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.

Brucesmoneyrants.com is the second incarnation of my making money blog. My first attempt was hosted at WordPress.com. I chose WordPress.com because of my past dealings with the WordPress software. I had tried out software from Blogger.com and several other sites. WordPress has several features that drew me in. WordPress allows users to easily extend their blog’s functionality through widgets and plugins.

WordPress.com was attractive because of its builders. The gentleman who created the WordPress platform also created WordPress.com (WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org, n.d.). There were several features that prompted me choose WordPress.com.

1. Built on the WordPress software that I already liked

2. Stated that they had over 70 templates available

3. Ability to add widgets and plug ins

4. Daily stats can be tracked easily

5. Having a blog that was “xxxx.wordpress.com”

My experience started out wonderfully. I developed three different blogs. One was geared towards emergency management and the other two were geared towards making money online. I focused on one of the two making money blogs. I noticed two potential issues right away. Without paying, I only had access to about 12 templates. WordPress.com also does not allow you to upload outside templates.

I started adding widgets to my blog. WordPress.com did not allow me to upload my own template but WordPress.com could be personalized through the widgets, right? Not at all, WordPress.com offers a few widgets but is limited on the widgets that you can add. WordPress.com also does not allow any javascript in their widgets. WordPress.com’s rules about java script greatly reduced my ability to monetize. Java script is required to run ads from Google Adsense and Amazon.com.

HTML allowed me to put small banner ads into my sidebars. Not the same as Google Adsense because they only pay when someone actually made a purchase, however, it was better than nothing. Using HTML, I was able to reach a level of monetization with my blog. My issue was that these ads would not change without me manually changing the code. That was going to take extra maintenance time. I continued because I did like the WordPress software.

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.

I wrote a variety of posts. They ranged from product reviews to sites and resources that I believed would help people make money. Each post was about something that I had personally either used or read. My goal was to assist readers not peddle crap.

My next move was to register with blog directories. I searched the web and came across a listing of 50 web directories. Each directory required you to register to submit your site. I spend two days registering the site.

The post that brought the blog down. I posted about Blogging for Dollars. A internet marketing course that provided ways to make money blogging. I had signed up with their affiliate program. I did this only after personally using the product.

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.

My mind whirled with potential explanations. Did I plagiarize? No, I was extremely careful to cite each and every one of my sources. I had not posted anything vulgar. Well, there was only one place to look….Wordpress.com’s Terms of Service. I found a few lines that offered some insight:

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.

It is important to hear both sides of any story. WordPress.com has the right to run their site and business however they see fit. I sent a note to their tech support. All I was asking for was an explanation, nothing more. Again, it is their business. But, it would be good business to offer customers an explanation. Patiently, I watched for a return email.

Throughout the day, no answer from WordPress.com came. It was not in my spam filter. Nope, no answer there. In checking my other two WordPress blogs, I realized that my login was now suspended. Well, I guess WordPress does not believe in customer service. Just shutoff your account with no explanation. They have this right but a little customer service might avoid articles like this.

I am not writing this article out of revenge or spite. My goal is to allow other budding affiliate marketers the chance to learn from my story. WordPress is a great blogging platform. Affiliate marketers only need to be careful when trying to make money. It appears that WordPress.com wants to provide a great blogging platform…as long as you are not trying to make money.

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