Some web host companies throw in a free domain name or allow you to register your domain through them.
This is a wide spread promotion in the blogosphere.
And it does save on the upfront costs of starting your blog.
But there are downsides.
While keeping everything dealing with your website in one place might sound like a good idea, it is not a good thing to do.
Domain Name Transfers are Time Consuming
If you ever find yourself needing to move your blog off of your current host you will also have to transfer your domain name. Domain name transfers can be time-consuming and annoying.
Also you could face a potential lock with the web host. If you choose to change web hosts within 60 days of starting with the one you want to leave you can face registrar-locking.
If you wind up with registrar-locking you can go and file a Transfer Complaint, but this is more work on your end and a longer time of your site being down while you get this sorted out.
Loss of Hosting
In addition to choosing to move your website voluntarily you can also face an unfortunate event such as a website hack, or your host shutting down. If either of these things happen you face loosing your domain name forever.
Your domain name is your brand, if all else fails if you had kept them separate and kept a backup copy of your blog you can be back up and running in no time, should this ever occur.
Keep it Together
Along with keeping your domain name registered at a separate company than your web host, always keep all your domains together. While you might only have one domain name at this time, you will find down the road more than likely you’ll be getting another, and maybe another.
Domain names are addicting and so are websites.
There is also an opportunity to sell domains, or flip domains. So keeping your domains that could be worth some extra money down the road for you is important.
