Web 2.0 is the term given to describe a second generation of the\u00a0World Wide Web\u00a0that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In essence, most of the content on a Web 2.0-based website is created by the users. And this is the most important of its features.<\/p>\n
As you see yourself if you are striving to build a steady business, blog, or another type of website, a Web 2.0 solution is not a solution. You still may use such websites, but as a marketing tool, not as a home of your business\/blog\/etc.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Why do Big Companies Use Their Own Domains?<\/h2>\n
When I was about to start my personal online presence I was still learning, and frankly, I knew next to nothing. Thus, in order not to lose money(because I wasn\u2019t sure if I\u2019ll be able to figure it all out), I was only looking for free solutions.<\/p>\n
And while, even back then, there were such offers, I wasn\u2019t aware of what hosting is, let alone free hosting.<\/p>\n
Probably you\u2019ve been through the same path. No one was born full of knowledge. We have to figure things out, all by ourselves. You can either google \u201cwhat is a domain\u201d or learn everything by doing.<\/p>\n
Unknowingly, I went down the latest path. The more difficult and time-consuming one.<\/p>\n
I hope that you won\u2019t have to do it.<\/p>\n
Back then I was looking for a solution to a specific problem \u2013 how to create a website for free. Most of the results, if not all of them were Web 2.0 related. I wasn\u2019t realizing that a domain name such as\u00a0 www.mysite.web2site.com<\/em> is not ok<\/strong>. Especially because I had so many ideas, that often aren\u2019t achievable neither on a subdomain nor with the web environment that these services offer.<\/p>\n As you see, if a beginner web enthusiast can\u2019t get what he needs on such a web location(domain), the big companies won\u2019t either. A credible and steady business will need a lot more functions and options.<\/p>\n So, the first reason is the freedom of design<\/em><\/strong> selection and site functions<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n While this restriction is not always true, there are tons of other reasons to own the domain you build your website on.<\/p>\n For a personal blog or another type of website, that isn’t going to strive for any revenue is totally fine to be on a free subdomain or another type of Web 2.0 solution.\u00a0 That is also true if you are going to use that website for a sandbox.<\/p>\n Now that we are familiar with Web 2.0, it is easy to realize how dangerous it could be to trust all of your business and online presence to a single media. Especially since you don\u2019t own it.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s dive into the details of all the selected reasons as to why your website should be located on a domain owned by you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Web 2.0 and subdomain-located websites are fine and all, but most often than not, you\u2019ll be limited to not more than one CMS.<\/p>\n The themes (or templates) that a CMS can offer you are one thing. But once you\u2019ve bought or installed one of the (often available) free themes, you\u2019ll face another challenge \u2013 customization.<\/p>\n Most Web 2.0-based CMSs offer a vast spectrum of customization options. A lot of them give you the opportunity to buy a domain name. Still, customization stays a problem because some of these services are \u2018pay for play\u2019. Meaning, that if there is any functionality that you want (and you are lucky enough for them to offer it), you\u2019ll have to pay to get it. No way around it. No free add-ons or plugins.<\/p>\n The more functional a CMS is, the more design freedom you\u2019ll be presented with. \u00a0But with a domain that you own, and with the right partners as a hosting service provider, you\u2019ll have the option to choose the CMS you want. If you\u2019ve chosen a CMS that after time doesn\u2019t satisfy your needs, you\u2019ll be always able to reinstall it with another one. Without additional payments. Without concerns as to what will happen with your website. It will be really yours to own, manage and, if you want, change entirely. Freedom is not available in Web 2.0-based solutions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Web 2.0 has a vast number of different variations of the same or almost the same solution. Of course, when there is so much competition, a different set of services will be offered.<\/p>\n As you can guess, some of the providers of Web 2.0 or almost Web 2.0, like Facebook, for instance, are offering direct communication Still, for others to allow you to be able to communicate with the customer through your media chats \u2013 you\u2019ll have to pay. Others will not allow that no matter how much you are eager to pay. And the main reason is, that they don\u2019t offer that functionality. At all.<\/p>\n Again, the functionality of the CMS chosen is crucial. And if it doesn\u2019t allow you to have such a function, and you really need it, just install another CMS. Easy as that.<\/p>\n Not possible with a Web 2.0 solution.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Maybe at some point in time, we will come to a day, where people will be eager and ready to buy hosting, a car, a computer, or anything else for that matter, by going to a Facebook Page. And the Facebook pages may evolve to near full websites, where the people could lose themselves.<\/p>\n And even if today people are eager and do buy clothes and other little things through Facebook pages, the level of trust in a well-known Facebook Page as far as I am concerned is just a scratch of the trust in a well-established website.