Blogs, also known as weblogs, are sites that feature regular updates in the form of individual posts. Since blogs tend to evolve over a long period of time, they are an attractive alternative to creating a static website. With many different blog hosting options available, however, getting your blog set up can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task.
The first step in choosing a blog host is deciding whether you want to create a blog with free hosting or invest in a paid blog host. If you're creating a personal blog to keep in touch with your family and friends, free blog hosting is likely to be sufficient for your needs. Free blog hosts, such as Blogger or Xanga, offer easy-to-use interfaces that make it simple for people with limited technical skills to start blogging.
Most free blog hosting options also provide a limited selection of templates so you can alter the look of your blog to better suit your personal tastes. You won't be able to remove ads from the site, however, since this is the primary way free blog hosts generate their revenue. Additionally, free blog hosts do have some restrictions on the content they will allow; most won't permit blogs with pornography, excessive violence, hate speech, or content that infringes upon the copyright of someone else.
It's natural to want to save money, but finances alone shouldn't be the deciding factor when choosing a blog host. For bloggers who are hoping to turn their blog into a source of supplemental income, it's best to invest in paid blog hosting. With a paid account, you'll have your own domain name and greater options for customizing your blog. If you want to run ads on your site, you'll be the one who keeps the income they generate. You'll also be able to accommodate larger amounts of traffic, which is crucial for making money from your blog.
Traditionally, blogging meant posting written descriptions of the day's activities. Today, however, bloggers communicate using a wider variety of mediums. If you plan to regularly post images, videos, or affiliate advertising links on your blog, remember to check if your blog host will able to handle this type of content. You don't want to go through the trouble of setting up a blog only to find out you won't be able to post the content you want.