A good blog host should be able to make it easy for you to set up and start writing your blog with a minimum of technical know-how. On the other hand, if you're a tech-savvy blogger who wants to customize your site, you should also look for a host that offers a variety of add-ons and support for more advanced Weblogs. Choosing the right blog host is especially important if you're hoping to earn money through your blogging efforts.
To choose the blog host that's right for you, decide first what your blogging goals are. Are you blogging for personal reasons or professional ones? What type of blog do you want: a written blog, photo blog or video blog? Do you need your own URL? Who's your target audience and how will you reach it? How do you want to interact with your blog's visitors and will you be part of a blog community? How can a host help you promote your blog? Do you want your blog to support ads or ecommerce? If so, what additional features and support will you need? What kind of widgets or other applications do you want to include on your blog?
Be sure to also look for a host that provides the blog software you want. Many popular Weblogging applications are free and open source, including b2evolution, Drupal, Livejournal, SimplePHPBlog, Textpattern, TypePad (Movable Type) and WordPress. Remember too that different blog applications offer different themes, so some might be more appropriate than others for your particular needs.
You'll find a large number of companies that offer cheap, even free, blog hosting services. Many of them also come with user-friendly administration tools, automatic software updates and quick indexing in all the major search engines. Other common features include a Web-based control panel, Fantastico script support and support for multiple domains and sub-domains. For more advanced blogs, look for a host that also provides good customer support, tutorials, FAQs or user forums. And make certain your host can continue to accommodate your blog if it grows quickly and attracts heavy traffic.
