What to do when you want to start a WordPress hosted site

Article by Valarie

So, you’ve decided you want to start a business talk blog. To keep things easy, you decide to use WordPress. It’s easy to setup, has lots of themes, and you can be up and running in minutes. Now here’s the hard part; do you go with a free WordPress site (www.WordPress.com/yoursite), or do you buy a domain and hosting, install WordPress, and have a hosted site (www.yoursite.com)? In this article we’ll talk about the positives and negatives of each key.

One of the first things you should consider is the arrivalof your site. Everyone wants a custom look – no one wants to be generic. In this instance, the free WordPress sites offer only limited theme support. That is, you can’t use custom or commercial themes, and you aren’t allowed to amendthe CSS of the stock themes. The hosted version allows you to install any and every theme, and modify all aspects. This is certainlya plus for a hosted WordPress site.

Keeping with the purposeof your site, you also want to think aboutplugins. WordPress plugins add functionality as well as altering the look of your WordPress site, and this is also an issue with the free version. While the hosted kindallows full unobstructedaccess to any plugins, the free version won’t letyou to upload any custom or commercial plugins. This may or may not concernyou, but in most cases as you modify your site further you will find custom plugins wanted and needed. This is another plus for a hosted WordPress site.

Something else to be concerned aboutis price. While it’s apparenthow much a “free WordPress site” costs, you might want to think abouthow much you’d be spending if you went with hosted. First you would need a domain and hosting. Typically you can get a free domain when you buya year of hosting, but that hosting can run you 0 yearly, give or take a few dollars. After that you’ll install WordPress, which is simple and free. You could theoretically stop here, and you’d only be out 0.

However, that’s typically not the case. You’ll find yourself in needa nice theme, which will run you -. After you get it nice and pretty, you’ll want plugins, and some of them can be costly. Buying a few good ones could run you a couple hundred dollars. At the end of the day, you’re saving 0-500 by not using a hosted WordPress. In this case, I’ll give the edge to the free WordPress sites, but I’m even hard pressed to do that with the limitations enforced.

There are also a few things you should be concerned aboutfrom a business standpoint. For one, a free WordPress site does not allow you to tradeads. If you ever plan on making money using ads, you’ll certainlyhave to use a hosted WordPress. This may be a deal breaker for some. Also, you have to keep up with your site manually, as far as updating and keeping plugins and themes updated. If you go with a free WordPress site, allis updated for you on their end, so it’s very mutedmaintenance.

At the end of the period, hosted WordPress vs. free WordPress sites really depend on what you require. If you plan on making money, having your own domain name, or doing anything custom, a hosted WordPress is indispensable. However, if you just want a basic site that you can throw your thoughts on, a free WordPress will serve you very well, and can save you up to 0. While it seems like they’d be comparable, they actually offer a very different set of features, so make sure you really sit down and think of what you wantbefore you make a decision.