What do we understand by free? Well we can look up any number of dictionary definitions but the common understanding is that it is something that we can obtain for nothing.
The Internet is full of free stuff even the biggest companies are at it and that includes Google. You see there are many free tools and services that you can use from Google. Maps, keyword, tools, docs, hangouts the list is extensive and of course Blogger the free blogging platform.
With Blogger you can have a free blog at no cost and blog to your hearts content. BUT what is often forgotten is that you don’t own the blog, let me repeat you don’t own the blog. Google do and they can take away your plaything at a moments notice.
Surely you don’t think that it can happen to you? That’s what a lot of people thought until this week when they received an e-mail from Google.
Important Update to Adult Content Policy on Blogger
You are receiving this message because you are the admin of a blog hosted on Blogger which is identified to have Adult content.
And it went on to say that any blogs linking to Adult websites or attempting to monetize adult material on Blogger will be deleted on June 30th. Whilst we would all applaud the stand against distasteful material on the web, there are many Blogger sites that are used by authors of Erotica in order to promote their books, how many will fall foul of this change to the Terms of Service and who will make the decision, three good men and true?
We have seen this before with the Amazon slap of a few years ago which wiped out thousands of accounts over night. Or, the changes to eBay policies which had nearly ruined my own eBay business on 3 occasions.
These wide scale changes are rarely done with the discretion that needs to be exercised and there is frequently no redress, no real appeal only a standard response from a corporate employee towing the party line. In other words once it’s gone it’s gone.
There is now wide scale panic with users of Blogger to protect their content which often amounts to years of work. There are choices; you can get a free blog from wordpress.com. WordPress is the mostly widely used blogging and content management platform in the world and it’s free!
Woe that word free again……. Once bitten twice shy. Better still have your own WordPress blog where you own the domain and the blog in other words it’s yours, you own it. You will still have to make sure that you comply with the Terms of Service of your hosting provider and there is a cost implication.
You will need a hosting package about 4 dollars a month and a domain name about $11 a year. But you will own the blog. The thing that will put a lot of people off is learning WordPress having spent the time to learn Blogger.
Here is the answer your complete guide to building and installing your own WordPress blog in double quick time.
Don’t put your blog at risk protect your content today here is your escape plan. You can even import your Blogger content into a new WordPress blog here is a video that will show you how to export your Blogger content.
Please share this information you never know what is next.
Barry Wells says
Hi Rob,
That’s a brilliant post mate 🙂 As you say free is not always so, it’s normally the first step to entice you.
From a blogging point of view there’s only one answer: Own It!
I reviewed Bloggers Roadmap and dug into every corner of it. It’s a first class product that will have new, and experienced, bloggers on the road to having a successful blog.
I would also recommend that people get the video option as well as they really compliment the ebook.
Again Rob, a fantastic post highlighting why we need to own what we work with.
Barry
Robert Corrigan says
Hi Barry,
I entirely agree, it is a quality product a real no nonsence approach to blog building.
Cheers
Rob
Vijesh says
Yes Robert, some times freebies does ruin but not at all times still I think going with our own products or what we say hosting and all is better than just depending on blogger like platform. I lost one of my blog but I admit I posted all movies which were not supposed to be shared.
Thanks for an insightful article.
Vijesh