Once you’ve got your free WordPress site up and running, you might start wondering: What else can I do? Or maybe you’ll run into little limits that make you consider upgrading.
This post is a follow-on from my how to set up a free blog guide, and it covers what I’ve learned from helping others (and tinkering with my own sites) over the years.
When and Why to Upgrade Your WordPress Plan
The free WordPress plan is great for starting out. But here’s when I usually suggest upgrading:
- You need more memory. Free plans have a limited amount of storage. If you post lots of photos or want to upload PDFs, you might hit the cap.
- You want your own domain. The free version gives you a site like
janetblog.wordpress.com. With a paid plan, you can change it tojanetblog.com. - You want access to more tools. Some of the newer WordPress features (like AI photo captions) are only available on paid plans.
What About AI Tools?
WordPress now has a few AI features you can try out. Two I’ve tested:
- AI Captions: Fun for photo-heavy blogs. It automatically adds smart-sounding image descriptions. Available on paid plans.
- AI Excerpts: It writes a little preview blurb for your post. I tried it, but decided to turn it off. I think WordPress’s regular auto-excerpt is perfectly fine for now.
👉 Personally, I like playing around with the AI photo captions, which are quite handy if you post a lot of pictures. But Basker, who’s on a free plan, doesn’t get those.
So, not essential—but good to know they exist if you’re curious down the track.
Extra Pages I Recommend
Even if you’re on a basic blog setup, I suggest creating a few staple pages to make your site feel complete:
- About – Just a little note about who you are and why you started the blog.
- Contact – Add a contact form or an email address.
- Why I Blog – Not essential, but it’s a nice personal touch.
Want a One-Page Website Instead?
You might not want a full blog with posts and pages. Maybe you just want a single page to introduce yourself, share a gallery, or link to your social media. WordPress lets you do that too!
Here’s an example of what you can create:
👉 How to Build a One-Page Site on WordPress
How to do it in simple terms:
- Create a single “Home” page.
- Add all your content (text, images, videos, contact info, etc.) onto that one page.
- Set it as your homepage: Settings > Reading > Homepage displays and select “Home”.
- If you want to remove blog-style features (like post lists), choose a clean theme or hide those blocks in the Editor.
It’s ideal if you’re showcasing a hobby, project, or small business and don’t want ongoing blog posts.
🧡 Final Thoughts
Starting a free blog is a great first step. But it doesn’t have to stop there. Whether you’re just sharing your hobby, building a small audience, or experimenting with website ideas—WordPress gives you room to grow.
And you can always switch from free to paid later once you’ve outgrown the basics.
Let me know if you’d like help setting one up. I’m always happy to give a hand—especially if it’s for something fun or meaningful to you.– ♡ Janet
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