So a couple of weeks ago I made the decision to go self-hosted. I had been dithering about this for ages. I felt that I wanted more control over my blog and I wanted to use plug-ins etc. I also wanted more security for my blog as I had read that wordpress.com can just take your blog down.
How did I prepare to go self-hosted?
I read tons and tons of blogs and websites about going self-hosted. This was not necessarily a good thing as anybody who knows me will tell you that I have a tendency to do too much research and to over think things. This was certainly the case, again. You would have thought that I would have learnt my lesson by now. However, in the end I was still so confused and baffled by it all that I thought I was just going to have to get on with it and bite the bullet. So I did and it was a little stressful but this is what I learnt from the process.
What did I learn from going self-hosted?
- If you are reading this and you haven’t started a blog yet then I would strongly urge you to go self-hosted from the start. Makes it a lot easier.
- Do your homework, but not too much! When I was researching going self-hosted I felt that there were two companies to choose from - BlueHost or TSO Host. I went with TSO Host as I had read really good things about them being supportive. I found them to be amazing. They were always at the end of the email, no matter what the time, day or night. They are also clear about their pricing. You can get a plan with TSO Host from £1.25 a month.
- I would really recommend going with wordpress.org for your self-hosted blog. It is a powerful platform with lots of themes to choose from and lots of plug-ins too. Best of all it is relatively simple to use. However, if you are a bit of a coding whizz then the world is your oyster when it comes to wordpress.org.
- If you don’t feel like you can migrate your blog then your self-hosting company will do it for you. TSO Host did this free of charge for me which made the whole process a little less stressful.
- Be prepared for your blog to go offline whilst it is being migrated. I wasn’t prepared for this and started stressing that I was losing everything.
- Be prepared to lose some of your posts. I lost about two weeks worth which is annoying but it can’t be helped. I should have backed up my posts. Luckily I did do this for my scheduled posts. If I hadn’t I would have lost them too.
- I lost my email subscribers as well. I’m not sure if this is something that always happens but be aware of it and check. If so, you need to let everyone know via twitter etc.
- Read the Tots100 guide to setting up a self-hosted blog, it is really clear and very useful.
- Don’t be intimidated by it. I put off doing it as I was worried about what would happen. Don’t. It might take some time for you to get used to your new platform but there is so much more you can do with your blog now. I am still finding my way around but I am loving the freedom of being self-hosted. I am like a kid in a sweetie shop or should that be plug-in shop!
- Try and take your domain with you and register it with your hosting company. This then means you don’t have to start from scratch.
- When you have your new website choose your new theme. But be careful that you don’t start going crazy trying lots of different themes as this may make your blog crash. Try and find one that you like and reflects your blog and stick with it for now. You can always change it further down the line.
- There are lots of very good You Tube videos which explain the process of going self-hosted too. These are really worth a look and some even have step by step guides.
Was it worth going self-hosted?
So I may have a few more grey hairs but I am now much happier with my blog as it now feels like it is my own to do exactly what I want with it. I suppose that you could say that going self-hosted is like buying your house. When you are on wordpress.com you are renting it and it is lovely and stress-free but there is only so much you can do because it’s not your ‘house’. There is also the threat of the landlord chucking you out if he or she doesn’t like what you are doing. However, when you move to wordpress.org or go self-hosted then it is like you have bought the ‘house’, whoop! You are now free to do what you want but just remember you don’t want to go knocking down too many walls and then regret it. So take your time, don’t go too crazy and be careful what plug-ins you install.
*Since going self-hosted I have noticed a real increase in my readers and subscribers. I am now also being approached for work*.
What tips would you have for going self-hosted?
I haven’t considered going self hosted yet, as blogging is really just an enjoyable little hobby for me. But I like that you say you seemed to have gotten extra followers and views from it, plus paid work - that is a great reason to go self hosted. I’m happy for you that you made the leap. Your blog certainly looks great.
Thanks for sharing your tips.
Amanda. #kcacols
Thanks. I have to say going self-hosted was something that I never thought I would do but it really does give you more control over the look of your blog which is great 🙂
Best thing I done was to go self hosted! I literally had no idea and ended up with TSO Host too aren’t they amazing! I’ll be honest and say I didn’t have many readers when I done it due to taking nearly a year break due to work so when I swapped over it was literally like just starting to blog again from the beginning x #kcacols
TSO are amazing! I am literally clueless so their help has been really invaluable 🙂 x
Good for you for taking the plunge and seeing an uptick in readers. I was self hosted right from the start and every time I read a post like this I’m so happy that I did. I’m not very computer saavy and wonder if I ever would have had the guts to make the switch. I’d be afraid of losing everything #KCACOLS
Yes, I really wish I had gone self-hosted from the start! But never mind it went quite smoothly all things considered 🙂
congratulations on going self hosted this is a big step for a blogger, I did this recently and it was hard, and there were moments of irriation but I learnt alot and it was really good for my blog
I forgot to add thanks for linking up to #KCACOLS
Thanks, I am still learning and finding my way around but like you say it is really good for your blog. Thanks for your comment 🙂
Nina says
I’ve been debating this too, but I’m scared I’m not technical enough! It’s interesting that you’ve had more readers. Well done for being brave!
