Rule Your Domain
So you've polished your thoughts in a slick-looking blog. Now, don't mess it up it with a silly Web address like myblog.blogspot.com. Instead, get a vanity address that expresses your true self-or at least the nature of your blog.
It's never been easier or cheaper to get an Internet domain name, the .com or .org address that you type into a browser to find a website. For as little as $9 a year, sites like godaddy.com or dotster.com make it easy to land your own address, say davidlagesse.com, and point it to a blog, MySpace profile, or other Web real estate. Easy to use, the sites offer good tips on how to use your new domain. Getting a decent address is the toughest part-all the obvious English words are long gone, at least within the .com extension. But the sites offer alternatives, including those in realms like .info or .biz, and GoDaddy will even suggest synonyms. You can also use the domain as a permanent E-mail address, with the mail sent automatically to any mailbox you choose. A lasting, personalized E-mail address adds a cool sheen to any business card-another benefit of ruling your own Internet domain.
This story appears in the December 25, 2006 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.