| When you consider creating a website, your budget | | | | rules and requirements that you must obey. Should |
| will be a primary concern - especially during these | | | | your website violate any of the terms of your |
| uncertain economic times. You will likely look for ways | | | | agreement, they have the right to automatically shut |
| to avoid unnecessary monthly fees. Yet when looking | | | | your website down. Resolving the issue could take |
| for cost-cutting opportunities, it's important not to | | | | time - if that resolution can even be accomplished. |
| underestimate the importance of owning your domain | | | | #3. Search Engine Optimization |
| name. | | | | The major search engines tend to favor top-level |
| Many website owners wonder why they should buy | | | | domains (which you will get when you buy a domain |
| a domain name when they can use a web address | | | | name) over subdomains, for a variety of reasons. For |
| (typically a subdomain) provided by a free web | | | | example, subdomains are often suspected to be a |
| hosting provider. After all, if you can have a domain | | | | source of spam. Also, search engines favor domain |
| name without an additional monthly fee, doesn't that | | | | names that have longer registration terms - a sign of |
| qualify as an unnecessary expense? You may be | | | | stability that bodes well for your website. |
| surprised to learn that it's quite the opposite - your | | | | #4. Branding |
| decision to buy a domain name can have a significant | | | | Trying to "make a name" for your business in the |
| impact on the success of your online business. | | | | competitive online marketplace is a challenge that |
| Still not convinced? Consider these five reasons you | | | | only becomes more daunting if you don't buy a |
| should buy a domain for your website: | | | | domain name to build your online identity. By |
| #1: Flexibility | | | | registering a domain name, you gain a powerful |
| When you use a free subdomain as the web address | | | | marketing tool that can help you establish your brand |
| for your business, you will not have true ownership. | | | | and enhance your credibility. |
| Your hosting company will control the domain, which | | | | #5. Revenue |
| gives them considerable control over the fate of | | | | Advertising dollars can be a very profitable revenue |
| your online business. A problem frequently | | | | channel for your website. If you're using a subdomain, |
| encountered by those using a free subdomain: When | | | | however, advertisers will be less likely to use your |
| you decide to buy a domain name, you will have to | | | | website - and your web hosting company (if they |
| choose a different web address - meaning that you | | | | provided the free subdomain) will reap the financial |
| will essentially lose the traffic and page rank you | | | | rewards. |
| worked so hard to build with your subdomain. | | | | Of all the expenses involved with creating a website, |
| #2. Stability | | | | you should not neglect to buy a domain name. It's a |
| Every web site administrator has a unique set of | | | | small yet significant step towards online success. |