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know why. Maybe, we\u2019ve just gotten used to buying through websites, or maybe there is a lot more to it.<\/p>\n Whatever the reason, the fact is that people will just trust you or your organization more if it has a website and it is not <\/strong>located on any type of subdomain.<\/p>\n Having your own domain builds trust. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Brand building is something I personally believe should be in every business course. Every single one.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve covered 5 Steps of Brand Building for Beginners<\/a>. And yes, it is really for beginners.<\/p>\n Having your own domain helps you to build your brand in a number of ways, neither of which is more important than all the others. Still, there is one that I believe deserves to be the center of attention.<\/p>\n In nature, there is a vast spectrum of genes, animals, and behaviors that are existing just because of one another. In a way, when creating a new company it becomes an abstract form of life. And yes, of course, when it was just \u2018born\u2019 it will definitely need help from other brands, to get the most valuable resource. Customers.<\/p>\n Still,\u00a0 your brand is your own.<\/strong><\/p>\n It has to live its own life. Don\u2019t let it become dependent on any extraneous brand or business model.<\/p>\n In essence, everything we\u2019ve discussed above was leading us here. Your brand needs to be different. It needs to have a personality. A channel to communicate with its customers and advocates.<\/p>\n And in order to have customers and advocates, your brand should make everyone that gets in touch with it feel calm, to feel that they can put their trust in it. Period.<\/p>\n To achieve all of that you really should try not to doom what you are trying to create from the very beginning.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Sooner or later everything ends its path on Earth and dies.<\/p>\n Web 2.0 websites and services could be terminated. They could change their policy. Or just to decide that they will no longer provide such a service. They can change all of their integrated design options, making them more modern and trendy. But trendy is not always what works.<\/p>\n And most likely you\u2019ve agreed to Terms & Conditions that release them from responsibility.<\/p>\n On the other hand, if you own the media(the website) you\u2019ll be the one to decide when, how, why and if anything will be changed or discontinued.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I can hear you. Really. I know your concerns. Having domain costs.<\/p>\n I could easily argue that the price you\u2019ll pay for it is absolutely symbolic against the backdrop of not getting a domain, and paying for that later in time. This time not with money but with the lack of customers.<\/p>\n But I won\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n Instead, let me present you with the opportunity of getting a domain for free. Yes, for free.<\/p>\n Creating a website, as I am sure you already know, is like the image on an assembled puzzle. The parts are hosting, domain, and website creation itself.<\/p>\n Read:\u00a0 WordPress Tutorial<\/a><\/p>\n If you are to create something big (and as far as I am concerned this is the only way), you\u2019ll need to buy hosting.<\/p>\n Yes, we are offering free hosting<\/a>. A good one. And yes, it indeed is enough for (almost) every start.<\/p>\n On the other hand, with some of our premium hosting plans, we are giving away a top-level domain<\/a>. For life. Let me say that again. Free Domain. Forever.<\/p>\n O<\/em>ffer:<\/em> Speaking of free, why don’t start a free reseller hosting<\/a> business, using a free domain name<\/a>?<\/em><\/p>\n And this, in the long run, will not only present you with the opportunity to grow and have a sustainable business but will also save you money.<\/p>\n And if there is one thing more pleasant than spending money, it is spending money in a way that helps you save.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 1999\u00a0an information architecture consultant – Darcy DiNucci – coins the term Web 2.0.\u00a0\u00a0She most likely never expected the term will become the next big thing. So big, in fact, that it will start living a life of its own. Web 2.0 has become not only an essential marketing tool but a business model for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":66906,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entrepreneurship"],"yoast_head":"\n1. Freedom\u00a0 of design selection and site functions<\/h3>\n
![\"domain\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/domain-300x199.jpg\")
Of course, most CMSs have a lot more than one theme (template) to choose from. On the other hand, with few exceptions, using most of them will lead you at some point in time to a situation where you need the functionality, and they won\u2019t be able to present it to you.<\/p>\n2. Option for direct communication<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/domain2-300x210.jpg\")
between the customer and you, as the owner of the \u2018media\u2019.<\/p>\n3. Trust<\/h3>\n
![\"domain\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/doman3-300x206.jpg\")
But that day hasn\u2019t come yet. And probably there is a lot of time to pass before that happens. If it ever happens.<\/p>\n4. Brand building<\/h3>\n
![\"domain\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/domain4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. You own the media<\/h3>\n
How to get a domain name for Free<\/h2>\n