I have a little tip with regards to domain names is in the form of a little (okay a bit long) story ...
Many people have some not so nice things to say about blogger and most things said are true; blogger does not play well with other blogging platforms like wordpress causing no-reply bloggers, it is not very versatile with layouts and plug-ins, you do not own your content (blogger could shut your blog down tomorrow if they felt like it). However, all that being said, blogger actually has some very decent points. It is free and super easy, no crazy html or coding. If you can handle Microsoft Word, you can blog through blogger. These were the reasons I decided to start my blog through blogger.
I have been very happy with blogger and am not playing on migrating my blog anytime soon. I always figured that if and when I decided to move over to a self hosted site, I would simply buy my domain name from one of the domain name sellers, hire some help, and move my blog over.
Just for fun a few weeks ago, I looked up MeadowMistDesigns.com on GoDaddy.com as I do once a year and expected to see the familiar $12 for the first year message as I have every other time. But this time was different, it told me that my domain name was taken and that I could select from a number of alternatives. I was so confused, why would anyone have purchased my domain name?
I did a little investigation and some site that just bumps you over to local advertisements had purchased the name. They had the domain name up for auction for a minimum bid of $515 or a purchase of $800. Even though I would probably never use it, it really kind of irks me that someone else now holds my domain name. I guess that I am staying with my .blogspot.com address for while...
So the moral of my little story is to consider buying your domain name when your blog is just starting out so it is ready and available to you should you ever need it (and no weird internet troll buys it and holds it ransom).
Terri Ann of Childlike Fascination was super helpful taking information about the domain owner for me and planning next steps such as purchasing the .net version and a few other alternatives, thanks Terri Ann!
