What is Self-hosting & Amazing perks of self-hosted website?
Hi all !
Wishing a very happy Ganesh Chaturthi to everyone, may bappa removes all obstacles from our lives and give lots of success and happiness to all!
With the festive mode on, I am excited to share next post for series, “Blogging tips and tricks that actually works”.
For this post, I want to say a big thanks to Neeta from memoryflies.blogspot.com. who had asked me to write on this topic. I hope Neeta, this post will help you to get an insight about self-hosing.
The topic for this post is “Self-hosted website”. I am sure “Self-hosting” is one of the common term that most bloggers heard, when they started off. They often advised or suggested to move on “Self-hosting platform” by senior fellow bloggers.
For many new bloggers, this term creates a state of confusion and they had no idea how to get started with self-hosting?
So, in this post I am sharing what is self-hosted website? What is difference between hosted (free) and self-hosted website? What are perks of self-hosting? Read the post to know more!
What is self-hosted website?
As per Wikipedia, “Self-hosting in the context of website management and online publishing is used to describe the practice of running and maintaining a website using a private web server”.
In simple words, when you select a web hosting platform like blue host, site ground or go daddy and pay them to run your website for hosting and running it online, is called self-hosting. With self-hosting, you get a complete ownership of your website that includes an addition of excellent flexibility, in term of functionality, customization, plugin installation and another features.
What is difference between hosted (free) and self-hosted websites?
Nowadays with advancement of technology, you can create a blog in less than 1 hour, on hosted website platforms such as wix.com blogger and WordPress.com. All these hosted platforms offer an excellent opportunity and open resource to start a blog with simple set up, managed server and supportive staff.
With hosted platforms, hosting company handles most of technical and software updates for you and reduce the responsibility and burden of website maintenance. These hosted platforms are great options for beginners, and they can start their blogs with zero investments and less burden.
but these hosted (free) platforms have their own drawbacks too, such as it has a restriction on customization and functionality. Also, with hosted platforms, you will have a state of higher dependency. if due to any reason hosting company goes out of business, your website also goes down with them. Hosted websites also have a restriction on monetize your blog. If you have an aim of money making with your blog, then it is must to have a self-hosted website.
Self-hosting is a serious business compare to using hosted (or free) platforms. In this, a developer builds a self-hosted website as per their choice and preferences and then hire a hosting company to run their website online smoothly. Hosting price depends on multiple factors such as selection of company, selection of plan and time duration?
With self-hosting, you get lots of options and flexibility in term of designing and customization. Self-hosting offers you a complete ownership of your website. You get more control over everything about your site. But this status of ownership brings a state of responsibility too. For self-hosting website, you have to take care of technical and other maintenance aspects of website such as updating the required plugins and keep a check on your technical aspects of website maintenance.
Self-hosting makes your website look professional and eligible for participating in different blogging campaigns and getting sponsored opportunity.
Conclusively. “Having a hosted (free) website is like living in a rental apartment, where you get all facilities but did not have complete ownership or full control. While having a self-hosted website means buying your own land and building your own home as per your choice and preference. Like your own home requires more maintenance and care, same thing applies to self-hosted website that requires more maintenance and personal attention”.
What are perks of self-hosted website?
Having a self-hosted website offers various amazing perks for website owner. Along with getting full control and complete ownership, self-hosting offers various other great benefits too. Such as:
You will have an option to customize your domain name
With hosted (free) platforms, you often have a blog name that contains Blogspot.com or wordpress.com in your domain name. And it did not sound professional. While with self-hosting, you will get an option to customized your unique domain name as per your choice and preference. This small step plays an important role in making your website look more professional. Your unique domain name work as a great marketing tool that will help in making a first good impression in competitive market place.
More storage
Hosted (Free) platforms usually offers limited storage. When as a blogger you grow, and have multiple kind of content for your website (such as videos, images), then you will need enough storage space to run your website smoothly. With self-hosted website, you get an option to buy various storage plans as per your needs and requirements.
Better option for SEO
With self-hosted website, you can install useful plugins such as yoast that offers great features such as update your metadata, use of focus keywords that ultimately works great in improving SEO (search engine optimization) and rank your site higher in google search.
