In this post we want to look at custom domains and using a custom domain on Blogger instead ofthe blogspot sub domain.When you start your free blog on Blogger you choose a free sub domain like hackinginseconds.blogspot.com .This is the address of your blog and in general you carry on setting up your blog and start posting.However you do have the option to use a custom domain and get rid of the blogspot part, to be like hackinginseconds.com , a full domain without blogspot.What are the advantages of this ? In fact the advantages are huge !
Blogger is totally free and that is a big attraction over other platforms like Wordpress, while there is a free version of Wordpress it is rubbish and constraining.The self hosted Wordpress is a fantastic platform but you must have a custom domain and pay for hosting every month.So if you want to set up a blog quickly with a lot of freedom most will go with Blogger.Blogger do not charge for hosting or indeed anything connected to your blog, 99.9% of Blogger templates are free as are any gadgets etc you require (And you have amazing blogs like this with Blogger Tips helping you along the way :D ).
Dot Blogspot Dot Com
But Blogger or more specifically blogs using Blogspot sub domains have been in some quarters for this very reason associated with low quality sites.In fact many people land on a blog, see it has a blogspot sub domain and are immediately sceptical.Why ? Here's what i think ..
The great feature of being able to start a blog on Blogger in less than 5 minutes also has it's downside.Tens of Thousands of blogs started areby people that write 3 or 4 posts and realize it's not as easy as it looks so quit.Leaving low qualityoutdated blogs behind them.
Spammers using the free service to set up auto blogs and republish copied content surrounded by ads.Some of the blogs i have seen are a joke with more ads than content.
While there are lots of amazing blogs using blogspot sub domains there are now hundreds ofthousands of abandoned or low quality blogs also.And these blogs in many ways hurt the general image of Blogger Blogs using blogspot sub domains.
In the same way as i when i see a blog with the domain .co.cc or .tk (both free) i instantly think the site will be low quality, if they were serious about the site they would have a full domain often a blogspot sub domain is looked at in the same way.
Custom Domains Are Almost Free
That is why in my opinion not having a custom domain is just stupid ! If the custom domain cost$100 i would think OK well that is a lot of money for most people.But it's nothing near that.Setting up a custom domain directly though Blogger is easy and costs just $10 per year.
That's $0.83 cent per month or less than $0.3 centper day !
Every thing else is free, surly you can afford $10 bucks in a year.And by setting it up through Blogger it is all done for you and you have features like free Email accounts connected to your domain (yourname@yourblog.com).In fact just this week your Google Apps account connected to your domain can act as a full Googleaccount, more on that at a later date.
In a Recent post on ProBlogger the question was asked "Why are Bloggers so against spending money on their blogs?" That post was about buying advertising and spending a few hundred bucks.But it is a valid question, why are Bloggers so against spending even a few dollars when it can have such a huge impact ? We really do need to get out of the "Everything Should Be Free" Mentality.
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