WordPress vs. WordPress.com: there is a difference
If you’re confused about what exactly WordPress is, you’re not alone! That’s because there are actually two different ways you can blog with the WordPress software.
WordPress software (the full version)
The focus of this site is on what I call “the full version of WordPress”. This refers to the blogging software you can download from WordPress.org. It requires separately-purchased hosting.
Why do I call it the full version? Because it has all of the features that you need. You can customize the design, you can install plugins, you can even hire a programmer to change the way things work by writing code for it. This is the version of WordPress that you want, and it’s the version that is featured in the videos.
WordPress.com blog service
Because not everyone is willing to purchase hosting and set up WordPress, the WordPress.com blog service was created. This is what we call a “hosted” service, meaning that they take care of the hosting and set up. Sounds like a no-brainer, right?
Well, it’s not quite that easy. As the host, WordPress.com also restricts some things. You can’t use a custom design (though they do have a nice selection of designs available), you can’t install plugins, and you definitely can’t have a programmer change the way things work.
But the biggest reason that I don’t recommend WordPress.com is that they don’t allow “commercial blogs.” What is a commercial blog? A blog that either promotes a commercial interest (like your business) or makes money (from advertising or affiliate programs). Well, I don’t know about you, but most people I work with want to make some money from their blog, either directly or indirectly.
So far, WordPress.com has been pretty lenient about enforcing this policy, but the fact is, they are completely within their rights to shut down your blog at any time, and for any reason. If you’re serious about your blog, it’s just silly to leave it somewhere that it could disappear.
Even without that restriction, you’re better off going with the full version in order to use plugins and the other features that make WordPress the best blogging software available.
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