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