Self-Hosted Blog vs. Free hosted blog

[Teague]

What is better to use a blog hosted on my own domain (ex. myblog.com) or a free hosted blog (ex. myblog.wordpress.com or myblog.blogspot.com). I am just starting out and have never owned my own site, I just want to know what would be better for me.

[inatmo]

Own hosting is better. You control everything, besides you will have the possibility to learn faster.

But starting with blogpost.com would be good to try too if you're novice

[turbulence]

If you want to be a real blogger, call the shots and look professional in the eyes of your readers the answer is - self-hosted all the way!!!

[sizzler_chetan]

http://www.thewwwblog.com/choosing-blog-platform-and-hosting.html > This was my write up and my views on both free and self hosted blogs. Hope you get the most part of it :)

[Dubz]

Self Hosted 100000% You actually own the content you create...

[Dean_Saliba]

Hosting your own blog no question.

Although if you are a novice then you might want to start out with a hosted blog from Blogger or something.

[river]

Self hosted is better, the more control you have the better, but there are quite a few very successful free hosted blogs out there.

[rangan]

Why did you develop a doubt? It is better to spell out so you will get more responses that will directly address your doubts.

[Robert_M]

I prefer with hosting your own blog. You'll get your unique name, without any extra extensions.

[nshop1]

If you want to make a professional looking blog, u have to go for paid blog.

Previously i had one free blog, now i have also taken a paid hosting to run a new blog.

[kg_lew]

get one for your domain... it will look more professional. already with that is a good reason enough.

[Tooschee]

paid hosting - it is moslty faster and more reliable, besides owning a domain is good. It's easier to remember something.com than something.blogfreecreator.com right? :)

[falguni1]

own hosting is good. you are the boss and no one deletes them without asking you.

[hmansfield]

It' a no brainer. Free hosting is for people who blog for a hobby. Self hosting is people who want to create a brand, or make some coin.

[rangan]

"make some coin"
I like this expression.

[kg_lew]

yes. very true.. i want to make some coin

[hay]

self hosting is good.

[cool_78]

If you are just starting out, go with a free hosted blog like blogspot, as an added bonus you can use it to apply for adsense. After you know your way around register your own domain name and host.

[wwstewart]

Self hosting. No doubt.

I was using wordpress.com for a while (in fact I still use it, but for more off-topic things), but I eventually had to get some real hosting and a domain name.

You have to be careful with free hosts if you plan to make money. Many of them do not allow certain 'keyword phrases', and they won't tell you what those words are (bad experience with a free host).

What key words did I use? Well, they wouldn't allow ANYTHING that linked to Amazon.com (or, according to support, used the phrase amazon.com).

If you MUST use a free host, use wordpress.com, but read their TOS...they don't allow adsense, but you can *sneak* in paid posts if you are careful...and clever. But move to paid hosting ASAP.

[coolcontent]

You can start with a hosted blog (blogger, wordpress.com) then migrate your content when you're ready for self-hosting. You can also have it hosted on wordpress.com, buy a domain, and have the blog served on your domain so that you don't have "wordpress" in your domain name. In other words, if you go the domain route, your readers will have to look awfully hard to see that you're not self-hosted.

[bragn]

Well, you can host your own domain on Blogger too :P And their ad policy is less strict AFAIK (you can have AdSense, for example..).

[godsofchaos]

Definitely its better if your site is on a domain... brand matters!

[coldgansta]

Get your own hosting.Put yourself in controll and no1 else.
Run your own blogs on paid hosting accounts that look after there clients.
Most free hosts offer none or little support.
Try Blogs Hoster.com