Monetize your blog
As I had mentioned before, having a self-hosted website is first and most important requirement to monetize your blog. Advertising, sponsored post opportunities and in fact, participation in various blogging campaigns adhere a primary requirement that is “Having a self-hosted blog”. If you have any of above purposes with your blogging journey, then you should must go for self-hosting.
Conclusion
I know, for new bloggers all these overflow of information may seem overwhelming, and they might feel confused with next step.
Though I am not an expert, but with my personal experience, I can conclude two important points.
- If you had joined blogging filed as a hobby and you just want to explore the different aspects of blogging world, then there is nothing wrong in get started with hosted (free) web platforms. After getting an initial experience of 4-5 months, you can decide next step as whether you want to move on self-hosted platforms or not. Personally, I had done same thing. I had stared with blogger platform and after gaining enough confidence, I had moved my blog on self-hosting platform.
- If you are very clear about your aim such as monetize your blog and you are really serious about pursing blogging as a professional carrier, then you can directly start with a self-hosted platform.
Launch a self-hosted blog or moving your blog from hosted to self-hosted platform is little bit a technical process. And if you do not want to take that pain, you can take help of professionals or experts, who can help you with all details and you would be able to set up yourself hosted blog easily.
Personally, Neha Gupta from Bloggingmadeeasier.com has helped me a lot in changing my blog host provider. Neha is so supportive and great in all kinds of technical stuffs (self-hosting or moving blog to self-hosted platform). You can contact her to get more info.
(This is not a sponsored post for Neha. I had worked with her and had good experience, so sharing this for helping purpose)
So, this is all for now. What are your thoughts? Please share!
Read previous posts of this series, here.
55 Comments
Smalltownie
I am planning to start my own blog since a very long time and this really helped me and might even help me give a kick start to my self hosted blog ?
admin
thanks dear, I am glad you found it helpful.
soniadogra
Surbhi I’m so impressed with this series of yours. Over a period of time I’ve realized how I don’t fit into the scene of professional blogging. Also realized don’t want to do it. As you said I basically entered this field because of my creative impulse. Now I feel Id rather keep my blog as a home to pursue my writer journey, nothing else. Reading your series makes me sure of my decision. But yes, I do know which is the blog to recommend to whoever wishes to learn about professional blogging. Well done!
admin
aww this is so sweet of you dear Sonia. your appreciation means a lot to me.
Samidha Mathur
Your blog is a very tutorial for a new blogger. It is essential to know the technicalities and other related stuff of blogging. You have shared this information very well.
Deepika
You explained in detail about the benefits of self-hosted websites. I was also planning to go for self-hosting. I hope I could really start soon. Thanks for the guide.
TheMomSagas
Wonderful post. I wish I had all this useful information when I started blogging. Your post will come across helpful for many budding bloggers
Ginia
This is such useful info for all new bloggers. Very crucial to know all this. Thank you for sharing.
My Words My Wisdom
I have moved to a self hosted blog just six months back and now i repent of not being there earlier. Almost two years of efforts gone waste. Your post will help many in doubt whether to invest in a blog or not.
Mayuri6
A very well explained and important post. Those who are just venturing into Blogging, and confused about getting a self-hosted blog or no are sure to reach a decision after reading this.
Neha
Very well explained about the self hosting..really helpful for new bloggers..thanx for sharing
admin
thanks dear, I am glad you liked it.
admin
thanks dear, I am glad you liked it. your appreciation means a lot to me.
Debidutta Mohanty
It’s an eye-opener and informative post, Surbhi. As many bloggers blog for long in free version being unaware of it’s benefits that a self-hosted website offers.
mahekg
You have explained the details of self hosting so well, it would be very helpful to bloggers who were wanting to have one.
Yes Neha is really so knowledgeable and there is so much to learn from her.
Pratibha Shenoy
Totally agree with you, the joy of creating our own website with much better functionality is totally amazing ?
admin
yes indeed it is amazing. thanks a lot for reading the blog and sharing your experience.
Amritha Srinath
This is indeed such an helpful post for all the new bloggers. I remember when i was a new blogger, I had no proper guidance on how and where to start from! Yes, Neha is one of the best persons I have come across who helps all of us with her blogging courses.
