Do you need a separate domain name for your blog?

[Zsolt]

I am planning to set up a site (it's in the dating niche) in a few weeks. However, I also want setup a blog for the site where I will post news about my site, tips, articles, and other usuful stuff.

The main purpose of the blog will be attract visitors...like a traffic channel. I mean the blog (by its nature) will probably rank better in the search engines than the main site. People may find out about the blog first, read some stuff there (mind you, I plan to post usuful, quality stuff there) and then hopefully click on the links that lead to the main site (which is a membership site).

My question is: Am I better off registering a separate domain name for the blog? Or shall I just install the blog under the main site?

Like this:
www.mysiteblog.com
or
www.mysite.com/blog

The blog will contain posts both about the main site (updates, news, etc), but also more general stuff, tips, revews, etc. So, there are really two target groups for this blog: my customers and prospective customers. That's why I don't know if I should install it under its own domain name, or just create a directory under the main site.

What would you recommend from a marketing, branding point of view?

Thank you!

[Blaine Moore]

You can do it either way, and it depends upon the use you are going to put the sites. I tend to just put the blog on the same domain or a subdomain.

This question has been asked a dozen times if you want some more specific answers, just search through the forum.

[Zsolt]

Blaine,

Thanks for the reply. I will also go through prevous post as you suggested to see what's been said about this.

Zsolt

[CodrutTurcanu]

Here's how I do it.

Based on the niche I decided to tap into, I'd research for a keyword-rich domain name and install the blog in the root directory.

Hope it helps...
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