domain names -
what they are and how to get one
Quite simply, a domain name is a unique website name. Most of us know plenty - famous domains include ebay.com, amazon.com, wikipedia.org.
It's always worth having your own domain name. Not only does it makes your site look completely professional. it also provides a 'brand' identity and (hopefully!) a memorable name visitors can easily recall - just like the examples above! Above all, if you're planning to put advertising on your site, many companies won't accept your site unless you have your very own domain.
There's a little more info about domains here - feel free to view or hide it.
Although none of our blog options supply personal domains automatically (your basic address will be something along the lines of, say, simplersteps.blogspot.com, which isn't the same thing at all) both Blogger and weebly make adding one as simple as possible.
Blogger.com
A quick and important tip - if you want things to remain nice and easy, make sure you purchase your domain name direct from Blogger.
As with any type of website, it's perfectly possible to order a domain from thousands of online companies, but if you choose this option somewhere along the line your new name will need to be connected to your blog.
We won't go into details about what this actually involves, but from the beginner's point of view, it's a situation that can cause real problems. You'll be dealing with strange terminology and a process that's often far from clear.
Believe us, it's well worth avoiding, so to order your domain directly from Blogger, simply log in and click the Settings | Publishing tab.
You'll then need to click the Custom Domain link, enter the domain name you'd like, and if it's available, you'll be taken to checkout to make your purchase.
It really is that simple, and once you've set this up, anyone will be able to access your blog online simply by typing its new name into a browser.
Once you've added your domain:
Add your own advertising and start to earn money!
We'll walk you through the options for making money. And don't worry, Blogger again makes this as easy as A B C.
weebly.com
Frankly, adding a domain with weebly is a doddle! Order directly from the Add a Domain section of the site by typing the name of your choice. You'll be told if it's available and if so, taken to the checkout where you can purchase online.
Weebly connects the name to your existing blog pages, and you'll quickly be able to view your personalized site online.
The price you pay for your domain is slightly more expensive than buying it separately, but as we've already mentioned, it's almost certainly worth the extra dollars if you're a web beginner. (If you do already own a domain, however, weebly does give the option to use it for your new blog).
Once you've added your domain:
Add your own advertising and start to earn money!
We'll walk you through the various options including choosing advertisers and placing ads on your pages.
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