When it comes to starting a blog, there are two main options. You can start a blog for free using one of the many hosted blog platforms such as blogger.com or wordpress.com. Or you can host your own blog.

Using a free online platform is easy and free. All you have to do is sign-up for a free account and set up your free blog using the available options. Hosting your own blog requires you to purchase your domain name and basic hosting package, and finally install blog software such as WordPress. However in spite of the initial effort, hosting your own blog offers many advantages.

Here are 9 reasons why you should host your own blog:

1. Better for Branding

Hosting a blog on a custom domain name is better for branding. If you set up a free blog, your URL will be in the format of your-blog-name.wordpress.com instead of your own custom domain.

Hosting a blog on your own domain name gives you credibility. It is also more memorable and easier to remember for your customers.

2. Better Search Engine Performance

All blogs are great for SEO and perform better on search engines than traditional websites. However, self hosted blogs give you more control over SEO e.g. many businesses host a blog on their main URL so all keyword rich content is credited to the company’s domain name which results in improved authority and ranking for the business. This would not be possible on free platforms as any new content will be credited to the hosting domain and not your own.

You will still be able to drive traffic to the free blog and then use it to generate back-links. However you will not be able to utilise the full SEO benefits.

3. More Control Over Content

Hosting your own blog also gives you full control over the type of content you can publish. On free blog platforms, you are bound by the publishing guidelines of the respective site e.g. on wordpress.com if you primarily publish promotional content about your company or products, your content can be flagged as low quality or spam. As a result your blog can get banned.

If this happens you will suddenly loose all traffic or back-links you have developed so far. This is very common. On the other hand, if you host your own blog there is no limit to the type of content you publish without the need to confirm to someone else’s publishing guidelines.

4. Better Revenue Potential

When you host on another free platform you are limited to the revenue generating potential. You may be able to use programmes like Adsense, however there may be limitations on other forms of revenue generation such as affiliate products, banner advertising or other programmes.

5. Better for Growth and Value addition

The growth in the value of your blog is limited if you host on free platforms. If you wish to grow your blog and perhaps sell it some day for a profit, hosting your own blog is vital.

6. More Control Over Functionality

If you host your own blog there are no limits to the type of features you can offer or develop either now or in future. You can do pretty much what you want or integrate it seamlessly with other websites or tools. Such options are vary limited when you host a blog using one of the free platforms. You are restricted to using the widgets and tools on offer.

7. More Control Over Design

Although free platforms such as WordPress.com offer excellent flexibility to adapt and customise the design or template, full control is only possible when you host your own blog.

8. Less Risk

On free platforms, your blog can be taken down over night. It is very common. Although you are likely to get your post content, you can loose all traffic and back-links instantly.

9. Complete Ownership

There are many aspects to a blog in addition to the content. The domain name and the authority and reputation associated with it take time to build and are equally important. When you set up a blog on a free platform, you do not own all areas of your blog. You own the content but have little control over domain authority or the domain name. If you host your own blog, you own it 100%.

Conclusion:

Although setting up a free blog using a free hosted platform is easy and can be done in minutes, for best results you should host your own WordPress blog on your own domain name.