By creating a website on your personal domain name, you are creating an online presence. This allows you to connect with people that you might not otherwise be able to reach.

Whether you’re making a basic website with contact information for your small business or medical practice, creating a landing page for your freelance work, a multi-page experience for your wedding photography business or you just want a place to blog about your thoughts on food, having a website will give you a dynamic advantage.

You can control your image in terms of the way you dress, speak, and present yourself in person, but controlling your image online is a whole other challenge. 

Truth be told, consumers rely on the internet for many of their purchasing decisions, and while they might be interested in your services they must first be willing to invest in the brand that is you. 

Purchasing your own domain name is a great opportunity to build up your digital presence and develop your personal brand to influence the way potential customers view you both personally and professionally.

Taking SEO into account, owning your own domain name is invaluable.  While the overall Google search algorithm is still a mystery to SEO experts, the domain name is without a doubt a significant ranking factor. 

What this means for you is if someone is searching for you, having a domain name that is the same as your own name will catapult your website to the first page of a Google search. 

Considering that approximately 68% of users click on the first five links on a Google search, this acts as a great opportunity to increase the likelihood that they click on your website first.

If the thought of having to pay for your own domain name is what’s holding you back, hear me out – it’s worth it.  While the temptation to start your personal blog on a random domain name might sound like the best deal, the negatives will most likely outweigh the positives. 

While having a random domain name for your website gives some benefits, it does not come close to the complete control you will have over the look, feel and brand of the website with your personal domain name.

We are living in the age of overnight success stories, and with the way the internet works now, you really never know when you might hit it big. 

An article you write could get thousands of shares, or maybe one of your social media posts goes viral.  Regardless of the situation, it will only benefit you now to own your own domain before someone else claims it first and profits off your name.

Domain names are the new savings bonds – even if you don’t need one now, it would only be advantageous to secure it now in preparation.  In addition, owning your own domain name means someone else can’t use it against you.