This publish is a part of the ‘What we wish I knew when I first started Blogging’ Series. On this publish I’ll share readers feedback on the subject of Weblog Internet hosting, Domains and Platforms in addition to a few of my very own experiences and recommendation.
There’s at all times a range of opinion over which running a blog platform and internet hosting methodology is finest – however there have been some recurring themes within the reader dialogue on this explicit subject. Let me try and summarize the primary theme:
The commonest regrets appear to have been beginning out with a few of the free running a blog platforms (significantly Blogger.com) and utilizing the free subdomain URL that they supply as a substitute of beginning out with one’s personal area and internet hosting.
Whereas there’s some actual knowledge in getting a style for running a blog utilizing a few of the free platforms my recommendation to anybody who suspects that they could find yourself running a blog on a severe degree it’s price securing an excellent area identify and getting arrange on a platform that you just suppose you’ll persist with for the long run.
When it comes to weblog platforms – there is no such thing as a proper or flawed reply and whereas my private desire is on your personal self-hosted WordPress.org web site (to not be confused with WordPress.com) the weblog platform that one chooses must match with the blogger’s personal preferences. Strive just a few out and see which you’re most comfy with – however bear in mind that the alternatives you make early can affect your future running a blog. There are import options emigrate from many platforms to others – however it’s simpler to decide on the precise one up entrance.
For an intensive overview of this subject, I’d suggest signing as much as my FREE Ultimate Guide to Starting a Blog course which covers, amongst every little thing else concerned with beginning a weblog:
- how to decide on a website identify
- registering and internet hosting your weblog, together with a subject on “Why WordPress? (In Case You’re Questioning)” and my internet hosting suggestions
My Personal Expertise with Domains, Platforms and Internet hosting
I began out on a blogspot.com (blogger.com) area and platform. Whereas this was a good way to check my ardour for running a blog (I used to be hooked inside hours of beginning) I did rapidly transfer on from this set as much as my very own weblog, with an expert design and a standalone running a blog software (I went to Movable Type initially). Once I made this transfer I seen a big improve in visitors and obtained much more respect from different bloggers and readers. Whether or not this was because of the design, having a running a blog platform with extra options (Blogger.com was very primitive again in these days – it didn’t even have built-in feedback) or being by myself area I’m undecided – however I believe it was a mixture of all of them.
As I started to begin running a blog on a extra severe degree and began making an attempt to become profitable from blogs I started to begin new blogs. My ‘mistake’ (but paradoxically a purpose I had some success) was that I began the brand new blogs on the identical area as my first weblog (a website that had nothing to do with the matters I used to be running a blog about). This was an enormous mistake in some methods in that it makes branding these blogs troublesome and makes promoting them virtually inconceivable. On the flipside of this ‘mistake’ is the truth that as a result of they shared the area of a longtime and fashionable weblog they did very properly in the various search engines from their first weeks of existence and in consequence they grew readership in a short time.
I discovered from my ‘mistake’ in later blogs. For instance ProBlogger and Digital Photography School. After all there are some regrets right here additionally. I couldn’t safe Problogger.com so went with .web (and ultimately secured the .com at a big price). Whereas I nonetheless constructed a big weblog on the .web model I want I’d pushed tougher to get the .com earlier. With digital-photography-school.com I don’t like having dashes within the URL – nonetheless once more the proprietor of the opposite model of the area is asking a loopy quantity for it – so I make do.
My recommendation is to set your self up with one of the best setup that you may afford to do IF you’re eager to do running a blog on a severe degree. Doing it ‘proper’ from the early days will trigger you much less ache later. Nevertheless – remember that regardless of my errors I’ve managed to construct some moderately profitable blogs. The area identify and platform you select are simply two components of many who go into making a weblog profitable. They’re necessary – however should you get it flawed you aren’t lifeless within the water.
Learn extra on selecting a blogging platform and selecting a name and domain name for your blog.
When you’re in search of a blog hosting option you might like to read this reader discussion on the topic.
Most lately, you’ll be able to examine “What I Learned Starting My Newest Blog” and the way I’ve actually loved utilizing the Ghost blogging platform.
Reader Feedback on Weblog Internet hosting, Domains and Running a blog Platforms
Right here’s what ProBlogger readers mentioned they need they’d recognized on the subject of internet hosting, domains and weblog platforms after they began out.
tejvan writes – “Use one of the best running a blog software program and attempt to keep away from losing time messing round with design and getting the weblog to perform. I be taught’t by expertise WordPress is one of the best running a blog software program”
Leszek Pawlowicz writes – “Typically you actually do get what you pay for. Blogger was free, some points of format are simple, and it lowered the barrier to begin running a blog. However in the end it simply wasn’t highly effective or versatile sufficient to do what I wished. I want I had bitten the bullet and gone with WordPress from the beginning.”
Heraldo writes – “I want I’d began out on WordPress slightly than blogspot.”
Mike writes – “I want I had been good sufficient to begin the weblog utilizing a devoted weblog platform….”
Terra writes – “I want that I’d left out the entire free blogger to wp.com websites and simply gone straight to my very own area.”
Trula writes – “I’ve at all times had my very own area identify, however I want I had began utilizing a running a blog program from the beginning. From 02-05 I hand coded my weblog, each single entry on it’s personal old-school html web page. Extremely duh!”
Antonio writes – “There are about 5-10 very profitable blogs that use blogger and different free blogs like for instance (seth godin, postsecret, and many others). They don’t seem to be on wordpress and nonetheless have tons of readers and subscribers. I believe that content material is what makes the weblog not the platform.”
betshopboy writes – “The one factor I’ll do otherwise if I might begin my weblog over again is to get my very own area identify and host the weblog on wordpress as a substitute of my present blogspot platform, with subdomain identify. Running a blog with subdomain will at all times be a poor cousin to blogs with personal area identify, regardless of how ‘killer’ your weblog posts are.”
What do you want you knew about internet hosting, domains and running a blog platforms once you first began running a blog?
Read more of the What We Wish We Knew Series
