If you’re thinking about blogging, the old-school method demanded you create an entire website before you hit the ground running. Needless to say, creating an entire website is a time-consuming and relatively tricky task (not to mention pricey in some situations). That leads many people to wonder, is a website necessary? Can you blog without a website?
You can successfully blog without creating a website, although the term “blog” falls under the umbrella of “websites.” When creating a blog, you can opt for self-hosted or hosted blogs. Hosted blogs are free but tend to lack customization and aren’t as professional. Self-hosted blogs are ideal if you’re considering monetizing your blog.
Are you considering starting a blog but don’t know if a website is required? This article is here to help. Below, you will find essential information on whether or not you can blog without a website, plus some other interesting details to consider.
Can You Blog Without a Website?
A “blog” falls under the category of “website,” which can confuse things. To help make the situation more manageable, you first need to understand the difference between a blog and a website.
- A blog refers to a type of website that displays new content in reverse chronological order – i.e., recent posts are placed at the top of the page, pushing older ones to the bottom (and following pages).
- A website tends to be more static and combines landing pages with multimedia content. There is a lot more detail and information on a website compared to a blog. Many websites have “blogs” as one of the integral parts of the website, where new information is added regularly.
That said, it’s entirely possible to blog without a website. So, if you’re thinking about trying out a new business or just want to blog for fun, you don’t have to worry about setting up an entire website or hiring someone to do it for you.
Blogging Without a Website: Things to Consider
For someone who’s interested solely in blogging rather than creating an entire website, this is excellent news. However, there are a few key things to consider before opting for a blog instead of a website.
Blogs Require Regular Posting
One key thing to consider is that websites are relatively stagnant while blogs are ongoing. To create a successful blog, you will need to update it with content regularly.
Most blogs update at least two times a week, but some post as often as daily. It’s not recommended to post less than once a week, especially if you’re planning to monetize your blog (more on this in the next section!).
Blogs Can Be Monetized
You might think that choosing a blog over a website will limit monetization, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Individuals and businesses, small and large, have discovered that blogs are a great gateway to making money.
Although, the type of blog you create can significantly impact how much money you make.
There are two types of blogs to consider: self-hosted and hosted.
- Hosted blogs. A hosted blog is a type of blog that’s “hosted” on a blogging platform such as WordPress or Blogger. The blogger does not own the blog and therefore is limited in terms of customization, personalization, and monetizing. The perk of using a blogging platform is that they’re generally free, making them an excellent choice for beginners.
- Self-hosted blogs. On the other hand, self-hosted blogs are wholly owned and operated by the blogger. They create their domain name and have free reign of the appearance of their blog. Self-hosted blogs appear more professional, streamlined, and easier to make money with.
While making money with a self-hosted blog is more accessible, you can successfully monetize self-hosted and hosted blogs.
Monetization
Some of the top ways to make money on your blog include:
- Affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is a major money-maker in the blogging world. Essentially, the blogger will recommend a product or service. If the individual purchases the product or service, the blogger receives a cut.
- Ads. Another great way to earn passive income as a blogger is to place ads on your blog. This is far simpler when you own your own blog, as blog hosting platforms limit ads and where they can be placed or don’t allow them entirely.
- Selling products or services. If you’re planning to create a blog around a product or service, you can always sell them to make money. For instance, you can create a new hit product for profit or create courses, lectures, or workshops that sell.
3. Blogs Can Be More Successful Than Websites
Are you stuck in the ole blog vs. website debate? Here’s one thing that may make your choice easier: blogs tend to be more successful compared to websites. This is because of three fundamental reasons:
- Readers enjoy new information. In this fast-paced world, readers are always looking for something new and exciting – and that can very well be found in your blog posts.
- Rank higher in search engines like Google. Search engines like Google tend to focus on blogs because they regularly have new information, which websites do not have. Therefore, a website may get lost in translation while blogs skyrocket to the top of the charts.
- Better promotion on social media. Stagnant blogs can get, well, stagnant. Over time, you won’t have much to share on social media, leading to less engagement. New blog posts can be shared on social media, creating a “buzz” that leads to enhanced views (and potentially, more money).
You Can Successfully Create a Blog Without a Website!
In this day and age, a website is not necessary. If you want to blog for fun or business, you can do so.
It’s recommended to go the self-hosted route if you’re planning to monetize your blog, while hosted blogs on blogging platforms are ideal for beginners or those looking to blog for pleasure.
Regardless, blogs are relatively easy to set up and can be more successful than websites.
