Website Hosting for Bloggers

It's entirely possible to turn a blogging hobby into a full time profession, if enough people are interested in what you have to say and if you're prepared to put in the hard work required to make it happen. It's not anything like as easy as people think it is, though - and one of the first things that you can get wrong if you're not careful is picking your website hosting package.

What's Wrong with Free Blogs?

Don't get us wrong: we think that free blogs are great. They're an amazing way to build up a follower base, to get to grips with blogging, to figure out whether or not your idea has wings. They can be a lot of fun, and they're a risk-free entry to the world of publishing your opinions online. For the vast majority of bloggers, a free blog is all they'll ever need. If you want to take things a step further, though, there are a few reasons you're going to want to invest in proper web hosting and your own domain:

  • You'll have more freedom about the ways that you monetise your blog, including the adverts that show and how they're used. The control - and the revenue - will be in your hands.
  • A customised domain URL will make your blog look more professional, and give you greater control over how people think of you. It's also easier for visitors to remember.
  • Most of the big free blogging sites place pretty strict limits on the extent to which you can customise the look of your blog, which you won't want to have to stick to for long.

How To Get Started

You're going to need two main things if you're hoping to host your own blog: a domain name that you own and a web host who will keep the site on a server for you. There are many hundreds of options for each of these things, but whatever you choose it's important that you give plenty of thought to what you actually need and how much use you're likely to make of all the various features on offer before you commit to paying for things you might not end up wanting.

Key Things To Watch Out For

This is a big decision, and there's a whole lot of information around the internet that aims to help you make it. If you just want something quick and easy to get you started, though, it's well worth bearing in mind these few salient points.

  • Your domain name should be carefully selected to be properly representative of the way that people know your blog already, and easy for your visitors to remember.
  • There's no such thing as either 'unlimited bandwidth' or '100% uptime'. Don't get suckered in by false promises that you'll probably come to regret in the longer term.
  • It's important to shop around and read plenty of reviews before making a decision about which host to go with. You don't want to risk getting stuck in a bad deal because you didn't.
  • Be realistic about what you're going to need, and make sure you choose a host who will let you upgrade easily when the time comes to spend more money for a greater return.

Taking your blog 'pro' might turn out to have been the best decision you've ever made - but you won't find out unless you're prepared to do the work necessary to make it happen. Pick your hosts wisely and make intelligent choices and you'll be absolutely fine.