The Disadvantages of Not Having Your Own Domain Name
More than benefits, let’s focus of why is it crucial to have your own domain name. I have argued this a couple of times in past. However, the argument was quite casual, and I still meet people who are emphasizing on using free domains. Here are three significant reasons on why every blogger should have their own domain name; or why they shouldn’t have free domains.
1. Free Domain Names aren’t Really Yours
If you don’t know this, you must probably start reading fine print every time you come across a registration page. Most people have their pages on Blogger, and many earn a substantial amount every month. However, you will learn, after reading Blogger’s ToS, that you don’t really own the blog. It’s theirs. You simply own the content you write in it.
So, if you write content that’s unacceptable by the administrators, or if they feel you have violated any terms, they might delete your account, and you loose all your work. Besides, if your blog becomes popular, you don’t have the privilege to sell it off.
2. You Don’t Have Credibility
Actually you do, but not as much as you would having your own domain name. You will find several blogs on Blogger that cannot be termed as ‘good quality’ blogs. Moreover, some of them are spam. And, remember, you share the same platform. Hence, your credibility, no matter how hard you try, wouldn’t get the deserved boost.
3. You Don’t Have Flexibility
If you have your own domain name, you can modify your blog as per your needs and wishes. This benefit, however, cannot be enjoyed in Blogger. You wouldn’t be able to add special scripts. You wouldn’t be able to add pages. You cannot design it as per your wish.
As your blog becomes popular, you will realize the significance of flexibility. You will have to modify various things, which you wouldn’t be able to do in a free domain name.
People who have been using free domain names since years are now finding it impossible to grow beyond certain limit. It doesn’t cost much to book a domain. However, it would cost much if your growth is limited.
Carolyn on 
Mith@AutoTransport on 
Debra Merrill on 
bdkamol on 
Govind Gupta on 
Auto Back Links on 
Laura at SEO Article Content Writing Services on 
If you are serious about being a player on the internet, then having your own piece of virtual real estate to run your business from is a non-negotiable. Do not waste all your link building efforts on a domain that doesn’t belong to you. It is akin to pimping out a rental home and not being allowed to take the improvements with you when you get evicted…..
[Reply]
I it is hard to get success without own domain,Actually i am experiencing the problem of not getting more visitors on my blog,I will appreciate your quote chris,will surely get my own domain soon…
[Reply]
All very good reasons to own your own domain name and self hosted site. Even a shared hosting package if you are serious about blogging.
Justin Germino´s last blog ..Dragon Blogger iPad Video Converter Contest Update
[Reply]
Some very valid points there Chris. If you are serious about your blog, getting a “real” domain name is essential.
It’s a lot easier to “brand” your site and have a memorable address if you go for professional domain name.
JohnT´s last blog ..Websites for accountants: where to go?
[Reply]
I have to totally agree with you on the whole “owning your own blog”. Just today and yesterday I tried working on one of my free blogger sites and blogger was down (for almost 20 hours). It sucked because just as it went down I had just finished writing a new post but didn’t get to post it, so I lost all the content.
Needless to say, if you have your own domain and hosting site for your blogs (wordpress is my usual blog of choice) then you can have more control over it, including being able to call someone up and yell when the site goes down. With blogger there was nothing i could do but wait and wait, and wait.
cat@ethernet external hard drive´s last blog ..Ethernet External Hard Drive
[Reply]