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WordPress v. GoDaddy

  1. islamwest
    Member

    Folks,

    I’ve just joined WordPress and also have a domain with GoDaddy.com. I’m trying to launch a blog and can’t figure out whether to do so from GoDaddy, using the WP platform; or from WP, linking up with GoDaddy.

    One consideration: I’ve a three-word domain name at GoDaddy: “islam-and-west” and a single, compound word subdomain name at WordPress: “islamwest.” But because it’s a subdomain, the WordPress URL ultimately becomes longer: http://islamwest.wordpress.com than the GoDaddy’s: http://islam-and-west.com.

    I have two questions. One, which domain name and URL would be handier for prospective visitors? Secondly, what are the relative advantages and disadvantages of operating from the GoDaddy site and the WordPress site?

    Thanks.
    Mustafa

    The blog I need help with is islamwest.wordpress.com.

  2. justjennifer
    Member

    Hi Mustafa-having your own domain name (islam-and-west.com) is always preferable, but you should decide soonest possible so that your visitors/bots will know where to find you.

    You can use your domain name (islam-and-west.com) as the address for your WordPress.com blog using the domain mapping upgrade. You are still bound, however, to the WordPress.com Terms of Service because your blog is still "here" on WordPress.com.

    If you want to do things like run advertising, scripts, and generally things that are not allowed to be done here on WordPress.com then you should buy also the hosting package at GoDaddy and install the WordPress.org software there.

    If you have been running your blog on WordPress.com with your own domain name (islam-and-west.com) and you decide to switch to being self-hosted on GoDaddy, then it's pretty easy to do so and your visitors will never notice the difference in address.

    Read more here:
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/moving-a-blog/#moving-to-wordpress-org

  3. justjennifer
    Member

    Actually, I was inaccurate in what I said above.

    You can run your self-hosted blog using your domain name with any webhost using the WordPress.org software, not just GoDaddy. There is a list of recommended webhosts on the WordPress.org site, if that is the way you choose to go.

  4. islamwest
    Member

    Justjennifer,

    Thanks so much for explaining it. GoDaddy.com is my webhost, which has helped set up my site with Word:Press.

    My concern is about the three-word domain name: "islam-and-west." I wonder if some people may be turned off by it. What do you think?

    Mustafa.com

  5. islamwest
    Member

    Oops! How did I put in a "'com" after my name Mustafa? Sorry about that.

    Mustafa

  6. justjennifer
    Member

    Ah, so I see now. :) Hyphens are less desirable IMHO, but it's what you've already got, so go with it. Those are the kind of decisions one must make before one buys the domain. Just saying...

    For help with your self-hosted WordPress.org install you should be in the WordPress.org support forum http://wordpress.org/support/

    Happy blogging!

  7. justjennifer
    Member

    By the way, by having both a blog on WordPress.com and a self-hosted blog on the same subject, you are essentially competing with yourself in terms of search engines and visitors. You may want to make your decision about which place you want to blog at very soon. Good luck.

  8. islamwest
    Member

    I'm with "WordPress.com." Do you think "WordPress.org" is a more appropriate forum for me?

    "Islam-and-west" is about the only domain name I could get for my site name "Islam and the West." "Islamwest" or "islam-west" is available but it costs $5,500.

    Best
    Mustafa

  9. islamwest
    Member

    Do you think I should abandon and delete my WordPress site and delete my stuff here so visitors aren't distracted?

  10. justjennifer
    Member

    You just need to decide which place you want to blog at. Read the Com vs. Org Support doc I referred to above.

    Meantime, as long as your WordPress.com blog is a public blog, it will be scanned by search engines. Set it to Private. (Once deleted you can never get it back and the address will not be reused.)

    Read more here:
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/privacy-settings/
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/delete-blog/

  11. islamwest
    Member

    Thanks again, Jennifer.

    Following up on your tips, I have set my WordPress blog to private, and have decided to switch to my http://islam-and-west.com site, hosted by GoDaddy.com.

    I'm trying to figure things out, e.g. resizing a banner logo, putting in two pictures on it and installing the logo (Branding) into the Header. After that, I will be customizing the Navigation Bar and Sidebar. I know CSS and XHTML but I realize that I need to read some stuff to be able to customize the WP themes' stylesheets.

    I appreciate your help.

    Mustafa

  12. islamwest
    Member

    Thanks again, Jennifer.

    Following up on your tips, I have set my WordPress blog to private, and have decided to switch to my http://islam-and-west.com site, hosted by GoDaddy.com.

    I'm trying to figure things out, e.g. resizing a banner logo, putting in two pictures on it and installing the logo (Branding) into the Header. After that, I will be customizing the Navigation Bar and Sidebar. I know CSS and XHTML but I realize that I need to read some stuff to be able to customize the WP themes' stylesheets.

    I appreciate your help.

    Mustafa

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