All this talk about self-hosting. What on earth does it mean? I’m going to answer your question in this super short post.
Let me start by telling you that every website needs a host in the same way your phone needs a carrier. Without a host, there is no place for your blog to live.
The word “self-hosting” can be deceiving… you don’t actually host your own website. So, no, self-hosting does NOT mean you are hosting your website on your own computer. Instead, you are using the services of a hosting company dedicated to providing a secure and reliable place for your website to reside.
It’s called “self” hosting because this type of hosting allows “you” to have control over your blog.
By self-hosting your blog or website, you have complete flexibility because you get to choose your themes and plugins. You own it, so you can even change your host and take your website with you.
The alternative is to use a website building platform, blog publishing service, or microblogging website (such as Blogger, Tumblr, or Wix). You don’t have complete control over the look, feel, and function of your blog, but they are free. Or so they say they are free (you pay when you unlock functions).
Think of the difference like this:
Self-hosting your blog is like owning your own home vs. renting an apartment. That’s not a perfect analogy, but it kind of does the trick.
So there you have it… I just wanted to answer the question “what does self-hosting mean?” because I have been asked, and if one person doesn’t know, that means there are others who aren’t sure either (that’s why you are reading this).
So just to be clear, self-hosting your blog or website means you have complete control, but there is a small fee (I self-host this blog with Bluehost).
Whenever I write, I promise to answer your questions and cover the material at hand, so I’m not going to waste your time with whether or not you should choose to self-host. If you must know, yes, I’m in favor of self-hosting, but there are pros and cons. To find out more, check out my article 7 reasons to self-host your blog.
Thanks for reading. If you found this quick post helpful, please share it. It would mean a great deal to me.
Still not clear? Tell me what’s on your mind in the comments below.
Resources
- Free 7-Day Blogging eCourse
- How to find your writing style
- The truth about starting a blog
- How to write a great blog post
Pro Blogger Resources
- Pro Blogger Training (all-inclusive)
- Self-hosted blog platform for bloggers (with Bluehost)
- Bloggers best email list management (with ConvertKit)
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