Almost all blogging platforms like Blogger and Wordpress give you with a free sub-domain (that has a tail like millionclues.blogspot.com in the end). You will get all the advantages and good readership, then why should you go for domain registration and shell out some extra bucks..? I would say that is a good question but, I’ve got an answer. Here it goes…

The Domain Registration Advantage

Professional Look – The name says it all. A registered domain is the easiest way of telling the world that you are a professional blogger and you are damn serious about it. Domain Registration gives your blog the much needed status. Registration declares your name as a brand and people tend to look at your content more seriously, and that is exactly what you need.

Google apps Integration – Google Apps is a free package that anyone with a registered domain can avail for free. It has got email, chat, pages and related stuffs. You can create email id’s that read like yourname@yourdomain.com using Google Apps. If you have a team of writers at your blog, Google Apps is tailored just for you, since it gives you a platform to manage all user accounts from one place.

License to Advertise – You have made an investment and you have all the rights to reap benefits out of it. Many bloggers (including me, earlier) who own a free blog fear that their readers might run away if they advertise. In fact, properly targeted and placed advertisements often aid the reader. A registered domain literally gives you the license to advertise.

Increases Visitors from Referring Domains – People tend to think that a registered domain has got a better authority than free blogs (and in most cases it does have). Anyone can create a Blogspot blog, but only one who is good at the job will register a domain. So when someone sees your link on an alien page (like in the comments that you have made on other blogs), the chances of a click-through is more if you have a registered domain.

Short and Stylish – Registration makes your domain name short and adds flavour. No more trailing blogspot or wordpress. It looks elegant when you print it on visiting cards, and like a well chosen email id, it’s easy to remember too.

Domain Registration is Cheap, so why not? – Registration will not burn a hole in your pocket. Registrants like Godaddy and eNom can register a domain under $10. IndiaLinks can register one for Rs 350 ($8). So why not invest some bucks on your brand name and take home all these benefits

You have to consider of registration only if you are too serious about blogging. Blogs hosted at Blogger and Wordpress are also equally good and does the job for hobby and past time writers. But if that’s not the case with you, now you know what to do.