Welcome to the Better Craft Blogging series. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 if you missed them. Part 3 is all about naming your blog.
Now that you've chosen your blogging platform, it is time to name your blog. That is often the most difficult part of beginning a blog. When naming your blog, keep these in mind:
- Keep the title short. 1-3 words is ideal.
- Inside jokes and silly names may feel fun now but in 5 years you might wish you'd gone a different way.
- Choose a name that is available to buy the URL.
The one great thing about the title of this blog is that it is memorable. I've considered changing it many times but it really has that going for it.
The most important suggestion above is number 3.
Buy your URL. No matter which platform you choose.
It may not be available a year from now. You'll own it and all your permalinks will be related to your URL so it will be easy to change blogging platforms down the road, if you choose.
You can buy a URL through any number of services. If you plan to have a self hosted blog and you want "easy", I suggest finding a host you like and buy the URL from them. Most hosts even offer one click WordPress.org installation if you like easy. Most developers will tell you not to download WordPress with one click installation but it's an option that makes life simple for right now. I've purchased most of my URLs from godaddy.com and have been pleased with their service. I use Host Gator for my hosting service.
Next week we'll discuss blog layouts and design!
Previous post: Part 2: Choosing a platform
