Every blogger starts on a free blogging platform like this one (Blogger). It is just practical to use because you get full functionality without having to shell out cash. But after some time, you may feel the need to get your own domain. Blogging on free press means that you have to stick to the platform’s web address. As a blog gains popularity, the need to brand it also increases.
A domain name gives your blog a more distinct identity, and is easier for your readers to remember. It is treated as an investment by many, but it doesn’t cost much anyway. Namecheap.com for example, offers domain names for less than $10 a year (about P500). For starters, you can keep your blog hosted on the free blogging platform and just get it a .com (or other) address.
If you’re churning out quality blog entries more than 3x a week and your blog is over 6 months old, it’s time to consider getting your own domain. Another thing to look at is your blog readership. Check your blog stats to see how much visitors your blog gets each day, so you can get a good idea whether to you need to get a domain name already.
Your domain name belongs to you for the time you pay for it, so you may want to look into promotions or discount coupons, particularly for long-term registrations. It’s easy to Google for coupon codes, just type in your domain registrant, the current month and year on the search tool, for example: ‘Namecheap November 2011 coupon’.
If you are keeping a personal blog, getting your own domain is purely a matter of choice. However, if you are running a community service blog – giving out tips, guides and other helpful information, peer pressure will most likely compel you to get one. It makes the blog look more professional, and advertisers will prefer a blog with its own domain.
By placing your blog on a permanent web address, you are mapping out your blog’s success. So, yes, juantobuyonline will be getting a .com soon, too! got its own domain, juantobuy.com!*
*As of this writing, JTBO was still on blogspot.com.
