Thanks, Colleen! I'm hoping it will encourage some folks!

Thanks, Denise!

It's true, Jenny. People who like to hire pro's keep me from starving!

I'm a big believer that having a website is an equalizer in some ways. I've seen a simple website from a tiny company out-perform a too-fancy one from a huge company. To me, it is important that people have access to the technology. If they can afford a developer, great. If they can't, I still want them to have the ability to have a site!

(grin) Ah, Kris. You have the super-powered website. LOL!

Thanks, Jenny! I try! One of my favorite things is to take geeky things and make them hopefully understandable.

You are a fantastic blogger, Lynette. I love your posts! Y'know, it isn't uncommon to update the site and change it around every few years. Kinda like remodeling. (wink) You'll do a great job.

Note: WordPress comes in two flavors. WordPress.org is the software that you can install on any hosting platform you want. WordPress.com is a hosting company that only runs WordPress websites. WordPress.com works, but it is kind of like living in your parents basement. Once they start charging you rent, it is time to find your own place, because their rules can be annoying. (grin)

I feel you with the decision, and there's a lot of noise out in the writing world right now about different types of websites.

For a basic blogging website like you're referring to, I highly recommend getting a WordPress.ORG site set up on something like SiteGround or A2Hosting. Keep the style simple and use a solid theme like Kadence. Keep it simple and clean, and you should be able to manage it. I teach a class for authors on how to set these things up, but don't intend that as a sales pitch.

Only you can know whether you'd be comfortable doing it yourself or not. I will say, if you hire a developer, make sure they don't put a site builder on it. Tell them you want it simple and clean because you want to be able to maintain it yourself. Then make sure they teach you how. Regular site maintenance is not hard.

I was working with a new website owner just a few days ago. I showed her how to post a blog and she commented that it was like using her word processor. That is what it *should* feel like.

Can it be made harder? Yes. Can it be made so complicated that it looks like a foreign entity? Yes. I've seen a bunch like that. But they don't have to be that way.

Don't hesitate to ask me questions. I'm around!

Please tell me it points to a blog on your own website. Otherwise, you wind up splitting your traffic between two sites and sending the best traffic away from your site...

Thanks, Laura! Glad it was helpful!