Silence is golden, they say, but not so much in the blogging arena. Stay silent for too long and people start to wonder if everything is fine with you, if you’ve moved continents, if you’re fed up of blogging or if you’re too busy to blog. Truth be told I was working on something- something to do with a name, naming someone very close to me, as a matter of fact.

No, no, no, it’s not what you think! I am not bringing another person into the world. This baby I am talking about is the one you see right here. Yep, that’s right; my blog baby who turns eight this August! Can you believe it? I certainly can’t!

[easy-tweet tweet=”3 Important reasons for you to switch to a custom domain” user=”shyvish”]

I’d been toying with the idea of moving to a custom domain for a while now and had balked at it for a number of reasons, none of which are relevant or important. Four people pushed me to go ahead with it and today, I am proud and happy to announce that http://www.momdiary.blogspot.in is officially:

 

Why you should move to a custom domain

  1. It looks more professional. Let’s face it. If there’s a blogspot.com or wordpress.com tagged to the end of your post, most internet users know you’re using the free platform. But a custom domain shows that you are a wee bit more serious about the blogging business than those who blog for fun.
  2. It gives you renewed vigour to keep blogging. Once the shift in name happens, something interesting occurs. Your approach to blogging also becomes more serious. You’re keen to blog regularly, get some visibility and build your audience.
  3. Brands are more willing to work with you. Yes you heard that right! There are advantages to having a custom domain! Brands actually prioritise working with bloggers on a number of things, ranging from page views to social media influencer clout. But one of the key things they check for is whether you have your own custom domain name.

For me, the primary reason to switch to a custom domain was #2. I just wanted to do this more regularly and I felt a custom domain would give me the push. And what do you know? It’s worked! 

I must thank the following people who made this decision both possible and easier.  
 
Vidya Sury, who blogs at http://www.vidyasury.com, told me last year that I must consider doing it as it helps to build your brand and give you visibility on the web. Thank you, my dear 🙂
 
Aparna George and Tulika Singh, both parent bloggers, motivated me to consider it, because, well, they love me so much, with no expectation in return. I think that’s the best kind of relationship to be in. Love you, my darlings.
 
Sid Balachandran, a fellow blogger and a great human being, took every painstaking effort at guiding me diligently through purchasing a domain, directing me to the custom domain shift, delineating the difference between hosting and self-hosting and was always available to lend a helping hand or a willing ear. Sid, I don’t think a mere blog post mention is enough to do justice to all the work you’ve put in.
 
Last but never least (Yes, I mentioned four, I know) 😉 , my wonderful husband, V, without whose support I doubt I could have come this far in blogging and writing- two things that I absolutely adore doing. Thank you. Life with you has been enriching in so many, many ways.
 
The feeling of typing in your name and watching your baby pop up on your screen is quite simply, indescribable. Last night, V worked on this and within minutes, the site went live and I literally shed tears of joy. Perhaps it’s silly and sentimental. After all, I have just moved it to a custom domain, but I think in life, like in anything else, it feels good to own a little space that you can call your own, where you can get away and feel safe, comfortable and free.
 
For me, that is this space- my piece of Heaven on the web. I hope you will continue with me on this journey as I grow  as a blogger, writer and parent, learning with me, stumbling and picking myself up, wiser and happier as the days and years pass by.
 
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* By the way, I wanted to know, 
 
if you’re here for the first time: What do you think of the site? Do you like it?
 
I love reader feedback so feel free to share all bouquets and brickbats!
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 Do you have a custom domain for your blog? If you are serious about blogging, you need to make the switch to this feature. In this post, I share 3 important reasons for you to make the shift. #CustomDomain #BloggingTips #Bloggers

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