There is no more common concern or question among both beginning and veteran bloggers alike: which blogging platform should I pick? Aside from learning how to blog, it’s an almost universal concern.
And there is no one-size-fits-all answer. All bloggers MUST own their domain names, but choice of the platform is primarily dependent on the indivudal blogger’s needs. That said, I’ve compiled a list of disadvantages and advantages of the two main platform options below.
Hosted Platforms
Hosted platforms refer to services whereby a service provider grants you access to their software, hardware, and network connection, and you create a blogging account for use on their service. With a hosted blog, you have access to a control panel for your blog, and that’s it.
Typical hosted platforms include packages like LiveJournal, Blogger, and Typepad.
Advantages of Hosted Platforms
- Cheap: most are free; some (like TypePad) are offered with multiple price points
- Easy to setup: just create an account and then quickly learn how to create blog posts
- Automatic updates: you don’t have to concern yourself with keeping hosted software patched and updated.
Disadvantages of Hosted Platforms
- Rigid: there are fewer cusotmization choices with hosted platforms.
- Limited design choices: you typically only get to choose from a limited number of average designs, and you often can’t make updates to them
- Generic URL: some hosted platforms don’t have the option to use your own URL
- Less control: you are at the mercy of the platform
- Migration issues: moving from some free hosted platforms results in a lot of effort and often the temporary loss of search engine rankings
Self-hosted Platforms
Self-hosted platforms consist of a web hosting account you establish with a host, and the blogging software you install on the data center’s server. With a self-hosted blog, you have access to an administrative panel for your blog, but you also have access to a server account and the blog software where you can do almost anything.
Common self-hosted software includes WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
Advantages of Self-hosted Platforms
- Design flexibility: you have complete control over design and layout
- Great software: killer software exists on self-hosted platforms
- Custom URL: custom URL’s are ubiquitous on self-hosted platforms
- Adaptability: your blog can change as your needs change
- Easy migration: if you ever want to move to another platform or another server, moving is a snap
Disadvantages of Self-hosted Platforms
- Difficult setup: setup can sometimes be difficult, but this can be overcome with a good blogs how to
- Cost: while the blogging software is free, the hosting platform will cost you money
- Hosting issues: unless you choose a good host, you might have to suffer from down-time or poor support
- Upgrades: you will need to keep your software patched
Most of of my blogs are self-hosted, and it’s what I usually advise anyone looking to create a professional blog. There are just too many benefits to ignore, and you usually have the option to host many blogs and domains on just one account, driving the cost per blog down to a small amount.