MeenalSonal Mathur
Yes self hosted website is like a permanent place for us plus it brings loads of responsibilities too . I am sure many bloggers will get motivated after reading you post.
musingsoftheheartandsoul
Great tips for self hosting a website. It definitely helps to have a self hosted website
forbabynmommy
This is such a nice article all the new bloggers who want to to write and not able to understand to get a self hosted site or not. you have mentioned all the important points that we need to consider before by getting a self hosted website.
myworldwitheira
I did blog on WordPress at the start and now have a self-hosted website. Sure there are perks and seems good to have something personalized to your name. Nice blog post for newbies to know better.
theyellowdaal
I remember the day I switched to self hosted site and it was the best decision ever. Loved your article!
memoryflies
Thank you Surbhi for detailed post. I am very glad that I just put a query n you cleared all doubts. I am using blogger since last 3 years.it was just for hooby. Will try to take my own land now?
DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter
This is such an eye-opener. Though you say that you are not an expert, you have given us so much valuable information through your post. I have shared it with lots of new bloggers who are struggling with the establishing their blog. Thank you!
Swati Mathur
Thanks for sharing… I think I will wait for 5 to 6 months before going for self hosted as I am a trainer, and that’s takes away lot of my time.. But I would love to have self hosted for sure but after a while.
aditi
An informative post on self-hosted blogs. People who are (interested in) blogging will find it quite useful.
mummatalks
You have shared such detailed information which is surely gonna be helpful for new bloggers. I too had lots of doubts when I started and gradually started understanding the details of blogging.
Gleefulblogger
Just yesterday somebody ask me how to go for domain and website hosting we had an elaborate session on this I am so glad that you have written a detailed post to make everyone understand when and how to take it forward
Roma
Great post Surbhi. I wish I had this years ago when I didn’t know how to take a wise call. You have covered all the points exhaustively.
Feelingfashioninside
Wow these information are really important who all plan to start blogging .
Snigdha
This is again another informative post for bloggers who are just don’t understand the technical things of blogging. I am gonna bookmark this post .
Ishieta Chopra
This is a very helpful post. You have really well enumerated the benefits of self hosted sites when compared to the free sites hosted on other platforms.
Khyatee Sardana Wadhwa
This is so helpful for the person who has just started their journey and are on the urge of making mistake. Definitely its a thumbs up 🙂
Shilpa Garg
I loved the analogy of a rental home vs own home. A wonderful post with great insights about self hosted websites.
Varsh
I went for a self-hosted website almost 7 years after I started blogging and it was the best decision I made. I love the fact that it’s my personal space and establishes the fact that I’m a professional blogger.
Ruchie
I am really happy that you have shared so nicely and briefly about the self hosted websites..It is really going to help a lot for many new bloggers!!
Cindy Dsilva
Yes i made a good decision of self hosting despite my need for the same was for my passion alone. I still don’t monetize in any way. I get bugged with advertisement on websites.
Dr Bushra Allaboutthewoman
I’m also confused between switching to self hosted website in the beginning .but once I’ve done it’s never turning back. Indeed it’s good for one who’s serious about blogging
Neha Sharma
Very well explained, Surbhi. This article will help a lot of people in understanding the difference between hosted and self hosted websites. And, they will be able to decided how they want to start their blog.
Judy Morris
This is an informative article about clearly demarcating the difference between the free sites and self hosted websites. The post is very helpful to new bloggers to clear the doubt
Alpana Deo
Yes, self-hosted website has its own benefits. especially, if someone is serious about blogging then self-hosted is always a better option.
Gunjan Upadhyay
you are so right about the benefits of self hoisted website, 3 years from now, i was thinking whether i should invest to get my domain hosted, wish i could have read it then, but glad i did after so many people telling me the same thing
Tina Basu
self hosted gives you freedom like nothing else. its like your house. i went self hosted 5 years back and just love it.
The Champa Tree
Hey! I have my own views on this, but, yes- a self-hosted site gives a whole lot of flexibility, having said which, if you are using the right hosting partner, and a credible one, there’s no need to worry much.
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jayanthi6
Very nice post on self hosted site and free sites…I also started on free site and then moved onto self hosted one…
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