The difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org… are you confused yet?

If you are joining the world of blogging, you hear everyone say… you need a self hosted WordPress blog.

So the first thing you do, if you are like me, you research wordpress and come across a blogging platform called wordpress.com. This MUST be what people are talking about. So you sign up.

You create your very first blog… It’s called “healthylivingtip.wordpress.com”.

Feeling pretty good about yourself, you start blogging. You have another brilliant idea and with WordPress.com you can create multiple blogs… So now you have two, and then three.

But hey! They are all on the same site and this must be why all the online gurus rave about WordPress. This is pretty cool. Until…

You get an email from WordPress.com that you have violated their terms of service and you can’t talk about network marketing or making money. So you have 7 days to move your content to a self hosted site or loose it all. Thank you.

Wait…. What?!

What the heck is a self hosted site for blogging… I am a Chef for crying out loud. I know jack about building a website online! OMG!!! (begin freaking out mode)

So, just like you the first thing I did was turn to the internet and begin searching for how to build a self hosted blog using WordPress… but like you, I thought I was using WordPress.

Confused yet?

So let’s clear the air here. Deep Breathe and here we go.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

The main difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org is ownership.

WordPress.com is a blogging platform. You agree to the rules and regulations of using that platform and you can start blogging. They have tons of great tools to help you blog. This site is perfect for the personal blogger. Those that want to journal what they are doing, but aren’t promoting or selling anything.

And more likely you are not being found online. Google gives preference to WordPress self hosted sites over every free blogging platform.

WordPress.org is the open market place to customize a self hosted site. You will use WordPress.org when you purchase your domain, purchase hosting, and install the WordPress site builder.

You can do all of this in about 20 minutes and I show you how in my update Blog Ingredients course.

From that moment… WordPress.org becomes your playground. You will go here to find the look and feel of your blog – we call this choosing your theme. It is the structure of your blog. The framework if you will. My favorite theme is Thrive Themes because it is built for digital marketing and if you are just getting started, it is a theme you can grow into.

Next up you will discover that every theme has a missing component. It has some of what you want… but not everything. That is were plugins come into play. Plugins allow you to add features to your blog that benefit the user.

Everything from social sharing, site protection, and so much more. In yesterdays’ post I did talk about 4 Essential Plugins that I believe every blogger should have on their blog.

Why WordPress.org

Even more compelling reasons why you should be using a WordPress self hosted site.

1. Google give preference to self hosted sites over blogging platforms.
2. Email branding. Having a self hosted blog allows you to create: Katrina@theChefKatrina.com
3. Hosting webinar, membership sites, offers, automation, and syndication.
4. Credibility – You have your own site, you must know what you are doing.

If you want to create a brand or build your credibility online, you need to own your own slice of the online real estate.

In the restaurant world we call the kitchen the heart of the house. If you don’t have a kitchen, you don’t have a restaurant.

In the online world we call your blog the heart of your business. If you don’t have a blog, you don’t have a business.

It’s more than page ranking, it’s about building an audience. Your audience becomes your customer. They become your megaphone and tell other about you.

In a world were we are becoming more and more digital, you have to have a digital presence. No one is turning to the phone book anymore to find solutions to their problems. They are going to the internet.

Are they finding you?

Recommended Resource: How To Blog For Business. Building Your Credibility.

Did you get value from today’s post? If so, please comment and share.

Thank you for being a fan, and I look forward to sharing more help tips on blogging and branding online.

Yours in Gratitude,

Chef Katrina

P.S. Stop the pain of struggling today. There’s an answer waiting on the other side, one simple system that I use to generate 10 to 15 leads a day for my business. (Unless You Already Have Too Many Leads) Click Here To Learn More