{"id":37,"date":"2014-10-12T18:15:01","date_gmt":"2014-10-12T18:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/starter\/?p=37"},"modified":"2018-06-05T22:31:39","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T06:31:39","slug":"wordpress-com-or-wordpress-org-how-to-choose-the-right-one-for-your-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lianechan.com\/skillcrush\/2014\/10\/12\/wordpress-com-or-wordpress-org-how-to-choose-the-right-one-for-your-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"WordPress.com or WordPress.org? How to choose the right one for your blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I launched my blog<\/a>\u00a0in 2012, I went about it like this: I Googled \u201cWordPress blog,\u201d clicked a button<\/a>\u00a0that said, \u201cget a free blog,\u201d and I started rolling.<\/p>\n

A year later, I realized I should have done more research. I wanted to change my site layout and add functions (like a hovering Pinterest button), and I realized (oh nooos!) I needed a \u201cWordPress.org blog\u201d for that.<\/p>\n

Getting a \u201cWordPress.org blog,\u201d it turns out, really means downloading the free, open-source WordPress web software<\/a>\u00a0and using a third-party hosting service (like GoDaddy or Bluehost) to get your site online.<\/p>\n

WordPress.com<\/a>, on the other hand, takes care of all that legwork for you. You don\u2019t worry about hosting or serving up files, and your blog comes with a free domain that looks something like this: www.mynewblog.wordpress.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But when you hand over responsibility, you also lose control: your WordPress.com site will show ads unless you pay a yearly fee, and many upgrades, like hosting videos or buying a custom domain name for example, can get costly.<\/p>\n

To add to the new-blogger confusion, when you\u2019re working on your blog, the Dashboard (the place where you edit your blog from the back end) looks almost exactly the same no matter which avenue you take. Because WordPress.com runs on the same WordPress software as a self-hosted site, the user experience after setting up your blog isn\u2019t that different.<\/p>\n

Deciding between starting a free WordPress.com blog and self-hosted WordPress site is as simple as deciding how much freedom you want over your site\u2019s look and feel, how much behind-the-scenes work you\u2019re willing to do, and whether you want to monetize your blog.<\/p>\n

\"WordPress.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. How much control do you want over your site\u2019s look and feel?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re okay with an \u201cout of the box\u201d theme [http:\/\/theme.wordpress.com\/], WordPress.com might work for you. For an extra charge, you can customize some features, like fonts and background colors. Overall, though, you are limited when it comes to changing the design of your site.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking at those themes and thinking, \u201cbut I want my Instagram feed up higher and I\u2019d like social media buttons above the top navigation,\u201d you\u2019ll want to go with a self-hosted WordPress blog so you can access your site\u2019s layout and HTML.<\/p>\n

2. What extra functionality do you want on your site?<\/h2>\n

Remember that anecdote about the Pinterest hover button I wanted? WordPress.com is always updating and adding new features, but you will have more control on a self-hosted site. Through WordPress.org, you\u2019ll have access to libraries of plugins [https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/] that can add features like interactive calendars, social media sharing options, and RSS feeds\u2013not to mention, Google Analytics\u2013to your site. And by accessing your site\u2019s code, your opportunities to add to and embellish features are unlimited.<\/p>\n

3. Do you want to monetize your site?<\/h2>\n

\u201cOh wow, I have so many pageviews! Maybe I can make a little cash with ads!\u201d Nope. Not if you\u2019re on a WordPress.com site. They\u2019re giving you a lot for free; it\u2019s no surprise that you can only sell ads in WordPress-approved ways. On a self-hosted site, however, the world is your oyster\u2026or, you know, your sales floor.<\/p>\n

In addition, while, WordPress.com recently introduced new ways to sell on your site, eCommerce is more established and flexible with a self-hosted site.<\/p>\n

4. How much can you spend?<\/h2>\n

Self-hosting is an upfront cost that ranges from a few dollars a month to closer to hundreds per year. But using a free WordPress.com blog and adding a lot of additional features can get pricey. Infographic cost comparison:http:\/\/howtomakemyblog.com\/wordpress-com-org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

When it comes down to it, WordPress.com is a valuable tool for users looking for a free option, who don\u2019t need to customize or make money off of their site. But getting a self-hosted site through WordPress.org provides the most flexibility, freedom, and opportunity for growth. And let\u2019s face it, you\u2019re going to want to use this site to become a moneybags, and WordPress.org allows more freedom for turning your hard work into cold hard cash.<\/p>\n\t\t