Many years ago I moved to a WordPress self-hosted blog and later to WordPress.com blogs. I did so mainly because they do look better than Blogger. In addition, the blogs at WordPress.com come with all sorts of widgets that make blogging easier.
Fast forward about five years and suddenly my blog has notoriety and decent traffic. With that has come offers for hosting ad space for various martial arts products. However, due to WordPress.com rules, I can’t. So a few weeks ago I had one such offer and decided to once again play by the rules and ask WordPress.com for permission.
In my e-mail I told WP up front that I was aware of the rules, did not want to self-host, and thought that they needed to revisit their rule. The response I received basically repeated that which I noted in the original e-mail (apparently Support cannot read). They also repeated their inane rule (i.e. the one I have read several times and also mentioned in my first e-mail). The response also pissed me off. Now don’t get me wrong — I understand that WP has to make money somehow and one way they do is by selling ad space on their hosted blogs. Still, is it too unreasonable to ask for a one ad space widget?
Apparently it is.
So I’m taking my 10,000+ visits per month and moving them to Blogger. Once the new blog is completed I plan to delete the posts over here. This way they can’t continue to make money on my traffic. Over the next few weeks I’ll probably post at both blogs so you all have a chance to update your links.
You can access the new blog at this link.
Also, I may have forgotten some of my link partners. If I did just shoot me an e-mail and I’ll add your link back.
-BCP
sorry to see you leave the wordpress community and I have been having similar thoughts as you especially if one would move to paying for their services one should be allowed to have some ads you would think.. well, am subscribed for your new home so will get my daily dose of Bob
Hi Bob, with that kind of traffic I would self-host. You can then do what you want. I really like the WordPress self-hosted solution. Why did you change from that? Will also continue to subscribe like Rincewind as I enjoy your articles, and especially your sense of humor.