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I’m regularly asked about local domain names and whether they are worth using on a blog.
My answer usually revolves around the question of ‘what audience are you trying to reach?‘ Let me explain.
When I first secured my own domain name I chose a .au (Australia) domain without really giving much thought to it. I figured as I was an Aussie I might as well include that in the domain and as the .com version of the domain was taken I though it was the next logical step. That was a naive decision and one that I regretted later (although it did have some benefits too).
There were a number of impacts of having a local domain:
Ultimately it was a mistake for me because my goal was to connect with an international audience rather than just and Australian one. I ended up with some good Aussie search traffic which was nice but it could have ranked better internationally which probably cost me traffic.
Take Home Advice: As a result, I generally advise people to go for a local domain name IF they are trying to reach a local audience. If you’re looking to connect with an international audience go for the .com or another non localised domain like .net or .org (.com is my #1 preference though).
The other reason to get a localised version of a domain in addition to the .com is as a defensive move OR if you think you might produce a local version of your blog at some point in the future. Having the local domain means someone else can’t get it and it gives you the option of expanding into local markets (as Gawker blogs have done with some of their more popular blogs).
Do you use a local domain name? What are the advantages or disadvantages from your perspective?
Post from: Blog Tips at ProBlogger.
Should You Use a Localized Domain Name?
I was browsing through my RSS feed this morning when a post from BloggingTips caught my attention. It was titled: Problogger Community Launched.
I knew that Darren was working on a private community to be hosted on the Problogger.com domain, and it looks like the doors just opened today.
I went to sign-up straight away, as I am sure it will be an awesome place for bloggers to get together and network. The current cost is $1.95 monthly, which is symbolic price. It basically keeps the trolls out, ensuring the quality of the discussions.
The place is already very active. When I logged in there were 21 members online, despite being very early in the U.S..
Anyway check it out and consider becoming a member. Given the value that the forum will have for its members, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Darren raising the price to $19 monthly or more in some months, and if you get in now you lock your price at $1.95.
Original Post: Are You A Member of the Problogger Community Forum?
This is a guest post by Ganesh K.. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.
Blogging in itself is a wide wide Universe. There are galaxies of blogs out there. Small, bright, well known, yet to be found, big, really BIG blogs and so on.
When thinking of starting a blog, we foresee a lot of competition because of that myriad of blogs.
Take any obscure niche targeting a very narrow audience, and you are sure to find umpteen blogs already catering the exact ground breaking service you thought was THE brilliant idea.
So, what is the take? Better… not to blog? Or be a philanthropist without any serious aspirations?
You could do that, but that is not what I thought would inspire you. So, here is an approach to be a great blogger without fuss, without pain (Don’t read “without work” though…).
THERE IS NO COMPETITION OUT THERE… YOU ARE THE MONOPOLY – is the mindset every blogger needs to have to enjoy blogging, which in turn makes his/her blog the best.
There are many benefits in having this attitude while blogging and here are the few benefits:
1. No Fear
You know what fear is capable of. Fear of not being successful, fear of losing the reader base, and fear of making your readers unhappy… drives any blogger crazy. You forget to enjoy blogging.
Then blogging becomes an ordeal with constant paranoia of missing your reader base. When you don’t enjoy something, the quality of your work goes down. It is as simple as that.
2. No Pretending
Also, you should never fear to be honest. You need not to pretend. You could say whatever you feel like to your readers, because at the end, your blog is, what you ARE, and not what you are SUPPOSED to be.
You wouldn’t be forced to act as the market conventionally does. You would take your own call. You would say what you really feel like saying.
3. No Numbers
Numbers drive us (at least me) crazy.
Total number of unique visitors, number of clicks, CPM, number of Feed Subscribers, number of direct visits… throw all these numbers in the dustbin.
I know, they help you to know where you really are, but to say the truth, they don’t matter until you want to review your blog. Reviewing your blog every day is not that intelligent. You could do it once in a few months or so.
When you think there is no competition out there, you won’t bother about these numbers. I doubt Google, if run by a single person, would be monitoring the number of searches every day.
Think as if your blog was Google and forget about the numbers.
And to state a truth, which you might already know, there is no competition as such. Many blogs could be in the blogosphere together. So, no worries. Create a blog in your own style and run it in your own rules and enjoy blogging.
Share your thoughts on having this mindset when blogging. What is your take? Drop your thoughts and experiences.
Ganesh is the author of iPENthisBLOG, where he shares blogging and productivity tips. He also carries out designing projects. Subscribe to iPENthisBLOG and to know what he is presently chirping about, follow him @ksganesh
Original Post: Sometimes It Is Better NOT To Be Competitive
