This makes it easier for anyone to launch a blog using the platform. The one downside is that as your audience and traffic grow, so does the demand for more features and functionality. This means you’ll either need to upgrade your hosting plan or find an alternative. Alternatively, you could consider paying a bit more for a premium plan that offers advanced features.
If you’re really looking to make your blog stand out from the crowd, you should look to host your blog on your own dedicated server. This will give you complete control over the resources and features that your blog enjoys. To ensure that your website is secure, you should consider using a free HTTPS certificate from Let’s Encrypt. For those looking to create a business blog or a blog that will attract an audience, this is an essential step.
Final Takeaway
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when choosing a blogging platform. While WordPress is a great choice for beginners who want to create a blog quickly, it might not be the right choice for those who want to go the extra mile and create a professional-looking site. For more information, check out the WordPress documentation or visit the platform’s website to get started.