Is A Custom Domain URL More Valuable Than A BlogSpot URL?

We see the question, about relative value of a custom domain, periodically in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I?.

Does a custom URL actually have value, over a normal BlogSpot URL?

Some people wonder if a custom URL isn't similar to a custom ("vanity") license plate, for your car.

Personally, I can think of 3 reasons why a custom domain might be more valuable, for your Blogger blog.

• Some people believe that having your own domain makes your blog more individual and interesting - and they may be more likely to visit your blog when presented to them, in a search list.
• Since domains are not free, there are less dormant domains than dormant BlogSpot subdomains. It may be easier for you to get the relevant domain of your choice, than the relevant BlogSpot subdomain.
• A properly chosen domain URL may be easier for people to remember, than a BlogSpot URL.

Some people believe that their car is more fun, if it has a license plate that properly reflects their personality.

We know that Blogger blogs, published to a custom domain, have no special qualities. Is the address so special?

Maybe the belief makes the value. People who buy non BlogSpot URLs are not doing so to waste time or money, they do so because they believe that they will benefit. Many people, who read the advice / content of the people who buy non BlogSpot URLs, will also believe that non BlogSpot URLs have value.

Those people will pay more attention to a non BlogSpot URL, than to a BlogSpot URL, when they see a SERP entry that references a non BlogSpot URL - simply because they believe that a non BlogSpot URL has more value than a BlogSpot URL.

Why did Blogger provide the custom domain publishing feature, originally? They did so because:

1. Non BlogSpot URLs are more valuable than BlogSpot URLs.
2. People believe that Non BlogSpot URLs are more valuable than BlogSpot URLs.
3. People who buy Non BlogSpot URLs believe that Non BlogSpot URLs are more valuable than BlogSpot URLs.

Possibly, #3 makes the whole issue self fulfilling.

People believe - therefore, it is true.

That said, a custom URL will have more value if you set it up properly, and if you manage the new URL, aggressively.

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Hacking / Malware / Porn / Spam Classification, And Effects Upon Search Engine Reputation

Occasionally, we see concern in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, about the long term effects of Blogger hacking / malware / porn / spam classification or detection.

My blog was deleted, because of spurious spam classification - and later restored to service. Did my blog lose search engine reputation, in Google?

Any time a blog goes offline, its reputation is affected, to some extent. How much effect a hacking / malware / porn / spam classification or detection has, on any given blog, will vary widely.

Every blog or website has different factors, which affect its reputation.

• Readers, and links in their blogs and websites.
• Readers, and inherent reputation.
• Search engines, and inherent reputation.

These factors will differ, from blog to blog, in almost infinite variety.

If your blog has readers who maintain their own blogs and websites, some will see you as a useful source of information, and will link from their blog / website, to your blog. As a readers blog / website is indexed by a search engine bot, and a link to your blog is encountered, your blog is indexed. This causes indirect search engine reputation.

Any time your blog is offline, even briefly, it loses reputation. If you use Google Webmaster Tools, look at the indexing logs. One event which you will see, from time to time, mentions "404 Not Found". Any time a search engine bot is indexing your blog, and it encounters a "404 Not Found", your blog loses reputation.

Loss of search reputation is similar to a person dying from blood loss. How fast the blood loss, and how long the loss continues, will affect how likely death will occur.

The longer your blog is offline, the more "404 Not Found" events will be logged, as the search engine bots attempt to index the various pages in the blog. Each succeeding "404 Not Found" represents your blogs reputation, leaking away, drop by drop. The longer your blog is offline, the more reputation loss it suffers, from indirect and direct indexing.

Until reputation is regained, your blog appears lower in search results, because of lower page rank. You suffer from less search engine generated traffic, and less new readers. This is a circular effect - less search engine reputation leads to less new reader traffic, which leads to less search engine reputation.

When your blog is reviewed and restored to online status, indexing resumes. Each time a search engine bot indexes the blog, and does not encounter a "404 Not Found", reputation picks up, again. Slowly, your blog regains its former reputation.

All 3 factors contribute to the loss of reputation, while the blog is offline - and to the regaining of reputation, when the blog is restored. This is similar to the effect of re indexing after the URL is changed.

How much reputation is lost and regained will vary, from blog to blog.

• Each blog has different readers, with differing links in their blogs and websites.
• Each blog has different readers, with differing inherent reputation.
• Each blog has differing search engine relationships, with differing inherent reputation.

The direct result, of all of this, explains the frantic posts, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken

My blog was deleted by Blogger. How promptly can I get it restored?

If this threat concerns you, use Google 2-step verification, to protect your Blogger / Google account - and your blogs - from hacking. And be discrete in advertising and publishing your blog.

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