Admittedly, I do use a custom domain, but I probably wouldn’t be except that I had it anyway. Now, of course, I’m not a blogging expert, I’m just a programmer (part of the reason I disliked WordPress; the code is not a pretty sight) who occasionally wants to write about nonsense on the Internet. However, I can’t really see that Blogger would be inadequate for many people, and in fact I suspect it would suit most people better than the other big options. No fuss, no mess, and no significant downtime since 2006.

As a matter of interest, does Blogger on a custom domain rank as well as, say, Movable Type on your own domain? If not, why not?

Aren’t we talking about branding here for professional services? Nothing to do with people.

I don’t see how there is any contradiction given that I used ‘for now’ twice in the above paragraph. If I change what I want to do then I may change what I use to do it. You use the tool that fits. Having one’s own domain is a good idea but I wouldn’t regard it as a requirement to order for me to take someone’s opinion seriously. It can help but it’s not a requirement, you are saying it is a requirement. There we differ and “style and substance are inextricably linked” hmm they may be linked but one does not indicate the other. There are lots of stylish people with not an ounce of substance. And people who lack style who are very substantial.

That for me, is quote of the week – thank you!

Depends entirely on what they are trading, right?

“For myself, I will most probably move to something else in the new year but for now blogspot does what I need it to do. And I suspect for many that is why they haven’t moved. It does what they need it to for now. It’s like the old transit van, it may not be too sexy on the road but if it does the job and is reliable why trade up just to look good?”

Bit of a contradiction here. If it does what you want, why move at all? Unless you agree that moving off Blogspot and to a new domain imparts a veneer of professionalism.

“That is a sign for me of valuing presentation over substance.”

It’s not about presentation over substance. It’s about how people who advocate brand awareness fail to execute on the essentials – that in the online space, style and substance are inextricably linked. No snobbery there. We are all visual animals.

For myself, I will most probably move to something else in the new year but for now blogspot does what I need it to do. And I suspect for many that is why they haven’t moved. It does what they need it to for now. It’s like the old transit van, it may not be too sexy on the road but if it does the job and is reliable why trade up just to look good? That is a sign for me of valuing presentation over substance.

When it comes to businesses, then I totally agree that using blogspot is the height of laziness.

My humblest apologies.

I’m asking why “consultants” charge top Euro to customers promising expertise to but in the same breath freeload on a BS or other spots without a domain.

Are you advocating ways for businesses to boost their brand? These guys are. So then you have to question why do they stay there. Are they are too lazy to jump to .com or too technically inept to move? A yes to either of these would have me seriously questioning their consulting chutzpah. Or maybe that’s just me.

Blogspot is a great way to get people blogging if technology is a barrier. There is no snobbery implied. However, if you are a consultant on something techie, then you should have your own spot. Or at least know someone that can help set one up for you. Right?

Is this a new realm of the genre? Blog Snobbery? Are you saying it’s only “fingers, keys and ideas” provided those fingers only push certain keys to express their ideas?

I’m not in a position to DEFEND blogspot per se, but it’s what I started with, it’s what I’m comfortable with, and unless some kind of Paul-on-the-road-to-Damascus thing takes place, I’d like to stay with it for the sake of archive continuity. But that’s just me, even though I’m anything BUT a self-professed blogging and social meijit expert.

I like this post, it struck a cord and I am proud to say I moved away from blogspot last month and my traffic has spiked. wooohooo (more features to!)