It’s tempting to just jump right into WordPress with both feet, but that might not actually be the very best way to get started. It’s fun, sure, and any learning process requires at least some degree of trial and error, but before you have even paid for your first month of hosting, there are a couple of things you are going to want to do…
Check out Some WordPress Sites
First of all, you need to actually make sure that WordPress is for you. Bear in mind, though, that WordPress is actually quite versatile, so it’s not as if every single WordPress site will look exactly the same.
Let’s Get Started With WordPress Hosting
Once you have settled on WordPress as your publishing platform, you will need to pick a host. You actually do not have to use WordPress.com as your host unless you want to. In fact, there are a lot of hosts out there who specialize in hosting WordPress enabled websites.
That said, WordPress does offer a number of advantages to people who host on their servers…
- Built in compatibility
- All in one hosting and publishing
- Multiple advertising options
- Easy accessibility
One of the interesting things about WordPress is that they, as a host, are actually blocked in many countries. Why? Because of freedom of speech. WordPress does not censor, block or shut down any user based on unpopular opinions. As such, they are at the forefront of the fight for web-neutrality. If your blog is of a political, adult or controversial nature, WordPress offers freedoms that some hoists do not.
On the other hand, there are some advantages to looking elsewhere for hosting, too. For example, you can set your own standards when it comes to choosing how much you want to pay each month. You can find a host specifically geared to the kind of content you want to publish, etc.
There’s no one right choice, here, so your best bet is really to look at both options and weigh the pros and cons for yourself. If ease of use and convenience outweigh price shopping for you, go with WordPress. Otherwise, you may want to shop around.