Note: Also see
This is a continuation of my Blogging 101 and Blogging 102 posts which seemed to be quite popular, so here’s Blogging 103. What follows are my opinions only, of course:
11. Buying your own domain name. Do this.
This means your site is known as: www.loveveggiesandyoga.com
Rather than
www.loveveggiesandyoga.blogspot.com
or
www.loveveggiesandyoga.wordpress.com
You do not need to be self-hosted to buy your domain.
You can do this for about $10 bucks, or less, per year with companies like GoDaddy
It’s so reasonable to do this, and of course do your research. (remember in Blogging 102, Google is your best friend.)
Why do you want to own your domain?
Here’s a nice synopsis but in a nutshell:
credibility on the internet
more recognition with others
brandability
more professional looking. Does anyone you know who’s really running a business have the word “blogspot” in their business’ URL? Didn’t think so.
Something to think about it you’re wanting to grow your blog or just appear more professional.
Not to mention, the less keystokes someone has to type to hit your site, the better it is. I admit that typing in the extra words: blogspot.com or wordpress.com rather than just .com has occassionally prevented me from linking to a site or keying it into my browser. Over time, this could be tens of thousands of hits you’re not getting.
12. Free vs. Self-Hosted WordPress. (perhaps the most requested topic I cover in this series based on reader’s requests)
Summary of the info I found here
The main 3 Pros to being Self-Hosted as I see it:
- Ability to upload themes
- Ability to upload plugins
- Complete control to change code if you’re technically minded
The cons that are listed but I don’t see any of these as a big deal. At all. And I “de-bunk” each con.
- You need a web host which generally costs $7-12 a month (I use BlueHost and pay $15 a month for their VPS option and there are BlueHost plans for 5.99 per month. Another popular one is Dreamhost and unless your site is getting tens and tens of thousands of views per day, this is probably sufficient server bandwidth for you. And if you are getting that many views, you’re already self-hosted and you’re not reading this anyway)
- On this matter, if you are going to self host and you don’t already have your domain name purchased, i.e. you’re www.suzy.wordpress.com and you want to become www.suzy.com, when you sign up with your host, in my case Bluehost they also sell domains. So you can get your domain name + hosting = all in one stop shopping.
- Requires more technical knowledge to set up and run (maybe but see Blogging 102 about knowing when to hire things out or Blogging 102 for research + google are your best friends. If you do hire it out, a complete site makeover and migration to self-hosting is probably going to run you anywhere from $300 to $750 depending on what your exact needs are.)
- You’re responsible for stopping spam (see this post at the bottom, not hard, and it’s free)
- You have to handle backups (yes and I pay for them through an outside company; however many people don’t back up. Not advised but if you want to cut corners you don’t have to backup your site)
- You must upgrade the software manually when a new version comes out (takes 2 seconds and it’s like updating your Microsoft programs or your iTunes. Asks you, Do you want to update? You click yes and it does it’s thing and it’s done in two seconds.)
Again, if you are serious about growing your blog, turning it into somewhat more of a “business”, wanting to add plugins or themes to your site, or ability to customize it in any way, just self-host.
I don’t see it as hard or a big deal in any way. Since I went straight from Blogger to self-hosted WordPress, I never had the free WP and if I can make that jump, anyone who’s already on WordPress can easily make the jump to self-hosting.
However, for both of these items, buying your domain or becoming self hosted, if you don’t care about your domain name or if free WP or even Blogger works for you, and you’re not interesting in making any changes…don’t!
Do what works for you in food, in life, with exercise and with regard to your blog and blogging style and platform.
Just handling those two topics was a mouthful so guess what, Blogging 104 will be next in this series.
From my last post, Braids, thank you so much for the compliments on the photos!
A second time around, for me.
Thanks for telling me which images you liked, and why.
As I mentioned, I have ulterior motives why I posted so many images.
Time for chocolate!
How about a Chocolate Macaroon
Vegan, GF, one bowl + spoon, and you don’t even need a dehydrator.Questions:
1. If you blog, are you self-hosted? Why or why not? Any plans for any changes with that?
2. Did this post help clarify things if these were topics you wanted more info about?
3. Yes, there will be a blogging 104.
Topics to be discussed based on previous reader requests include:
Product Reviews
Running Reader Contests & Giveaways
How to handle revealing yourself to the world when you start a blog
What other questions do you have or would you like to see me cover?
