ou should know! Potential risks and hidden costs of making the wrong choice

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Many business people start using WordPress because they think it is free, and then they end up facing problems later. Here, we will explain the potential risks that can arise from making the wrong choice.

The Risks of Choosing WordPress.com
While WordPress.com is certainly easy to get started with, it does have some limitations when using it for business purposes:

To use your own domain, it costs an additional 5,000 yen per year.
To hide ads, you need at least the Personal plan (about 1,000 yen per month)
To use plugins and custom CSS, you need a Business plan (approximately 3,000 yen per month) or higher.
To use the e-commerce feature, you need the eCommerce plan (approximately 6,000 yen per month).
Given these limitations, you may start with a free version but be forced to upgrade over time to meet your business needs, which can end up costing you money.

Initial Cost if You Choose bc data america WordPress.org
On the other hand, WordPress.org requires an initial investment:

Rental server: Approximately 10,000 to 30,000 yen per year
Original domain: Approximately 1,000 to 3,000 yen per year
Initial setup cost: Do it yourself or hire a professional (starting from 50,000 yen)
Although there is an initial cost, in the long run it is cost-effective because it can be used without any functional limitations. Many corporate clients at Cosmo Planning have chosen this option.

Which WordPress is Best for Your Business? How to Choose
So, what criteria should you use to choose a specific one? Please refer to the following points.

When to Use WordPress.com
I want to run a personal blog or hobby site.
I have no technical knowledge and no time to learn
Intended for short-term operation
Minimal functionality is sufficient
When to Use WordPress.org
I want to build an official company website or corporate website.
Complex functions are required, such as e-commerce sites and online reservation systems
I want to focus on unique design and branding
I want to implement SEO measures in earnest.
I want to prioritize cost performance for long-term operation
For most businesses, WordPress.org is the better choice for their digital presence. It requires an initial investment, but it offers the flexibility to scale as you grow.

Specific implementation example: Manufacturing company A
Company A, which initially started with WordPress.com, eventually had to migrate to WordPress.org because it needed to expand its contact form and add a catalog download function. Considering the migration costs and initial opportunity loss, it was a case in which they should have chosen WordPress.org from the start.

Summary: Make the right choices for an efficient web strategy
There are two different types of WordPress services, each with its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. When considering a company's web strategy, it is important to comprehensively consider not only the initial cost, but also the long-term operating costs, scalability, and business goals.

Rather than choosing WordPress.com simply because it's free, you can significantly reduce future hassle and costs by choosing a site that looks to the future potential of your business. For corporate websites in particular, WordPress.org offers more freedom and is often more cost-effective.

This article was created with reference to Cosmo Kikaku's web journal and other well-known articles. If you are having trouble choosing or implementing WordPress, we recommend that you seek the advice of an expert.