Gain full control over your content.
Having your website like this will help the audience to find you because you have control over your site and your content, your visibility, and your presence.
What is WordPress
WordPress is a content management system. The platform is most popular for building websites and blogs.
Why to use self-hosted WordPress
WordPress is free, open source, popular, and constantly evolving and updated.
Creators use WordPress to build websites that they have full control over.
Keep your content well organized and easily accessible for you and your audience.
Don’t rely on someone else
It is never a good idea to put all the eggs in one basket and rely on someone else’s platforms and algorithms, like search engines or social media platforms for example.
The downside of relying on search engines and social media alone
When it is not your platform, you don’t control it.
Here are a few examples of how other platforms may limit your access and visibility.
- limiting customization options
- ability to share only one link
- your competitors (and their products & services) are next to you
- suspend the account (for any reason)
- shadow ban (restrict creators’ visibility without them knowing it)
- content that performed well before no longer performs well
- remove, suspend, and restrict content or formats of content
- limited control over privacy and security
- limited access to audience analytics
- make you pay for your visibility
- limited monetization
What to do instead
Create your website, start a blog, and build connections with people like you.
Aren’t website builders as good as self-hosted WordPress websites?
Yes, they are, but they are other people’s platforms too.
With WordPress, you can always pack your files and find another web hosting if things don’t work out.
You can customize WordPress to look exactly like you want.
With website builder you may be stuck with their platform limitations and sometimes even with one theme.
What is the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a hosting service. This means that when you sign up WordPress.com takes care of hosting and some maintenance tasks, but with limitations on customization.
The free option doesn’t allow you to monetize your content and there will be shown ads(You will not see these ads, but they will be shown to your visitors).
WordPress.org provides open-source software that you can self-host on your web hosting provider.
This means that you will need to buy a domain name, and web hosting, set it up, and update it regularly yourself (click a few buttons).
When to use WordPress
WordPress is designed especially with bloggers in mind.
This means that if you are constantly creating content on social media platforms or use YouTube, TikTok, and other video-sharing media sites you can also share your content and updates on your website.
This way you can funnel people to your email list, different channels, and products from your website.
If blog is your first platform that is fine too.
It does not matter where you start, but you will need to be aware that people are on social platforms and you have to promote your blog there to get them faster to your website.
When to use other platforms
This is my opinion, but I would play safe and set up multiple platforms, especially online stores with products, just in case. This is actually how I do, because things are changing often what exists today may be gone tomorrow. This is why having backups is a good idea.
Sometimes things go wrong. So I would have a WordPress website, content with my links and then if something goes wrong I would just funnel people to another store.
I would not go with Woocommerce. I see it as a risk and think that it is too much of a responsibility (for me).
If you are looking for a solid online store platform and a blog is not that important to you then you should check out online store builders or all-in-one solutions.
What you need to set up your WordPress website
As a creator to start your WordPress website, you will need a domain name, website hosting, and WordPress installation.
How to Install WordPress