Free domain or Paid domain? Free hosting or Paid hosting?
By Manick
@a_manick (879)
India
October 4, 2007 12:29am CST
Dear friends,
I am having a blog on Blogger.com, which is doing well recently. I repeatedly hear from popular blogs that I should not use free service if I want to grow up. I am really confused. So far, I am happy with the services from Blogger.
What do you think? Is Blogger Ok? Or should I change?
If need to change, just a domain name is enough? Or should I also buy a hosting package?
Please also suggest a good domain seller/ hosting service, thats reasonably cheap and good.
5 responses
@citruscountyfl (2)
• United States
26 Nov 07
One thing you want to consider even if you decide not to switch from Blogger is to get a domain name. This way, people have a very easy way to find your site. If you decide to change where you host your blog, you can always point the domain to the new location.
1 person likes this
@a_manick (879)
• India
26 Nov 07
In fact, I bought a domain name about a month ago. I could redirect my new domain name to Blogger url and then mask the url. I wanted the other way also. Unfortunately, I could not get Blogger to redirect the traffic to my new domain name. Whenever I type, it displays an error that a blog is already hosted there. I checked with the domain name seller, they say they do not anything about Blogger.
After a few tries with my domain name seller and Blogger, I lost interest and left the new domain name to die off. I am just holding on to blogspot.com
@a_manick (879)
• India
2 Dec 07
Thanks. I can direct my domain name to point to Blogger through my web host. That is no problem. I can mask the URL too.
But, the problem here is, I will have two urls for the same content. People still can access my blog through blogspot.com and my .com address. I am not sure whether search engines will consider this as duplicate content. I may also lose some traffic rankings as my traffic will be split between the two urls.
You suggested not to use Blogger control panel. Any particular reason?
Thanks for your valuable suggestion. This seems to be your first discussion. So, WELCOME to myLot.
@citruscountyfl (2)
• United States
27 Nov 07
Here is how to remedy that:
Edit your template and in the upper corner tell people to "bookmark" "yourdomainname.com." if they "like what they see". And if you ever move from blogger, you make up an entry that says you have moved. This will train people.
Make sure you direct the domain to blogger through your webhost instead of entering the domain in your blogger control panel.
1 person likes this
@kris182_2000 (5444)
• Canada
4 Oct 07
Paid services give you more options.
I don't use any myself so I can't recommend any, but I know others will.
1 person likes this
@bananakeik (18)
• Philippines
11 Oct 07
having your own web host gives you lots of features. it'll also make your site look much more professional. also, if you're planning to move out from your blogger account, try wordpress.org, and host your blog somewhere.
i can offer you some hosting account.
and if you need a domain, i can register one for you for a much lower price. let me know if you're interested.
