I’m not sure if I’ll do it, but I’m toying with the idea of getting a domain name. Not sure if I’ll move my blog to another server, but maybe a domain name is a good start?
I’m known as hangukdrama all the while, but as you know, I barely talk about drama. The other option is more related to my blog content, but since I’m always known as hangukdrama….
Also, I have a few questions (IT noob here). If I get hosted by my friend, I won’t be blogging over at wordpress.com right? mm does that mean whoever who comes to hangukdrama.wordpress.com have to be redirected to the new URL to see the new posts?
And I’ll have to ermm rebuild my visitor count and blog popularity to ensure that the new URL will appear in google search engines etc? D:
Help is much much appreciated!! New suggestions for domain names are also very welcomed!!
7 Comments
j
27 February, 2012 at 11:58 AMit’s been a while since I quit wordpress…but I think there are two ways to do URL redirect
1. redirect your existing WP.com address to new domain (I’m not sure if this is an existing function in the dashboard)
2. buy a domain name and link it with your wordpress account. so basically anyone that access your new domain (xxxxx.com) will arrive here regardless.
but since you said your new site will be hosted by a friend, I take it that you’ll be getting a separate web host? if this is the case then you should do #1.
again..I’m not 100% sure. just my 2 cents.
hangukdrama
27 February, 2012 at 12:05 PMthanks! i’ll look into it. not sure what im going to do. I like the ease of wordpress.com but still tempted by all the customizations allowed in a new host.
myen
27 February, 2012 at 12:04 PMYou can still blog using wordpress.com -> wordpress allows you to use your domain name while using them as a blog/publishing tool. it can be done but of cos with some setups involved. I think it’s called mapping domain (http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/)
The other way like you said is redirect – but i think domain mapping will be a cleaner way to do in the long run.
Yes, if you have a new domain, you will need to rebuild ur visitor count & blog popularity. but you can always redirect your current hangukdrama.wordpress.com to go to your new domain – so that ur readers are directed there even if they key in ur current url from their memory or bookmarks that they have.
Which is why i voted for selfstudykorean.com -> because i think the only motivation / reason you should consider changing a domain name is cos you want to get natural traffic aka Search Engine Traffic when people search for keywords like “self study korean”. With this domain, your chances of appearing high on the Search Engine when people search such keywords is much higher.
TBH, hangukdrama will be quite ineffective in this aspect -> they will only attract your already known readers & not so effective for new ones.
If you want to be even more effective – you can go for self-study-korean.com. Not sexy i know but will be quite effective or at least more effective.
If you are worried about your old posts, I think you can transfer them over and backdate the items. But it also means that your current ones shouldn’t be indexed.
Ok, i know i might not make sense… these are just my 2 cents worth fr my little exp.
i think your blog is really interesting and more pple self learning korean shd know. 🙂
let me know if you need help. 🙂
hangukdrama
28 February, 2012 at 8:38 AMThanks for the advice!! 😀 I’ve purchased selfstudykorean.com. It’s going to be a collection of links about korea and korean and mostly a redirect link back to hangukdrama. Not sure if that’s the smartest thing to do but I’m still pretty comfortable here in wordpress.
myen
12 March, 2012 at 10:50 AMdun worry im sure you will do fine! i mean you are doing fine now! 😀
ira
27 February, 2012 at 12:13 PMReading this wp forum, I don’t think they have the tools to import statistics yet.
You can export the posts and comments though and have them loaded in your self hosted wp blog (or are you thinking of using new blog platform?).
Some people export all their posts, put it in their new blog and delete all posts in their wordpress.com and just leave 1 notification post and url of the new blog. But you can take it slow by leaving the old blog posts and deleting them only when you see that the traffic has slowed down in your wordpress.com.
I think the old posts removal is so that the traffic from your search engine can be focused on your new domain.
Uhm, and since you’re moving, it’d be a good time to start a google analytics account too in case you haven’t yet. It provides lots of statistics information too.
Don’t worry about your blog popularity~ It’s already popular enough that the old visitors would surely go to your new domain and it’s very helpful that Korean learners will sooner or later find your blog. ^^
hangukdrama
28 February, 2012 at 8:39 AMㅋㅋ I doubt I’ll actually move. Still too attached to the site. I’ve tried moving once to an external server and in the end I moved back again :/
I’ve bought a new domain name though