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.
Great post, Averie! I was self hosted from the get-go. In fact, my original site was not a blog at all, it was a business website (for my nutrition consulting) with a couple of recipes + health articles. I switched over to a blog in January and couldn’t be more happy with the switch! As much as I love meeting with clients (and I still do on a daily basis) I absolutely LOVE blogging and sharing my recipe ideas + holistic approach to health.
i remember your site back then….feels like ages ago and I LOVE that you switched formats from site to blog, so to speak.
Thank you for this wonderfull post, again :)
I’m not planning on becoming self-hosted soon. I’m not that long in the blogosphere, so whenever a chance comes my way, I’ll take it, but for the time it is good how it is. However, my blog is on blogspot and I’m thinking about moving to wordpress (thanks to you mentioning wordpress). My blog in my mothertongue is on Wordpress and I’m starting to like the many options.
good luck w/ the move if you make it
I really have been enjoying this series….they’re all bookmarked. I’ve been thinking about buying my own domain — thanks for all the information about it!
I’m enjoying the tips! Hope your settling in back home.
Thanks for the tips. It’s awesome to have this sort of advice when your starting a blog! :D
Thanks so much for sharing this. It’s really helpful that you lay it out there like that.
Yes, I’m definitely thinking of making a move! Just need to make sure the tech guy in town can help me if I need it.
Safe journey!
love
Ela
Thanks for making these 101-posts Averie! They are really usefull for us new-bloggers! Cant wait for you 104-post!
Wish you a good day:)
Great post, very informative.
1. Yes and it’s been a fun learning experience since I’m a tecch geek. I’m a control freak, self hosting lets me control more.
2. Sure, but truthfully I knew most of it already. :-)
3. Hmmm, content selection.
thanks for your continued blogging tips, i always enjoy reading these kinds of posts from people! right now i’m waaay back at installments 101 and maybe 102, haha! but i like to read what i should be thinking about and bookmarking it. though, i’m sort of kicking myself reading that blogger is a bummer because well, that’s what i’ve got!
i’ve also been catching up on your previous posts about finding that career that really clicks with you and it resonated with me because i’m sort of trying to do the same for myself. life’s sent me for some loops but i believe that if we’re going to do something we should at least try to find something that is our passion and that we enjoy.
for you, my gosh you HAVE to keep putting together that photography portfolio because you obviously have such a gift and a great eye! and then ‘playing’ with them in photoshop is always a ball…so best of luck to you there and keep it up! can’t wait to hear/see more. :)
hope the rest of your flights go smoothly!
cait thank you for the great comment and reading and i hope YOU too find a career path you really love. life is a journey and i too am just trying to find my way :)
I definitely need to do my blogging research – this whole self-hosting thing scares me a bit and I’m not sure what my next steps are! I think I’m content for the time being, but we’ll see what happens. Thanks for sharing this info with us…you’re taking your time to do this when you don’t need to and I really appreciate it!
and if you read the other ones, like 101, it talks about linking back and recipe reposting in entirety, “adapted from” etc and all that good stuff. thank you for linking me in your post today :)
Self hosting, sure, but not through Go Daddy – their CEO had that big stink where he killed an elephant. Killing endangered species = super uncool.
more fabulous tips thanks for sharing…I Love the last picture of skylar your camera takes gorgeous photos!
Thanks for all the thought you put into this post to help aspiring bloggies like me learn more!
Hi,
interesting post. I like how you also touched on readers who aren’t bloggers- we do exist! I love reading blogs (especially yours ) but have no desire (or time!) to start my own. I’d have to say that content and ease of reading really attracts me. 1.) your daughter is cute, and i have a 4 yr old so i like reading about someone who is a working mom w/ a child and 2.) your recipes are delicious.
Also, blogs that have too many advertisements and background clutter usually turn me off.
anyway, that’s my 2 cents.
good luck on your dream career journey!
Katie
thanks katie for reading and yes we all need readers, and not everyone wants to blog. we all have diff talents in life and diff goals and readers ARE (for me THE most important part of a blog…i am not one of these ppl who says ‘i blog just for me’….no, if no one was reading, i wouldnt do this all every day..haha!)
thanks for the compliments and for reading!
Great post! I’m not self-hosted, as I don’t get enough views for it to be worth it.