You can get a free blog hosted at one of Google’s services such as Blogspot or Blogger, but be careful if you decide to do so. Not only are you not in complete control of your own blog, you also run the risk of your blog being closed by Google.
According to Guardian, Google has deleted at least six popular music blogs that it claims violated copyright law. Google received so-called DMCA complaints (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) on the blogs.
The complaints are uncalled for, says owners of the closed blogs, since the blogs in question have the right to distribute the music. A right they have received from either the music label’s PR agency or the artists themselves.
Google doesn’t care about that and instead they suggest bloggers to file a DMCA counter-claim. The problem with submitting a DMCA counter-claim is that many bloggers probably don’t even know how to do so and even if they did, the original DMCA claim doesn’t even tell you exactly what piece of music has been complained about.
Even if your blog is not about music, hosting it at Google’s Blogger or Blogspot is still a risk, just like hosting your content at any other free hosting platform.
If you’re serious about your blog, why not invest a few dollars every month for one of the paid hosting plans to make sure your blog is really yours and does not rely on somebody else? You will also get your very own domain name which looks a heck lot better – and more trustworthy – than a blog ending in .blogger.com or .blogspot.com.
TechPatio is hosted with CS New Media in United Kingdom which I’ve been very satisfied with for the few weeks I’ve been a private customer there. Professionally I’ve used CS New Media for about a year now.
While on the subject of blogs, if you run a WordPress blog, be sure to check out the Thesis theme which is a Search Engine Optimized WordPress theme – it will give you the edge over some other blogs that doesn’t know, or care, about Search Engine Optimizations – yet – so try to get a head start in your niche!
It really doesn’t cost much for a blogger to get their own domain name and after reading this I would recommend anyone to do it. After all what’s better than having your own custom branded domain name and blog 😉
.-= Karen @ Blazing Minds´s last blog ..A Message To All My Friends on Twitter =-.
Exactly Karen – having your own custom branded domain name is the best 🙂 Also, it doesn’t take toooo much effort to make a few dollars with AdSense to pay for hosting.
Adsense always covers my hosting, don’t know what I would do without it 😉
.-= Karen @ Blazing Minds´s last blog ..The Google, The Buzz and The Ugly! =-.
Hi nice conversation. I am using blogger blog, I think for buy custom domain from google itself, so will it not be good?
.-= chandan´s last blog ..New program at google work at home affiliate network-February 10, 2010 =-.
Personally, I would prefer to have my blog hosted at a paid service. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just pick a trusted hosting company and pay a few dollars every month for your own WordPress blog (or another platform).
But I would really suggest for you, Chandan, to get a domain name – rather than that blogspot address you have now. I think you will be happy you did, down the road.
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Study: Will You Pay For Online Content? “Maybe!” =-.
Thank you Klaus, well where I can get good information on how to change blogger blog to wordpress blog, and how much cost it will take for buy a domain name and host it?
.-= chandan´s last blog ..New program at google work at home affiliate network-February 10, 2010 =-.
It’s great you told us about this – for those who have been procrastinating or thinking about getting off of Blogspot. Anyone who’s going to invest time and energy into a blog surely wants to have control of their own content.
.-= Christie´s last blog ..Introvert friends: the perfect fit =-.
That’s true Christie. Whether you like it or not, as a blogger, you’re probably gonna spend many hours updating your blog. I would hate it if something happens to it because I’m not 100% in control of it. Plus, you’re restricted when it comes to what you can do, such as plugins and features you can offer to your readers, when you have to stay within the limits of Blogger/Blogspot.
I understand why Google may have felt it had to do what it did, but that’s still scary. At the very least, bloggers need to have backups so that at worst they have a little downtime while they find a new host.
.-= Evan @ 40Tech´s last blog ..20 Things I Learned from Lifehacker (this week…) =-.
Sure, Google didn’t really have a choice I’m afraid. But it’s still scary that it doesn’t take more than that.
The only time I ever tried blogger was when I started my own personal blog. You’d think a webmaster would know better, but I really just needed a place online to vent while my husband went to war. A few months later, I realized I’m doing something with it and switched to my own domain and hosting.
.-= Anne Moss´s last blog ..Israel Needs Your Help Now =-.
I’m glad you made the switch early – I’m sure it only made it easier for you, compared to having to wait maybe a year or more, before doing it.
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Study: Will You Pay For Online Content? “Maybe!” =-.
In fairness to Google, I don’t think it would have been their choice to remove the offending blogs. It will most likely be a complaint by the record industry lawyers who are still running around shouting sue sue sue when they should be working on a new industry model.
Fools.
I also prefer to start a blog on your own domain name, rather than blogger
(1) Its not too costly
(2) Its not like that if you dont know the coding you cant install it properly..
(3) Installation and customization are too easy.. as we all know about 5 min installation by wordpress..
(4) Lots of forums and blog are there to help you if face any problem..
Than why blogger, create your own.. 🙂
I have a few blogs with them that I have been thinking about hosting myself. I’ve also heard of a few people losing most or all of their blog posts from server issues. With how little it cost for web hosting it might be worth it.
Hi
You should definetily host your own blog. Its much easier to market your own blog and make a brand if it is a custom domain name than ending on .wordpress, .blogpoint etc. etc.
And ofcourse if you host your own blog, you are in control of the blog, can do what you want and without risk of getting banned from blogpoint or wordpress.
Regards,
.-= Morten H@westgun´s last blog ..Forside =-.
Hi
I think the blogowners, choosing a .wordpress or .blogpoint (etc. etc.) blog, might think its too complicated to host their own blog. Indeed there are some minor configuration but there are a lot of guides on the net, free for use.
Regards,
Ich benutze solche Dienste auch nur um meine Seite zu pushen…
I will always host my own sites. I like to be in control, and i am not, if someone else has my content on his site.