Benefits of your own domain?

[Strongbow]

Switching to a custom domain with a blogger blog is well worth the cost of buying the domain you will probably recoup the cost in increased affiliate clicks or adsense anyway.

[kirbybowl]

Originally Posted by The1337

If you let google host it, would there be 2 sets of links to a certain post?

There won't be 2 sets of link for a certain post. I only see posts using my new domain on Google queries (but I still see blogspot queries to my site before I had switched domains). However, you can still use the blogspot address for a post and it will redirect automatically. I think the only reason the old link still works is to allow people to switch to a new domain without causing broken links in their old posts.

[ffnstuff]

As mentioned by Kirby everything just redicrects to the new .com

This way you dont really lose any visitors etc. Old links to the .blogspot will just be redirected to the new .com

[Kalinae]

KK I registered my domain. Feels good to have my own website

new-rock-music.com

man, I'm so used to typing new-rock-music.blogspot.com it feels unnatural haha. Appreciate the help guys.

[Carnalzen]

I admit - I'm spoiled, my brother has a web development co. so he hosts me for free on both my domains. The thing I've noticed is how many blogs you arrive at to find a post that they've moved. Whether it's from wordpress or blogspot it just seems weak. I'd rather have a lock on the domain and i can change the provider down the road if necessary (although I'm quite sure I'm too lazy and so far LOVIN wordpress)

[Bloggeries]

You answered your question in the question You actually OWN your work. Now you don't. At any time for whatever reason you can get a banned / can't login message because you broke certain guidelines whether you did or not.

Basically it's like working for yourself or someone else. All the traffic that comes to you through blogspot is just making blogger bigger. If you are just toying for fun and you're insanely cheap then don't bother.

If not spend less then you would on lunch one day and get your own site where you own your content and call the shots. Also if you ever one day plan on selling it... It's against the TOS to sell a blogspot I'm quite sure.

Play with a free one the minute you realize it's something you like go on and do your own thing.

[ahwei09]

My friend has recently started his own blogging site, so I am not worried in the least about getting kicked off for a TOS violation. He intends for it to be for some more dedicated bloggers and not just for ordinary guys telling people what they did in the week previous. Currently we have about 5-6 bloggers, but some of thse are inactive. We are also looking to expand the service in the near future.

I suppose it's kind of in between having my own domain and being on a bigger blogging site. I'm not competing with a sea of other blogs, however, it does mean that my blog is more out of the way.

[Hicham]

I can framework it into this simple equation: 'Credibility + Personality + Control = having your own domain', yet everything has its pros and cons so you'll have to keep an eye over your domain or find someone to do this for you.

[greenmamba]

I would only use free blogging services for stuff like link building.
If you are really serious about getting your blog out there you absolutely have to have your own domain and hosting.

And here is another absolute must-have. If you even think of setting up more than one blog (domain) then get yourself a reseller account. You pay a fixed monthly fee (it depends on the service provider but it ranges between anything from $7 per month to $25+). I would be wary of something that is TOO cheap, and also, make sure that you get cpanel hosting since as far as I am concerned cpanel is the best control panel to quickly and easily let you control your domain

[axedbydax]

great post. I am with blogspot myself and was able to get 64,004 links in just one month. Thats the reason why I cant go on getting my own domain...coz if i do that I lost those links....Im looking for a redirect option and im trying to research for a solution so i wont loose the 64k links