Beginner's question about hosting

[dsorr]

Hi~
My name is Sharie Orr, and I've recently downloaded Yaro's Blog Profits Blueprint and am going through the becomeablogger.com site. I have a question, if I might...
In the BlogProfitsBlueprint ebook the benefits of having your own domain name and hosting are spelled out, and I definitely see the wisdom in this.
But if I'm is not in a position to handle the expense of this at first, would it be wiser to wait or can I somewhat easily later transfer my content to my own hosting?
Especially if I do this before any real major promoting is done when there wouldn't be much of a following anyway...(As far as I can tell this question isn't covered in the videos or blogprofitsblueprint.)
Hope my question makes sense...And thanks in advance for any help.

[Talkofthatown919]

when i first started blogging i had a subdomain meaning a free blog. Therefore as i continued to blog i registered the domain through blogger.
Basically do not register and get hosting if you are not going to stick with it.
But first ask yourself why do you want to blog or why are you?
Then from there you should have your answer.
Hope that helps

[businessminder]

Having your own domain will give you the following benefits:

- You will have a sense of ownership. Having to own your own domain rather than owning a subdomain is very different! at least to me.
- SEO in the long run. Completely agree with dsorr on the fact that you have to stick to it. When you decide to stick to your blog and create a quality content, you will find (most likely) others linking to your blog or blog posts as time goes by. Now if you want decide to have your own domain and move from your free subdomain to your own domain, the links that others have to your subdomain will no longer be valid. You will have to completely start over on the link building process.

P.S. Having a reliable web hosting service is also critical for the continuous growth and expansion of your blog. I have had a couple of friends who suffered from this. For example, many of my friends have decided to host their own blog at home with their spare PC and existing Internet connection. They all end up spending too much time and effort on maintaining their home web server, and actually investing more money into better Internet connections after.

It's essential to be able to use the resources around you. Find yourself a reliable and quality web hosting service will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. And if you really decide to stick to your blog, getting your own domain from the beginning is highly recommended!

[Ralf Skirr]

Originally Posted by dsorr

But if I'm is not in a position to handle the expense of this at first, would it be wiser to wait or can I somewhat easily later transfer my content to my own hosting?

Being in the internet business a web site and domain is your primary asset. I'd rather skip a meal a day than not having my own domain.

Please note: I'm not making fun of this, I really mean it. There are some core assets in a business you can't live without. And if you're serious about creating an online business you literally have to 'pay the price'.

• A taxi driver using his bicycle cause he can't finance a taxi won't have much business.
• A restaurant that can't afford the stove to cook on won't have much business.
• A hair stylist who can't afford the scissors ...

Of course each of them through hard work and creativity could make a few bucks, but they are wasting 99% of their business opportunities.

You get the point. If you run a web business you need a web site.

If you can't afford a domain then you are on such a low financial level that you rather get a job that pays by the hour immediately. Maybe go work at McDonalds or whatever a few hours per week to finance the domain. A domain doesn't cost much anyway.

In internet marketing you are likely to have to put in lots of hours and a learning curve before you get money back. So if not having any money at all is the issue than internet marketing may not be the fastest solution.

Ralf

[dsorr]

Talkofthatown919:
About your reply

Basically do not register and get hosting if you are not going to stick with it.
But first ask yourself why do you want to blog or why are you?
Then from there you should have your answer.
Hope that helps

Thanks~
And, yes, this helps.
I have made the decision to do this--create and grow a blog readership
because I do know that I have knowledge that will help others.
And I that decision also includes sticking with it...
So, from your input I probably should wait the little while to start publishing
til I'm in the situation to cover the expenses.

[dsorr]

Ralf~

Thanks also for your comments. And I completely understand your points.
The website is the framework of the business.
It's more my anxiousness to DO this rather than talk about it and think about it and later get sidetracked and NOT DO it! My head, my bookshelf and my computer are all FULL of CONTENT. I mean, I could probably write the pillar articles in a few hours. Now, the rest of what it takes to promote and find the readership, etc.--that's where I need the help. Majorly!

The reason for the lack of funds is that my husband is a painting contractor
and we've been hit royally by the downturn in economy, especially because we're in the trades. Work is actually picking back up for us, but we're just
so far behind in the bills that literally it's impossible at this very moment to
allot any money to anything else. My paypal and bank account are empty
and despite what we're bringing in each week here this past month, it's likely
to stay this way for a little while longer. So, that's why I posted this question. Wanting to get started in a concrete way, but not knowing if it
would hurt things in the long run.
I think I've determined from everyone's posts that I will wait to get the hosting, but I'm going to go ahead and plan out and write up as much content as I can. Then publish it when I can be assured that I can handle
the $10 or so a month for the hosting. (Is that about right?)
I even own a few domain names, and one I almost would like to use for my blog, but I decided to go with another, I think anyway, and like I said--just can't spare the extra few bucks yet to register it. But soon!
Is there a place on this forum where you can run prospective blog names (URLs) past everyone to get feedback on what might be better?

