Why we’re switching to self hosting our blog
When I set up the new Service Works website and brand in March, I was keen to get on with setting things up and just getting on with some client work - and dealing with the fall out from a pandemic. When I looked around, I saw lots of other similar organisations using the blogging platform, Medium. We’d also used Medium at Satori Lab (company name prior to rebrand). In the absence of much more thought at the time, and perhaps seduced by the overall look and feel of Medium, I just went with the crowd. I’ve since learned that self hosting might have offered a better choice.
There may be benefits to blogging on a large platform like Medium - in, for example, attracting readers and followers via the platform, ease of use and an attractive layout. However, I now think that the benefits of self hosting your blog outweigh the perceived advantages of Medium. Here’s why:
From an SEO perspective, I think blogging on Medium as a small business is like a shop displaying their best product in the window of next door’s shop. So all those lovely reads we’ve had of the blogs have done nothing to increase visitors to this site.
Rather annoyingly, Medium will only display a few of your latest posts. Popular older posts, which might still be relevant and useful are hidden from navigation. Self hosting offers more control.
A lot of the people who follow me or Service Works on Medium, also follow us on Twitter. It’s the same-ish crowd.
So, we’ll try out blogging here.
I’m sure mistakes will be made! Do please let me know how I can make this better.
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If you want to look back over our old posts on Medium, you’ll find them here.