I would say that if you are thinking of doing it then just do it! TSO Host are really good and can do it all for you if you wish 🙂
I’ve bookmarked this, I really want to go self hosted. #KCACOLS
Glad you found it useful. 🙂
Congratulations on going self-hosted. It’s fab! It just makes the blog look so much better and it feels more professional (although mine hasn’t brought me much in the way of actual work!) #KCACOLS
Thank you. I am really happy with the way my blog looks now. There is still more that I would like to do with the blog but I don’t feel confident enough yet. 🙂
I went self-hosted in June 2015 and haven’t looked back - I should have done it ages ago! You’re right about the pitfalls but overall it’s definitely worth it! #KCACOLS
Yes, really worth it! You just feel like you have more control over the look and feel of your blog 🙂
Glad it was useful! 🙂 x
Thank you 🙂 It was sad and frustrating but hopefully other people will read this and not make the same mistake that I did. I am really enjoying being self-hosted as I feel that I now have more design of my blog now.:-)
I bought a domain about 6 months ago, but I still haven’t even tried to think about sorting out the whole self-hosting thing… Did you manage to keep your comments? There is so much that makes me nervous about doing this!
Congrats on biting the bullet!
x Alice
#kcacols
Hi, yes I did manage to keep my comments 🙂 x
This is something I am considering once my blog turns 1 in July. I wanted to make sure it was something I was going to stick with before making the jump and I love blogging so far so will be looking at this more over the next few months.
Azaria #KCACOLS
Yes, I know what you mean about not wanting to commit yourself until you are sure, very sensible. I found that I fell in love with it so quickly that I decided that I should just make the jump. Sounds like you really ready to make that jump. Good luck, I am sure that you won’t regret it 🙂 x
mummyofboygirltwins says
Great tips! I love being self hosted and have more freedom. I did find that a wordpress.com blog was good though to get started 🙂 Jess xx
Yes, I agree a wordpress.com is great to get started and in a lot of ways it is easier too. I found it great for starting out on and finding my feet 🙂
I am terrified about doing it but know that I should. Just need to bite the bullet. This article is so simple and helpful. Thank you.
I would say that there is a never right time and if you are thinking of doing it then you are probably ready to do it. I was so scared of doing it but the anticpation was worse than the actual doing it. If that makes sense? 🙂
I started my blog as a self hosted. I did my research before hand and that was the recommendation so I didn’t have to migrate, thanks God! Also I have a wonderful hubby that knows all about these things so my life was and is much easier!! LOL I know what you mean about wordpress plug ins. Aren’t they wonderful? I love discovering new plug ins all the time. Well done for migrating your blog. At the end it was all worth it. Your blog looks fantastic!!! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS. I would love to see you again on Sunday! 🙂 x
You are a very clever lady to go self-hosted from the start! 🙂
It’s completely scary and exhilarating at the same time. I was lucky enough to be gifted a brand new web design for my birthday from some of my lovely family so it has taken the pressure off me to do things myself. FYI love the blog and the design and the images in this post are great!
#thelist
What a fantastic birthday present, you lucky thing! Thanks for your kind comments about my blog too, made my day 🙂 x
Well done for surviving it! Your blog looks great. I decided to go self-hosted a couple of months ago, even though I had only been blogging for two months. I knew blogging was something that I was going to do for a long time, as I love it! But, everywhere I read people would say to go self-hosted early on, its so much easier then. So I took the plunge and did it. Plus, I hated not being able to make it look how I wanted it to look. Going self-hosted was the best thing I did and I pleased it was for you too x #TheList
Yaaay for going self-hosted. Like you I went early on because I love it! It’s great isn’t it! 🙂
Doing it when your hubby is around sounds like a good plan. I would recommend TSO migrating it for you. It really takes the stress out of it x
Great advice. It can seem scary but it isn’t that bad is it. Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
Yep, I think the anticpation was far scarier than the reality. I am so happy that I have done it now 🙂