Part 1
1. Get your own domain and your own hosting account for your blog.
-blogger blogs and other platform blogs are great, there are some that I read everday and the quality of the articles and the design etc.. is excellent. However many of you have already seen some paid blog platforms completely exclude blogger blogs, livejournal blogs, etc.. from receiving certain assignments. I think this is the most important thing for any blogger looking to make money online now and in the future can do.
-I know its tough especially if you have been blogging a long time, but it will more than pay off for you in the future. Keep your old blog up and keep writing in it but I highly recommend investing some time in putting up a new one on your own domain, with a hosting account you own.
Why?
- You control content-You never have to worry about someone yanking your blog down or asking you to remove posts because they didn’t like what you blog about. I know this has happened to some of our current bloggers, one of them I even set up a blog for so she could continue working for us.. it was up to a PR 3 in a couple of months.
- Assignments from most blogging companies are easier to get with your own blog
- It’s easy to do- many people don’t do get their own blog and own hosting because it can sound difficult, but many hosting companies offer auto installs of more than one blogging platform and there is technical support for all over the web for pretty much every blog platform.
- Control.. again- you know whats in your blog code and you know that it will always be what you want no one can make changes that effect search rankings or audience experience on your blog.
- Ownership - You should own your blog, not anyone else.
I’m slowing down today but I am sure many others out there can share here with you other good reasons to take this very important step to further your paid blogging career.
Hope this helps some people.
T
July 26th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
One of the main reasons to get your own domain and hosting is ownership, pride.
Sure having a free blog is nice because it’s free, but when you own it, you often take far more pride in it, will work on it more, than the free hosted platforms.
And of course, all the other reasons you said, you are taken far more seriously as a blogger when you own your own domain.
July 26th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I agree with all of this. I came into paid blogging with my own domains, and I have done well from the get-go. I own four domains, have had them for years, but only two are in your system right now. I have a third blog with a PR3 that I will be submitting to you soon!
I feel that bloggers are taken more seriously when they have their own domains and hosting. As you say, there are a lot of great blogspot and such blogs out there, but I know that more and more advertisers are asking for blogs on their own domain.
The cost for this, trust me, will pay for itself quickly. And it IS easy, and there is a TON of help out there for those who need help setting up their blogs.
It is well worth the tine, money, and effort to set up your own blog on your own domain!
July 26th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
This is so true. At first I was able to blog for money with my LiveJournal, but slowly the options have dwindled whereas the opportunities for my personal domain blogs only increase. In addition, my LJ was not accepted to quite a few blogging for money companies such as this one. It is SUPER important to get your own domain, and it really is easy.
July 27th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I started blogging on my own domain way back before it was even called blogging. Yes, I have an LJ, only for the simple reason that when I want to SERIOUSLY bitch about my ex-husband, I can and I can friends-lock the entry so he won’t see it. I can’t exactly do that on my own domain…especially since he’s my host!
I take great pride in the fact that rpgraphics.net has been mine for over 9 years.
July 27th, 2007 at 10:22 am
What constitutes as your own domain name?
For instance, if I buy space on typepad or blog.com will that count as my own domain?
I am really interested in owning my blog so any advice someone could give on how to go about it, would be awesome!!
TIA! :o)
July 27th, 2007 at 11:18 am
How does one set up one’s own domain? I’m interested. My free blog is PR 4, and I think most of my readers would follow and relink to me if I moved.
What do I do first?
July 27th, 2007 at 11:36 am
This is great information! Sounds like I need to look into getting my own domain. Do you have to be proficient at HTML or are sites easier to set up and use these days? With two small children underfoot, I just don’t have the time to learn coding so I need something easy, easy, easy!
July 27th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
funny I just told my husband a few days ago I was thinking about looking into this. Can’t you get your own domain name and still use a blogger or wordpress format?
July 27th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
html–not really many hosts offer automatic installs of your blog, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn how to use an FTP program so you can upload graphics etc.. to your blog or change the look and feel…
July 27th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
you can use blogger with your own domain and .wordpress.com system blogs also.. but really what you want to do is have your OWN hosting account and your own blogging platform running on your own domain.
July 27th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Timely post! I registered my mind-of-a-mom.com domain last night. I already have a hosting account for another domain. As soon as the new one is setup I will me be moving. Wish me luck!
July 27th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
To Nancy and others who are interested…
First, you need to purchase the domain name at a domain registrar site. I personally use DirectNic.com ($15/year per domain), but there are other, cheaper ones. It’s just that I’ve been with DirectNic for so long, I don’t feel like switching.
Then you need to find hosting. Once again, there are many companies and plans out there. I personally use 100megswebhosting.com. They have the “Fantastico” feature that will install blogging software, such as WordPress, for you. Don’t confuse this WP with WordPress.com, the free hosting blog service. You can’t do paid blogging on WP.com, but you CAN install WP on your own host that you pay for, and do paid blogging. And many do.
There are other hosting companies out there that offer easy Fantastico WP installs…I suggest that you contact someone whose blog you admire, who is on its own domain, and ask who they use, and how they like it and all. You will want to shop around to find the plan that best fits your needs and your budget. There are a few companies that offer a free domain with purchase of a hosting package, so that might be worth checking out.
Once you have a domain name and a hosting plan, you will receive instructions from said hosting company about setting up nameservers and all. It usually takes a couple of days for the nameservers to propagate throughout the internet, so that when people type in http://www.yourdomain.com, they actually get to your site.
In the meantime you can set up your new blog, and blog on your old, free blog about the new one. I highly recommend WordPress as a blogging platform, even if you have to download and install it yourself. The learning curve is pretty easy, and it has all manner of nifty features and plugins you can use. They have a great support forum for when you need help.
If you need any further help, please feel free to contact me through my blog, and I will try to answer any questions you may have.
Hope this info helps!
July 27th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Thanks Christine!
for hosting :
I have used http://www.bluehost.com I am sure others here can tell you who they have used for hosting
July 27th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
You’re quire welcome. Tony!
And I believe that Bluehost is one of those who offers a free domain with a hosting package. So that can save some money here!
And they do offer easy WP installation.
Oh…and once you’re all set up, and you wanna make that new WP blog nice and purty…check out the official WP theme site
http://themes.wordpress.net/
Choose a theme or themes that you like, download them, and then upload them to your hosting account. You can do this either via FTP or the File Manager in your host’s control panel. Then you can log into WP and choose a new theme. That way, you can have a really purty site, without having mad design skills!
July 27th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Fellow Bluehost user here. They are awesome. I buy my domains and hosting through them.
They have instructions for you and live chat if you get stuck! Plus, the day after I signed up for my hosting they called to make sure everything was going okay.
July 28th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
i have found its a lot easier to keep track of my traffic with my own domain.
July 28th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I use hostgator by the way.
July 28th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
oh yeah and on hostgator the WP install thing is really quick and easy,.
July 29th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
bluehost.com is excellent. Great package, phenomenal tech support. And your first domain is free!
July 31st, 2007 at 12:20 am
I use http://eleven2.com for hosting. They have one-click wordpress install and 24/7 live support over AIM which is really cool. But very good tips guys, I agree that getting your own domain as soon as possible is a very good idea!