When I started this blog the URL or domain name came from the blogging service I use which is Blogger.com They give you a .blogspot.com address.
So, under businessbloggingguide.com the real address is businessbloggingguide.blogspot.com
It is actually called a subdomain - businessbloggingguide is the sub account name to the main domain name, blogspot.comThe .blogspot.com part of the URL would be .wordpress.com if I had used that free service. It would be something else if you use another free blog service.
I decided to buy businessbloggingguide.com because it is easy to remember not because I really needed to. I have lots of other sites that are still using the free .blogspot.com domain name and while searching today I found some sites that come up in the top 10 for their particular keyword search that are still using .blogspot.com so think about that when you read on.
Everyone has their own theory on whether to use a free domain name that your blogging service gives you or buy a domain name. If you are reading this, like everything you read here, this is only my opinion. You will have to decide what is right for you.
If you own a website and have a business on that website then you should buy a domain name - a .com or a .net or whatever. Mainly because it is part of your brand and you want to look professional.
Your blog, on the other hand, can really have a free sub domain address if you are using it to promote your main website.
Here are some examples I am using in my business:
- Limauge Boutique (website): www.limaugeboutique.com
- Limauge Boutique (blog): limaugeboutique.blogspot.com
- The Computer Lady (website): www.thecomputerladyonline.com
- The Computer Lady (blog): thecomputerladyonline.blogspot.com
Do you really care what people think about your blog's domain name?Don't worry what other people say or think! Better said than done. If you want to use a free blog service and don't want to pay for a domain or can't afford it don't let people pressure you into getting one.
Do you want it to be easy to remember?
If you are promoting your blog and want people to remember easily then buying a domain name is the way to go. A .blogspot.com or .wordpress.com domain is going to be harder for people to remember. But, like I said if you are using the blog to drive traffic to your main business website then the domain you want to buy would be for the website. But, hey, if you can afford to do both then that works too.
How many people really type your blog URL into the address bar?
The only domain name I ever type into the address bar is Google.com :) I use it so much it is just easy to type. Most people will search for a blog or website and then bookmark it so they can come back later. So, having a "real" domain name doesn't matter all that much then. But, that doesn't mean people won't type in your URL - it can and does happen. I am just saying that when considering whether to spend money this is another thing to think about.
How much traffic is the result of people searching through search engines? Are you getting a lot of traffic from referring sites?
If people are searching or you are getting traffic from referring sites then once again the domain name doesn't matter so much so free or paid is good either way.
Once you figure out if you want a free or paid domain name you need to read the article I wrote about search engine optimization. What you pick for a domain name is more important than whether you have a free or paid domain name. - well, in my opinion.
If you want to buy a domain name I can suggest these places. You get free privacy with the cost of the domain name. Of course, they get cheaper the more years you buy at once. Although GoDaddy is cheaper they charge around $9.00 for privacy so this is the better deal. If you use Name Cheap I get credit for it :)
To save even more go to Retailmenot to get a NameCheap discount coupon.
- Name Cheap - $9.69 a year
- Name.com - $8.99 a year
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New Here? The Business Blogging Guide is designed for the beginner "newbie" to intermediate blogger. It mainly focuses on blogs using Blogger.com. If you are looking for help with WordPress try Lorelle on WordPress. This blog is a NOFOLLOW blog so leaving your keywords or business name in the comments WILL NOT give you a link back. Subscribe for free by RSS or EMAIL.
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4 comments:
Buy a key word domain helps you get listed you will notice this blog is #1 for business blogging guide google loves keyword domains I also suggest you go with their suggest of using namecheap for some reason google likes them and give you a little boost when you use them avoid godaddy google does not like godaddy for some reason
I think having your own domain does help with SEO, but I'm not sure if subdomains are treated as completely individual sites. It's just better to own your own domain, even if you don't need it, it definitely makes the blog look a lot more professional. And I don't understand why those people who have domains don't just add the blog to their site instead of making it a subdomain of another site.
The search engines like keyword domains and it gives you more control nothing worse the a blog site deleting your blog
Unfortunately, sometimes those harmless-looking, perfectly-named domains may have a checkered past. Before picking up a domain name that may be banned or blocked due to previously delivering malware, trojans, or porn, you need to do a background check.
We've set up a free Domain Background Check cheat sheet at http://siteriver.com/domaintest.php - just enter the domain name you are researching and we generate 14 links to domain check, anti-malware, and other tools to quickly check if your domain name is ready for business or is still on parole.
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