WHY ARE FREE BLOGGING PLATFORMS A BAD WAY TO START A BLOG?
When you are a new blogger trying to choose the best blogging platform, I realize it is easy to be drawn to free options like Blogger or WordPress.com. They look easy enough, they seem to be beginner-friendly, and there are no upfront costs.
Whether you’re comparing Blogger vs WordPress, or deciding between WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress.. the differences are enormous! The decision you make now will determine the success of your blog.
Starting your blog on a FREE platform can be a HUGE mistake. When deciding on the best blogging platform.. you have to take into consideration what your goals are.
If you are just blogging as a pastime or as a hobby.. then the platform you choose is really not all that important. Any platform will likely suit you just fine.
However.. if you are hoping to become any sort of serious blogger and earn an income from your efforts it is extremely important to register your own domain name and have your own self-hosted WordPress site.
If you are planning to monetize your blog, build traffic, build authority in your niche, and turn your blog into a money-making business.. there are numerous reasons you should avoid using the free blogging platforms at all costs.
WITH FREE BLOGGING PLATFORMS – YOU DO NOT OWN YOUR BLOG:
One of the biggest problems with hosting your site on one of the free platforms such as Blogger or WordPress.com is ownership.
With a free blogging platform, you don’t actually own your website. You don’t own your content.. you have no control whatsoever over your hosting environment or your ability to keep your blog online.
Any time you are hosting your blog for free on someone else’s platform they can shut your blog down with no warning.. something that happens far more often than beginners realize.
If you are searching for the best platform for bloggers who want long-term success.. having ownership and complete control over your own environment should be your top priorities. FREE platforms simply do not offer that.
YOUR DOMAIN LOOKS COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL:
Your domain on one of the free blog platforms will look like this:
MyAmazingBlog.Blogspot.com or MyAmazingBlog.WordPress.com
This instantly signals to everyone that you are not a serious blogger. People using the free platforms are most often beginners and/or those who are just blogging as a hobby.
Research has shown that a significant portion of the Internet population is wary of free domains.. potentially due to concerns about trustworthiness or professionalism.
People don’t consider those using the free platforms to be serious bloggers. There is a perceived lack of trust with a free domain. To many.. the FREE domains indicate a lack of serious intent behind a website.
As a result.. a large majority of people tend to ignore the free domains such as blogspot and wordpress.com domains. Brands, readers, and even Google will treat you differently.
Using your own domain name on a self-hosted WordPress site builds authority and credibility from day one.
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FREE PLATFORMS LIMIT YOUR DESIGN, CUSTOMIZATION AND SEO:
In the free platforms vs self-hosted WordPress comparison.. this is where free platforms lose every time.
On the free platforms you will not be able to install some of the best plugins.. like Wordfence, Yoast or RankMath, speed optimization plugins and more. These limitations directly affect your ability to grow.
Additionally.. you will not be able to freely customize your design or add functionality for email lists and/or e-commerce. Some of the advanced SEO tools and other tools will be unavailable to you as well.
With your own self-hosted WordPress blog you will have full access to thousands of themes, advanced caching and speed optimization, integration with any third-party tool you may want to use and much more.
The best blogging platform for SEO is self-hosted WordPress
FREE PLATFORMS SEVERELY IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO EARN INCOME:
When comparing a free platform vs having your own self-hosted WordPress blog.. one of the biggest differences would be monetization.
Depending on how you are hoping to monetize your blog.. many of the free platforms limit the affiliate programs you are allowed to use.
Not only are you likely to run into problems with the platform itself.. but many of the better affiliate programs also will not accept bloggers using the free platforms.
If you are hoping to get accepted into one of the large ad networks.. such as Mediavine or Raptive.. they also will not accept bloggers using free platforms.
Furthermore.. you will not be able to remove any of the platform’s advertising.. and you will be restricted as to the plugins and tools you will be able to use.
FREE BLOGGING PLATFORMS LIMIT YOUR ABILITY TO GROW YOUR BLOG:
Free platforms are simply not able to scale. They are what they are.. free and easy. In the long run they will hinder your progress.
Building any authority for your blog becomes very difficult with the free platforms since your site is on a subdomain of their site. It is in your best interest to not even go there if you are hoping for any sort of success at all in blogging.
If your goal is to increase traffic to your site, build an email list, monetize, work with brands, have the ability to add advanced features as needed and grow your blog into a full-time income and more.. self-hosted WordPress is where you need to be.
Self-hosted WordPress is built for growth, flexibility, and long-term success. It is the best platform for blogging for those who want to build a real business.. and not just a hobby.
MIGRATING LATER FROM A FREE PLATFORM CAN BE DIFFICULT:
Almost every blogger who starts on a free platform eventually wants more control.
So.. what happens when they try to make the switch?
The migration is a mess:
- permalinks will need fixing
- any backlinks will likely stop working
- redirects will need to be set up
- formatting breaks
- images fail to transfer
- traffic drops temporarily
This is why veteran bloggers always say “If I could start over.. I would save myself a lot of headaches and use self-hosted WordPress from the beginning!”
SELF-HOSTED WORDPRESS IS AFFORDABLE – EVEN FOR BEGINNERS:
Many new bloggers think self-hosting is expensive, but high-quality hosting can actually be as low as a few dollars per month.
For less than the price of one cup of coffee you get:
- full ownership
- unlimited monetization
- unlimited traffic growth
- access to all plugins and tools
- a professional online presence
It is easily the best return on investment in the blogging world.
About the Author: Sherry Bennett
Ms. Bennett is a Professional Blogger, who has been earning a living online with niche websites for 25+ years.
Through hard work and dedication, she has turned her passion for blogging into a 7-figure business.. and you can do the same.
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* If you are a new blogger just starting your blogging adventure
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Blogging Step-by-Step
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