WordPress.com

1. mirnaelisa
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 2:11 AM

   Hello,

   I am a bit confused as to whether or not it is okay to use WordPress.com to host a small business site with a blog.

   The article describing the difference between WordPress, WordPress.com, and WordPress.org makes it seem that it is encouraged to use WordPress.org

   http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

   The Terms of Service and Types of Blogs documentation make it seem that it is okay to have a business site with a blog on WordPress.com

   http://en.wordpress.com/tos/

   http://en.wordpress.com/types-of-blogs/

   And lastly, the documentation here: http://en.support.wordpress.com/using-wordpress-to-create-a-website/

   ...makes it seem that it would be okay for a business to use WordPress.com to host a website with the blog as a feature.

   The blog/site in question is currently private. I've linked it below anyway.

   Any advice is appreciated.

   Thanks!
   Blog url: http://cartransportaris.wordpress.com/

2. absurdoldbird
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 4:03 PM

   Generally, unless you're an artist, craftsperson or writer and want to sell stuff you've produced yourself, you're not allowed to sell via a wordpress.com site. You can't have affiliate links and you're not allowed to have a e-commerce here, so no shopping basket.

   There are also some sites that are not allowed, all of which you'll have read about in the 'types of blog' page and in the TOS.

   But yes, there are business sites here - they just have to stay carefully within the terms of service.

   And there are also VIP sites for the big companies:

   http://vip.wordpress.com/

3. bobbikemnapottery
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 4:21 PM

   I am a potter wanting to sell from my site, how do I set it up? All products are made by myself. Thank you, Bobbi

4. timethief
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 4:33 PM

   Hi there,
   I’m afraid e-commerce isn’t currently possible here at WordPress.com as our free hosted blogs cannot be equipped for ecommerce transactions at this time. You can post a PayPal button and/or use a contact form.
   http://en.support.wordpress.com/paypal/
   http://en.support.wordpress.com/contact-form/

   But if you require e-commerce/shopping cart functionality, note that there are no restrictions on e-commerce if you setup a self-hosted WordPress.org blog instead of a free hosted WordPress.com blog. See here to learn the differences: http://support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

5. absurdoldbird
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 4:38 PM

   @bobbikemnapottery - you can sell your own artwork or craftwork via the site, but as Timethief says, not directly from it with e-commerce. I sell my artwork via my site here by linking to my Redbubble portfolio. And in case anyone wants to know, I got permission from staff first:

   http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/is-linking-images-to-redbubble-allowed?replies=8

6. mirnaelisa
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 9:35 PM

   That's helpful, but still leaves me with questions. The site would be for a small, independently owned car transport business. The people managing the site, my brother and I, would be posting news about the company and tips to the blog.

   VIP seems like too robust a service for such a small start-up. My brother only owns one truck and is the sole service provider WordPress.com would be ideal since it is easier for us to update. It is not an econmerce site at all an we do not link to any outside pages where people can buy a service.

   It seems that we would not be violating any TOS but I just want to make sure.

   Any advice?

7. timethief
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 9:38 PM

   Go for it! What you propose to do above does not in any way violate the ToS or other policies here at WordPress.com.

8. absurdoldbird
   Member
   May 27, 2012, 11:35 PM

   Yeah, sounds fine to me too.

Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies.