At the present time, free blog hosting services can no longer handle today’s advanced blogging functions, size, or interactivity. As a result, it’s the number one reason why paid web hosting is a standard requirement for anyone who’s interested in professional blogging. Paid web hosting was originally provided for hosting traditional, non-blog-based websites; however, because blogging has become so popular and feature-driven, it grew to accommodate some of the unique requirements that blogging demands.
That’s the short story, anyway. The longer version addresses how far blogging has grown from a simple online diary script to a full-blown database with high-level programming and extensive storage needs. But we’re not going to address all of those issues here. What we want to emphasize instead is the fact that although there are a number of hosting options that can store a tremendous amount of data, there is really only one option that can adequately process and deliver all the data that today’s blogging generates. Here are a couple of things that you must know.
Web Hosting vs Free Blog Hosting
As implied earlier, the option of web hosting has replaced free blog hosting for a number of reasons. Not only does free blog hosting place size restrictions onto a blog, it fails to provide some of blogging’s most common functions. It only provides the functions of a simple diary script or a basic messaging forum. It doesn’t serve up RSS feeds either. Nor does it process advanced search queries. Such a limited prospect may be adequate for beginning bloggers. Experienced bloggers will need and want more from a host, which is why so many turn to paid web hosting.
Through paid web hosting, bloggers have access to an impressive number of functions that fuel websites all over the world. Paid web hosting strengthens blogging with things like unique domain names, email server capabilities, and private FTP access. None of those things are available from any free blog host, and without them, they make blogging much more challenging than it has to be.
WordPress Hosting vs Web Hosting
It’s important to note that even though web hosting expands capabilities far beyond what free hosting provides, WordPress hosting is specifically beneficial for those who use the WordPress platform. WordPress Hosting provides everything that traditional web hosting provides; however, it’s built to accommodate WordPress’s unique demands. Example demands include automatic installation and updates, daily backups, and multiple but separate database management.
With access to these unique solutions, WordPress bloggers can easily set up a blog within minutes, add and run advanced plugins, and manage content in an environment that was specifically created for these types of tasks. Even better, they can expand functions in an environment that grows with current expectations and new developments.
Conclusion
Regardless of how big or small a blog may be, WordPress hosting is the most appropriate vehicle for WordPress blogs. Anything else makes a WordPress blog vulnerable to data corruption, slow delivery, and page errors. No professional blog should subject its visitors to these issues, so as a blogger, you’ll want to assemble all the info you need and compare current services to newer alternatives. Once you get a sense of what’s standard (i.e., what you should get for your money), you can match your needs with what’s available and determine the best route for your blog.