Mar | 18 | 2008

Own Domain = Serious Blogger?

Posted by Jimmy as Blog Tutorial, Opinion, SEO Features

As I was going about my daily business of browsing blogs, I realized that a lot of bloggers are actually proponents of the “get you own domain” movement. Though the tag may not be existent, the movement may very well be real. I have come across a lot of posts encouraging people to get serious and ditch the free blogging sites. Is there any merit in doing this? Does getting one’s own domain really equate to being a serious blogger?

Perhaps the answer lies in the rationale behind getting one’s own domain and the definition of a serious blogger. So what constitutes a serious blogger? I believe that a serious blogger is one who would like to get as much exposure for his blog as he can get. (Any reactions to this?) Regarding the rationale behind getting one’s own domain, it actually helps to increase your blog’s online presence.

First, having your own domain gives you more freedom to dictate what the URL will be. If you are smart about it, you will choose a domain name that would be easy to remember and that would be associated easily with your blog and your theme. These two things in itself are tools to help you get a wider readership. Second, choosing your own blog domain could also be a tool when it comes to SEO. You can choose a name that matches the most significant keywords for your blog’s theme.

So yeah, I think I will say that yes, if you are a serious blogger, you would at least consider getting your own domain. What do you think?

Comments (10)

10 Responses

Nina
18|Mar|2008

A “serious blogger” to me is a person who maintains quality posts about his or her blog subject. It has very little to do with his or her own domain.
Aaron B. Hockley
18|Mar|2008

While a domain name does not necessarily indicate good quality, and there are some good blogs on free/hosted sites, I have to ask: if you’re serious about the quality of your work, why would you not spend $7 for a domain name?

In 2008, having a .blogspot.com URL seems a bit akin to having an @aol.com e-mail address.
Sobre tomar el serio el blogging y los dominios propios | Blog en Serio
18|Mar|2008

[...] hace rato Own Domain = Serious Blogger?, una de las muchas reflexiones que sobre las ventajas de tener un dominio propio se han escrito y [...]
Blog Jocky » Blog Archive » Own Domain = Serious Blogger?
20|Mar|2008

[...] PINOY BLOGGER wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAs I was going about my daily business of browsing blogs, I realized that a lot of bloggers are actually proponents of the “get you own domain” movement. Though the tag may not be existent, the movement may very well be real. … [...]
Jimmy
21|Mar|2008

Thanks for the input, Nina and Aaron. I think you’ve both highlighted important things – serious blogging means quality content and having your own domain does not ensure this. However, I think Aaron, that you do have a point. You can even get domains for less than $7 these days!
Domain Name Game by Blog Tutorials
28|Mar|2008

[...] was reading Jimmy’s post on having your own domain. I agree that having your own domain is a sign that you take your blog seriously or at least value [...]
cappy
25|Apr|2008

Well, personally, I’d prefer having my own server just have absolute control over my content — remember, if you use a free blogging service, you’re at _their_ whims as to whether they’ll just suddenly take down your site or not (under the DMCA, they can do this just at someone’s request).

If you have your own domain, it’s up to _you_ to even respond to DMCA takedown requests (unless you’ve got your domain registered through GoDaddy, in which they might just illegally delete access to your domain, even though it’s not their business to do so).
Blogs, Domains, And SEO » SEO Blogging
09|Sep|2008

[...] blogging platform, really. However, serious bloggers would tell you that it is much better if you use your own domain. This is compared to the URL that you get from a free blogging platform. If you use Wordpress, you [...]
kenwooi
22|Oct|2008

Hmm… Interesting. I’ve been thinking of doing so…
Laura
18|Jul|2009

I personally opted for a domain blog due to the fact that I work in PR and often counsel clients on blogging. If I can’t show proficiency at using the tool, then it’s probably not a good thing. It also shows that elaborate websites don’t have to be the front door to a business.

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