Bloggers have many potential platforms to choose from. WordPress is one of the most popular. Bloggers can choose to either download WordPress (WordPress.org) and host it themselves or have it hosted at WordPress.com. These sites have similar names but their value to affiliate marketers is completely different.

Over the last few years, I have toyed with many different blogs. I have used several different blog platforms. When I became serious, about earning an income with blogging, I settled on the WordPress platform. I created a hosted blog with WordPress.com. Little did I know that decision was going to come with frustration and unanswered questions.

I started looking for a hosted WordPress solution. WordPress.com was built by the same people who worked on the WordPress software (WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org, n.d). WordPress.com offered many inviting features including:

1. Built on the WordPress software that I already liked

2. WordPress.com advertised the availability of over 70 templates

3. Ability to add widgets and plug ins

4. Ease in tracking site visitors

5. Easy to market “xxxx.wordpress.com”

At first, I was enjoying WordPress.com. I created “emergencymgmt.wordpress.com”, “lifeofreedom.wordpress.com”, and “brucesmoneyrants.wordpress.com”. My main blog was on money making. My plan was to develop the other two later. My first surprise came when I chose a template. I had about 12 templates available. You had to pay to access the 70 templates. Next, I found out you cannot upload external templates.

I was not concerned. I could still personalize through widgets, right? Not so fast, external widgets are not allowed. You are limited to the widgets WordPress.com makes available. WordPress.com also does not allow java script to be inserted in Text widgets. Greatly reducing a person’s ability to monetize their blog.

WordPress.com does allow some monetization. Small banner ads can be utilized by placing HTML into widgets. There are some downsides. Changing the ads requires manually changing the code. Not a deal breaker for me. I loved the ease of WordPress that much.

I created my main blog. I could not get the exact look I wanted, however, it was acceptable and looked good. My plan was to get the blog generating an income and then add WordPress.com’s pay services. Allowing my blog to be self sustaining. I began advertising by placing links and posting everyday. I began seeing some success.

My posts focused on resources to help readers make money. I only wrote about things that I had found useful or resources that were helping me (i.e. e-books, Zac Johnson.com, etc.). I included reviews of products or courses that had helped me.

My knowledge was growing along with my readers. My next step was to continue advertising. I obtained the addresses for 50 blog directories. Over the next two days, I registered with these directories.

Then disaster hits. I posted a review about Blogging for Dollars. It offered quality information and a 30 day all access preview for $1.97. Readers could cancel within 30 days and pay nothing else. I had signed up with their affiliate program after I had purchased the product. I am happy to show a receipt.

The next morning, I woke up and tried to check my blog’s statistics. It was a surprise to find out, there was no blog. There was only a WordPress.com error message stating “This blog has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service”. No explanation, no notification to me, no warning, just gone.

Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, I tried to figure out what had happened. I knew plagiarism would cause immediate shutoff. Every source was cited with the date, author, and a link to their site. That could not be the problem. I turned to WordPress.com’s Terms of Service for some answers. Here is what I found:

1. “the downloading, copying and use of the Content will not infringe the proprietary rights, including but not limited to the copyright, patent, trademark or trade secret rights, of any third party”

2. “you have fully complied with any third-party licenses relating to the Content, and have done all things necessary to successfully pass through to end users any required terms”

3. “the Content is not spam, is not machine- or randomly-generated, and does not contain unethical or unwanted commercial content designed to drive traffic to third party sites or boost the search engine rankings of third party sites, or to further unlawful acts (such as phishing) or mislead recipients as to the source of the material (such as spoofing)”

4. “your blog is not named in a manner that misleads your readers into thinking that you are another person or company. For example, your blogs URL or name is not the name of a person other than yourself or company other than your own”

There was the culprit. I had included affiliate links in my reviews. So I could tell people about products, whether or not I had used the product, as long as I was not an affiliate. It did not matter that I had bought the product, offered proof of the purchase, and had found it useful.

Every story has two sides. I e-mailed Wodpress’s customer service. I wanted to hear their side of the story. I was hoping that it was a simple misunderstanding. A misunderstanding that could be worked out. I was very polite in the email. WordPress has the right to refuse service. It is their business. I waited for a response.

As of that evening, I had not received a response. I checked my spam filter. I tried to login to my other two blogs. WordPress.com would not even let me login. Well, there was my answer. Do not offer any explanation, just shut the whole account off. Again, it is their business and they are free to do as they wish. But, is this really good business.

For all budding affiliate marketers, be leery of hosting a blog at WordPress.com. If you do not want to make any money, only impart information to the internet then WordPress.com hosting is for you. Affiliate marketers, I would suggest sticking with downloading the WordPress blogging platform to your own web hosting. i am happy to discuss this situation with anyone. You can find me at Bruce’s Money Rants.

Learn how to make money for less than $2. Visit blogging for dollars to learn the tools necessary to explode your income.