Again~
Thanks very much for your advice. I really appreciate the input.
dsorr

[dsorr]

Thanks, businessminder

I agree totally about the sense of ownership. This is definitely the way I'd prefer.
And your point about SEO and others linking to it and these becoming invalid
if you change from a subdomain to your own domain is excellent.
Thanks--because I didn't really think of this either.
So, I'm seeing a consensus here! : )

Also, do you have a webhost you prefer?


Thanks again~
dsorr

[Ralf Skirr]

Originally Posted by dsorr

It's more my anxiousness to DO this rather than talk about it and think about it and later get sidetracked and NOT DO it! My head, my bookshelf and my computer are all FULL of CONTENT. I mean, I could probably write the pillar articles in a few hours. Now, the rest of what it takes to promote and find the readership, etc.--that's where I need the help. Majorly!

That's cool. For me it takes forever to get an article finished...

Originally Posted by dsorr

The reason for the lack of funds is that my husband is a painting contractor and we've been hit royally by the downturn in economy ...

It's pretty weird what's happening to the world economy right now. My guess is that despite all pessimism in the media the worst part is almost over.

Originally Posted by dsorr

I think I've determined from everyone's posts that I will wait to get the hosting, but I'm going to go ahead and plan out and write up as much content as I can. Then publish it when I can be assured that I can handle the $10 or so a month for the hosting. (Is that about right?)
I even own a few domain names, and one I almost would like to use for my blog, but I decided to go with another, I think anyway, and like I said--just can't spare the extra few bucks yet to register it. But soon!

What niche are you in?

Originally Posted by dsorr

Is there a place on this forum where you can run prospective blog names (URLs) past everyone to get feedback on what might be better?

I wouldn't do that. If you find a really good domain name -which is not easy- don't talk to anybody about it before you registered it. You would be surprised how fast others jump on and register your suggested name.

The good way to go would be to register a variety of names and then poll people about it. But obviously that's not a thing to do when funds are an issue. So rather go with your own judgement. Take into account in all cases to have a niche related keyword in your domain name. Except when you brand your self, then you would use your own name or pen name.

Ralf

[CzechFolks]

I completely understand. It is hard to start your blog and pay for everything at once. You can just buy your domain ($6-10 a year) and get a free hosting (example: wordpress.com). Wordpress.com allows you to redirect your postings to your own domain for $10 a year. If somebody links to you, they will use your own domain instead of wordpress and no links will be lost.
You will spend only ~$20/year.

[dsorr]

[quote=Ralf Skirr;20108]

It's pretty weird what's happening to the world economy right now. My guess is that despite all pessimism in the media the worst part is almost over.


I certainly hope so! We have, in fact, picked up at least twice the upcoming jobs on the books, though most are not quite ready yet, than we had just a month ago. But we do know many friends/colleagues who are absolutely out of work! So, all in all, we feel very happy we have what we have! : )


What niche are you in?


Basically, the health/wellness niche, but with a bit of a contrarian slant.
By that I mean, not the typical views on most aspects of what it takes
to really have, build, or re-build health.

I wouldn't do that. If you find a really good domain name -which is not easy- don't talk to anybody about it before you registered it. You would be surprised how fast others jump on and register your suggested name.
The good way to go would be to register a variety of names and then poll people about it. But obviously that's not a thing to do when funds are an issue. So rather go with your own judgement. Take into account in all cases to have a niche related keyword in your domain name. Except when you brand your self, then you would use your own name or pen name.


Thanks for this! See, I am so naive when it comes to this type of thing.
I subscribe to the idea of 'do to others what you'd like done to you,'
and so I guess I don't see the risks necessarily...

And as far as the "niche related keyword," in the domain name, does this
mean a very-highly searched word or can it be one that, well, just makes
sense, though not maybe extremely searched for? (Does that make sense?)
Like Yaro's blog: "www.entrepreneurs-journey.com" seems to me to be one
he chose because it stated what he wanted it to, but wouldn't in my mind
(though I'm likely wrong in this) have been chosen initially because of major
google search value.

I really appreciate your helpful advice.