WordPress vs Free Sites: The Big Question for Beginners

It’s hard to miss this question when creating a blog site: Why pay for premium platforms when you can upload content with a free site? Is there a big difference? 

Yes, there is.

While all blogging platforms can publish content, they are not equal in advertising control, site speed, traffic restrictions, and content features. Today, we have an answer to the emerging writers undecided on when and how to pick the right blogging platform. Some consider paid sites a rip-off, and some have successfully leveraged the right platform. Here’s our debate: 

Free Sites are the starting point.

Blogging platforms for starters like Tumblr, Squarespace, and Blogger, to name a few. 

They are very straightforward and friendly for content management and page building, with a simple interface to get you started quickly. Therefore, they are the best options for starters without knowledge of blogging logistics. But, take in mind that your goal is to increase your reach on a platform where readers can quickly get access to you. In that regard, let’s address some challenges of growing your author website with a free blogging site: 

  • No control over advertisements: Free blogging platforms don’t allow you to display ads, and some free blogging platforms will run their ads on your pages so they can make money off your traffic and content. 
  • Slow loading time: Search engines like Google aim to display the best blogging sites in terms of quality and optimized content for their audiences. However, free blogging platforms can compromise the loading time of your blog because they put hundreds of free blogs under one server to save bandwidth and hosting expenses, making you lose readers and traction. 
  • Traffic Limitations: The more traffic you get to your blog, the more exposure and reach you get for your writing career. However, to get a lot of traffic, you need plenty of bandwidth access, which free platforms don’t offer. Bandwidth costs money, and free blogging platform companies are only willing to give a limited amount in their free version to persuade you to upgrade. Switching to a paid hosting service will guarantee exposure by offering a more rapid experience to your readers from the start.
  • Limited Data and Storage: You must upgrade if your storage disk is 100% full. Otherwise, you’ll have to limit the use of media on your site: videos, pictures, and charts, among others. The worst part is the cost of upgrading on some free site platforms, which can be higher than getting started with paid services from the beginning. 
  • Unprofessional Look: The design templates and functions available on free platforms are standard. It’s harder to sell when your blog doesn’t look nice and modern, or at least well-fitting to your style. Free sites can make people skeptical, and a flawed concept will support the case.

WordPress is the best next step. 

WordPress is the go-to platform for every start-up, professional, and platform builder, with access to advertisement features, content creation tools, marketing plugins, e-commerce shop, and blogging. In addition, it’s incredibly adaptable, adjustable, and friendly to use. 

Some of the benefits you can obtain with WordPress are: 

  • No restrictions on advertising: For example: adding advertising banners or pop-ups to your site. 
  • Practicality for new users: It comes with intuitive design, directions, and tutorials to get you started and keep you going.
  • Improved Traffic Speed: it is built and structured with search engines and SEO. Your website needs to be easy for search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing to crawl through and parse your data. By building your website on WordPress, you can get lots of search engine traffic to your site over the long run.
  • Endless customization possibilities: access thousands of plugins or modules to customize your blog and give it a professional look that matches your niche. Plugins are extremely powerful add-ons that can help manage the back end and improve your blog’s speed.
  • E-Commerce section: By allowing you to connect your website with Woocommerce, the WordPress e-commerce interface competes with the likes of Shopify, Magento, and other exclusive e-commerce-related content management systems.
  • Built-In Blog feature: WordPress websites come with a blog section available and ready to use.

Time is the answer.

It’s not entirely about picking the right platform but knowing your goals before choosing your next step at the right moment. 

Starting with free blogging sites is essential to test your commitment and willingness to dig into a more significant and broader experience. Platforms like WordPress can offer you the best tool to boost your blogging efforts and expand your reach, but ultimately, knowing when and if the upgrade is necessary will help you measure the expectations and put a ceiling to the outcomes of your blogging venture. Not too low if you want to dream big and conquer!

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