I don’t want to bore those who don’t have blogs but so many people have written to me privately and have said these posts have inspired them to start a blog, so hey, maybe you’re a reader now, but will be a blogger, soon.
And if you have no desire to blog? Great, don’t! Blogs are wonderful but they are time consuming, and all bloggers need readers.
I heart all my readers, so much. Thank you for reading my blog and anyone else’s you read.
This post was auto-published. I am probably flying over the Gulf of Mexico right about now en route to Atlanta and then San Diego.
What did you do to those first two photos? It sort of looks like a water-color wash. Very nice, especially the first one. I’d crop out (or photo-shop out) that little corner of the chair poking into the side, and then blow it up life-size!
I put some special effects on them with lightroom. they were part of the Braids post from yesterday, i just picked a couple quickly to re-post. I like those two a lot though!
You’ve definitely gotten me thinking!! I think I am going to buy a domain soon!!
Thank you :D
These posts are not boring Averie! And I look forward to learning more about giveaways, sponsorships, etc.
I totally agree with buying a domain name, self hosting, etc — I made the switch a few months ago (with Jenn’s help!) and I am so happy I did. It just feels more like it is “mine” — plus after wordpress decided to shut down my blog for a day — why? I still don’t know. I wanted to have total control.
I hope your trip home goes well!
I love these posts1 I’m in the process of getting a design done and moving over to self hosted – Im excited!
I’ve wanted to buy my own domain for a long time now, but just never have! I know it’d be worth it, for some reason I’m just afraid to take the plunge?!
I bought my domain name for two years a few months ago and even though it was extremely simple to buy it, I still was totally confused. When it comes to anything other just writing posts, I pretty clueless (as you can see on my blog.) If I could afford it and understood what the heck I was doing–and had more time–I would hire it out to self-host and pimp it up a bit ;)
For now, simple works. At least I own the name! Thanks again for another helpful post.
Skylar is so beautiful!!! I definitely agree about getting your own domain name. It just FEELS so much better to have MY space!
thanks, and yes, own space. love it!
averie, i love your blogging series thus far but blogging 103, here, was the most helpful to me thus far.
i am still dotwordpressdotcom and i had NO IDEA i could get rid of dotwordpress and STILL be with wordpress (yes i am that not-tech-savvy and/or uninformed). i would SO LOVE to update, change, improve my blog – what’s holding me back is time, money, fear, laziness (?!)…anyway, all food for thought and i so appreciate the info you have shared.
hope your flight is going smoothly! maybe you’ll get to actually watch an in-flight movie?!
she was AWAKE the WHOLE TIME! :)
Averie- thanks for this!
I just started blogging this past month so this is super helpful. Already bought my domain name but have been struggling to understand when it’s worth it to self-host. Do you have an opinion on how many views you should be getting before self-hosting is worth it? Would love to hear more on that on 104 :)
I think it’s worth it at any time. Dont think about what you’re getting now, think about what you’re GROWING into…had I had that mentality, i wouldnt have been stuck in blogger blog hell. I was scared to move, then I grew, got more scared to move, vicious circle.
Thank you for sharing this! I have always been curious on free vs self hosts.
Great tips again! I’m on free wordpress right now any buying my domain name is definitely the next thing on my list of things to do for my blog! Thanks for sharing all this, you are amazing!
I just moved to self hosted exactly a month ago(has it been that long already? Jeez it goes by fast). I’m so glad I did it while my blog was still so new. This post really confirmed all the reasons why I did it. For me there was no reason to stick with something that I could never really make “my own”. There are options on wordpress.com, but nothing is ever truly unique.
Looking forward to 104 :D
I really like the last photo of Skylar – she has a look of pure joy on her face!
I am not tech savvy, so I feel like running my blog in a more meaningful manner would be difficult. I would be interested in trying it, but I would definitely want someone to design my blog for me – I am not very good at making it look pretty! It would be nice to have fun additions to the site!
Thank you Averie!!!!! <3 Def answered my questions!
Welcome back from your vacation. I love editing photos after I return — it sort of seals it all in my memory bank. And good advice here. I switched to my own domain several years ago. The sooner it’s done, the less that needs to be migrated.
glad Im not the only one who enjoys editing :) i love taking them more but editing is like a 2nd xmas :) you get to relive the magic!
I am self-hosted, but I still haven’t changed my theme or anything! I should probably work on that, but I have NO idea what I’m doing!