The document discusses the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com. WordPress.org is a free and open-source content management system where users can download WordPress to self-host their website. WordPress.com is a website hosting platform run by Automattic where they can install and host WordPress for you, with both free and paid plans available. The document compares factors like setup difficulty, customization options, domain names, themes/plugins, and advertising between the self-hosted and WordPress.com options to help determine which one is best for different website needs like personal blogs, temporary sites, businesses, and ecommerce sites.

2. Who am I?
 Matthew Blackford
 LimeSquare – Digital Marketing Agency
 Based in the Majoran Distillery
 Developer – WordPress and web technologies

3. Why does it matter?
 Access to different features (plugins, themes)
 Different levels of maintenance required
 Locked-in to wrong choices
 Can be costly to change

4. WordPress is software
 Just like Microsoft Word
 Gets installed on a computer (a web server)
 You can download it from www.WordPress.org

5. WordPress.org is a
website
 Supported by the WordPress Foundation (non-profit)
 A community of developers hang out here
 - they make WordPress better
 A directory of free themes and plugins

6. Self Hosted
 Using WordPress.org implies you are ‘Self Hosted’
 This means WordPress is running on:
 Your local computer; or more likely
 Your web host
 More on this soon…

7. WordPress.org

8. WordPress.com is
another website
 Run by Automattic and is a commercial venture
 They can install and host WordPress for you
 The basic plans are free, but with limited
functionality
 Often with a wordpress.com address:
 matthewsblog.wordpress.com

9. WordPress.com’s
Computer
WordPress.org

10. Self Hosted vs
WordPress.com

11. Setup time and easy of
use
 WordPress.com
 Simple, quick and free
 Don’t have to worry about security or maintenance
 Self Hosted
 Requires ‘some’ technical expertise
 Must be updated on a regular basis

12. Domain names
 WordPress.com
 Free example.wordpress.com address
 Custom domains (www.mattisawesome.com) $13 /
year
 Self Hosted
 You need to purchase your own domain
 Costs approximately $10 to $20 / year

13. Themes and plugins
 WordPress.com
 A small range of approved themes and plugins
 Can access additional ones by paying a fee
 Self Hosted
 Access to millions (well, lots) of free plugins and
themes
 Awesome premium themes from $30
 Can get a theme custom designed and developed

15. Advertising
 WordPress.com
 They may choose to display ads on your site
 Can pay $30 to remove ads
 Self Hosted
 No ads, unless you put them there yourself!

17. Which should you choose?
 It depends on your requirements:
 Personal blog
 Temporary website (once-off event, testing an idea)
 Business website
 E-Commerce website

19. Personal blog
 You want something free
 Easy to use and setup
 You can focus on writing
Go for WordPress.com

21. Temporary Website
 Quick to setup and test your idea
 Easy to throwaway
 Need your own domain (i.e. www.myidea.com.au)
Go for WordPress.com

23. Business website
 You need control
 Easy to update and manage
 You will be making money from your site
You need Self Hosted

25. Ecommerce website
 You need a lot of flexibility
 SEO (search engine optimisation) is important
 You need the ability to scale and make millions $$$
You need Self Hosted

26. What to look for in a host?
 Location
 close to where you visitors live
 Reputation
 Google them, and read http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/
 Price
 Cheap and Expensive are both bad
 Pay between $8 and $25 a month

28. Recommendations?
 I currently like VentraIP
 www.ventraip.com.au
 $7.95 to $24.95 per year
 good support and reliable
 Any others?

29. How hard is it, really?

36. Live demo…

37. Questions?
 Future talk ideas?
 Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
 Digital marketing basics – get visitors to your site