WordPress.com vs WordPress.org - How to Choose Your Host
- 2. Who am I? Matthew Blackford LimeSquare – Digital Marketing Agency Based in the Majoran Distillery Developer – WordPress and web technologies
- 3. Why does it matter? Access to different features (plugins, themes) Different levels of maintenance required Locked-in to wrong choices Can be costly to change
- 4. WordPress is software Just like Microsoft Word Gets installed on a computer (a web server) You can download it from www.WordPress.org
- 5. WordPress.org is a website Supported by the WordPress Foundation (non-profit) A community of developers hang out here - they make WordPress better A directory of free themes and plugins
- 6. Self Hosted Using WordPress.org implies you are ‘Self Hosted’ This means WordPress is running on: Your local computer; or more likely Your web host More on this soon…
- 8. WordPress.com is another website Run by Automattic and is a commercial venture They can install and host WordPress for you The basic plans are free, but with limited functionality Often with a wordpress.com address: matthewsblog.wordpress.com
- 11. Setup time and easy of use WordPress.com Simple, quick and free Don’t have to worry about security or maintenance Self Hosted Requires ‘some’ technical expertise Must be updated on a regular basis
- 12. Domain names WordPress.com Free example.wordpress.com address Custom domains (www.mattisawesome.com) $13 / year Self Hosted You need to purchase your own domain Costs approximately $10 to $20 / year
- 13. Themes and plugins WordPress.com A small range of approved themes and plugins Can access additional ones by paying a fee Self Hosted Access to millions (well, lots) of free plugins and themes Awesome premium themes from $30 Can get a theme custom designed and developed
- 15. Advertising WordPress.com They may choose to display ads on your site Can pay $30 to remove ads Self Hosted No ads, unless you put them there yourself!
- 17. Which should you choose? It depends on your requirements: Personal blog Temporary website (once-off event, testing an idea) Business website E-Commerce website
- 19. Personal blog You want something free Easy to use and setup You can focus on writing Go for WordPress.com
- 21. Temporary Website Quick to setup and test your idea Easy to throwaway Need your own domain (i.e. www.myidea.com.au) Go for WordPress.com
- 23. Business website You need control Easy to update and manage You will be making money from your site You need Self Hosted
- 25. Ecommerce website You need a lot of flexibility SEO (search engine optimisation) is important You need the ability to scale and make millions $$$ You need Self Hosted
- 26. What to look for in a host? Location close to where you visitors live Reputation Google them, and read http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/ Price Cheap and Expensive are both bad Pay between $8 and $25 a month
- 28. Recommendations? I currently like VentraIP www.ventraip.com.au $7.95 to $24.95 per year good support and reliable Any others?
- 29. How hard is it, really?
- 36. Live demo…
- 37. Questions? Future talk ideas? Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Digital marketing basics – get visitors to your site