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Should I start a blog via my own domain, or via a blog host like Weebly?

by Dropdeadfred
16 replies
Hi Guys,

Firstly, I am new here so apologies if this is posted in the wrong place or has been discussed before.

I plan to start a blog to promote a website and drive traffic towards that website once it is ready...in other words I want to create some buzz. I was wondering if I should create the blog via a domain name I own, therefore creating the website and blog myself - or would it be better to set up the blog via a platform like Weebly?

Remembering I'm completely new at Internet marketing, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of each of the above?

Fred.
#blog #domain #host #start #weebly
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Levanduski
    Personally I'm always a fan of using your own domain. It gives you more control and more options down the road.

    It only costs about $20 for a domain and hosting (oftentimes far less), and I've never purchased a domain that I didn't make money on.

    Good luck!

    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author FreeMeal
    If you want the easy and quick way, use a platform.

    If you want total control over your blog, use your own domain and cheap hosting.

    Remember, if you decide to go with a platform approach, you don't really own what you've created. The company who runs the platform does, and they can close you down anytime they feel like, and say you broke their terms of service or something.

    If I was you, I'd get a domain, some cheap hosting, install wordpress, and do it that way.

    Hope that helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dropdeadfred
      Originally Posted by FreeMeal View Post

      If you want the easy and quick way, use a platform.

      If you want total control over your blog, use your own domain and cheap hosting.

      Remember, if you decide to go with a platform approach, you don't really own what you've created. The company who runs the platform does, and they can close you down anytime they feel like, and say you broke their terms of service or something.

      If I was you, I'd get a domain, some cheap hosting, install wordpress, and do it that way.

      Hope that helps.
      Thanks, so Wordpress helps you design and maintain the blog with relative ease?
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      • Profile picture of the author FreeMeal
        Originally Posted by Dropdeadfred View Post

        Thanks, so Wordpress helps you design and maintain the blog with relative ease?
        Yes, it's really pretty simple. That's why it's so popular.

        You can get plenty of free templates which look pretty decent too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dropdeadfred
    Hi, that was a pretty quick response...so thanks. TBH I'm thinking of going down the route of my own domain, I just figured it might be easier to use Weebly - but I don't yet fully understand the disadvantages of that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Slate Marketing
    Always use your own domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author FreeMeal
    It's almost just as easy to do it all yourself.

    Try Hobohost for cheap hosting with cpanel, and easy wordpress install for $1 per month. Use a coupon for the domain. Could be up and running for less than $5.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Dropdeadfred View Post

    Should I start a blog via my own domain, or via a blog host like Weebly?
    Why not both? Weebly is a very good host (I have some sites there in their fifth successful year of hosting, using "Weebly Pro"), but you'd certainly want your own domain-name rather than a Weebly sub-domain.

    The two things you're asking about, linked by the word "or", are not actually alternatives.

    You should use your own domain-name for your blog, wherever the site is hosted. Domain registration and site hosting are two different things (and should be kept that way: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post7628717 ).
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  • Profile picture of the author DeanJames
    Fred,

    Always go with your own domain in this situation. Wordpress (the basics at least) is a lot easier than you may think right now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Miguelito203
    Originally Posted by Dropdeadfred View Post

    Hi Guys,

    Firstly, I am new here so apologies if this is posted in the wrong place or has been discussed before.

    I plan to start a blog to promote a website and drive traffic towards that website once it is ready...in other words I want to create some buzz. I was wondering if I should create the blog via a domain name I own, therefore creating the website and blog myself - or would it be better to set up the blog via a platform like Weebly?

    Remembering I'm completely new at Internet marketing, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of each of the above?

    Fred.
    You need to start a blog on your own domain, so that you have control over the content and are able to do things like list building. When you use free sites, they have the authority to remove your content whenever they want to. They are also picky about the kinds of things that you can promote. Some free sites also don't like you to use affiliate links on them.

    Good luck,
    Joey
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  • Profile picture of the author Long Beach Nathan
    I wouldn't use Weebly. I'd suggest just getting your own domain and hosting a Wordpress blog. Wordpress is pretty straightforward to use, at least for simple stuff, and there's all kinds of things you can add using free and paid plugins that you couldn't otherwise use.

    Getting your own hosting is pretty cheap, usually well under $10 a month.
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  • Profile picture of the author Meharis
    Originally Posted by Dropdeadfred View Post

    Hi Guys,

    Firstly, I am new here so apologies if this is posted in the wrong place or has been discussed before.

    I plan to start a blog to promote a website and drive traffic towards that website once it is ready...in other words I want to create some buzz. I was wondering if I should create the blog via a domain name I own, therefore creating the website and blog myself - or would it be better to set up the blog via a platform like Weebly?

    Remembering I'm completely new at Internet marketing, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of each of the above?

    Fred.
    Having your own domain you're in control.

    Google GoDaddy coupon and you can register your domain for $2.95.
    Later on you can transfer the domain to NameCheap for around $ 10.00
    getting an extra year. Total cost ~ $6.50/year plus hosting.

    Meharis
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  • Profile picture of the author vojohn33
    always go with your own domain and hosting. for one thing, a real domain instead of yoursitehere.wordpress.com or .weebly isnt as appealing as a "yoursite.com or .org, etc
    secondly, having your own hosting and domain on wordpress or weebly gives you more accessibility to custom plugins, ads, etc.
    i find that if i purchase my own domain name, i'll treat it more like my own business and that makes me work harder. but thats just my two cents.

    cheers.
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  • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
    Where the website is hosted makes little difference - assuming they keep it online of course. But you always want to use your own domain name. Even huge services like Weebly go out of business sometimes and it'd be very easy to lose all of your readers if that happened.
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  • Profile picture of the author leoj888
    having your own domain can have all control.Rely on 3rd part platform may get your site removed if you violate their TOS

    so it's better to get your own domain if you are serious about this business and want to make it better and better
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  • Profile picture of the author Dropdeadfred
    Guys what a great response, many thanks. One of the reasons I joint this forum is because the community looked good! The general consensus is Worrpress via my owned domain, so that is what I will go for. Again, thanks for EVERY comment.
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