One of the biggest decisions to be made when deciding on a web system is the choice between building a site and hosting on your own hosting account or going with a web based service that hosts the web system for you. For example, if you choose the WordPress platform you have the option of downloading WordPress and uploading it to your hosting account. Or you can head over to WordPress.com and get started without downloading anything. So what's the difference between the two options.

I recently compared several popular web based site development systems including WordPress.com, Squarespace, Ning and TypePad. Another viable option to consider is Google Sites. I posted an early review of Google Sites shortly after it launched but we'll take a closer look at the current features of Google Sites in an upcoming post.

Here are some general guidelines for deciding between one option or another. It's important to note that these guidelines are not necessarily specific to making a decision related to WordPress.

When To Host On Your Own

• You have in-house web development skills that you can leverage
• If you don't have the skills in-house, you have a budget that supports hiring a web developer
• You have time to spare to design and test your website
• You need the maximum control possible over site theme and features
• You can set aside extra time each week for site management and monitoring

As you may have gathered from the comparison between the two lists, the major decision points fall along the lines of time, skills and budget. If you have the time and money to build what you want and then manage what you've built then you may be happier with a hosted system. If you're still on the fence the dealbreaker will come down to features and customization. You always get access to more features and more possibility of customization if you host your own site. But the time to develop and manage, and cost to build the site will be greater.

Depending on your goals it is very possible to be successful with either decision. There are many successful businesses that choose the hosted option because they want to either be economical and/or focus on getting the message out instead of worrying about the technology. Some of the web system options mentioned previously, like TypePad and WordPress.com for example, offer specific business class options geared toward those that need more service and features than the average customer.

It's not unusual for a business to start with one approach and then switch to another approach as their needs change. Some go from hosted to web based. Others go in the opposite direction. Don't assume that because one company has used a particular method that their choice is the best one for you. Select the option that best suits the needs of your business today. If your needs change in the future (and it's likely they will change) you can re-evaluate your options and choose another approach if necessary.