Blogging for Money – Should You Choose a Free Platform or Paid Webhosting and Domain Name?

If you want to use a computer to blog and earn money you will first have to decide if you want to use a free service, or buy a webhosting package and domain name.
 
So do you go for a free platform, like Blogger, or buy your own domain name and webhosting package?  The free option may be a good place to hone your skills but you have no real control and your blog could be deleted at any time.
This is fine for a ‘hit and run’ campaign, but if you are planning on establishing a blog, and have it earn money over a longer period, and want total control – you really need to go for your own host and get yourself a domain name. Web hosting is relatively cheap now; you can get a basic package for around $5-10 a month and a 1 year .com domain name for a similar price.