IGOpeople

I *used* to think the height of cool was hosting your own blog software on your own domain. Meaning: installing WP, MovableType, etc on your own server. I thought using a hosted services was... cheap looking (like getting an email from a web developer with a @hotmail account).

More and more, I see having an independent blog as a HUGE disadvantage for individuals and companies. 

Did everyone know this already? And I have just been coming to this conclusion over the last year...

1) Many new web services only work with popular blog services.

Actually, I can't think of any that work with your own hosted WP, etc. Recently I signed up at Plink, and this was the explanation on Step 4 of the registration:

"You haven't associated any services (blogs, etc.) with Plinky yet. Adding services allows existing readers, friends and followers to see your Plinky answers when they're posted through. We currently support Blogger, LiveJournal, tumblr, TypePad, WordPress.com, WordPress.org and Xanga. If you've got 'em, add 'em! You can also post to Twitter and Facebook from the confirmation page after answering a prompt – you don't need to add them here."

And this isn't unusual.

2) Many blogging networks have ways to interact with the other bloggers who are *only* in your network. 

This wasn't the case to start, but over time services have become more insular.

The MovableType folks started a reputation system to have a universal login to their network on TypePad. You can use it on non-TypePad sites, but see (1) above.

When Blogger added comments to their blogs, they made a persistent login and profile which would be attached to your comments, something like the MT idea. Now they have the ability to 'follow' blogs, and these little faces can be seen on the side of someone's blog- so a built in reputation is created.  

Wordpress.com uses network-wide tagging to find relationships and connections between participant bloggers. They analyze popular tags, and feature 'Hawt' posts.

If you're hosting your own blog... you're really missing out on these services and relationships. 

So... why host your own blog?

If I was going to build a blog for a company again, I'd use a hosted service. And I'd have to carefully pick which one was appropriate, since there are subtle differences in each community.

I see advantages for content management in having your own blog, and ways you can repurpose content in other parts of your site, or make other connections. But I think you could get alot done just using the Wordpress.com account for a company blog and having other content managed elsewhere.