I’m a bit behind on my web reading, but I still have a few (more) things to say about blogging and owning your own blog (or domain if you’re more of a techie and want to be technically correct). It’s based on what Kevin wrote about Substack & Blogging, which is based on Manu’s original piece about the same topic.

While both argue that Substack is bad for the soul, which I very much agree with (I close any link that opens to a Substack blog without giving it a second thought, even if it’s linked from a good source), that’s not the point I want to bring up again here. Instead, I want to make the case that if you don’t have a domain, you should get one today, and if you’re not planning on blogging, just create an about page and leave it up on the web until you want to write more.

In a world where everyone can broadcast their opinion by downloading an app on their phone and connecting to their existing online account (Google, Apple, or whatever), everyone should have a basic understanding of what a domain is and how to own one.

Really. It’s not that hard. Creating a web page can be as simple as writing something in Word, converting it to HTML, and saving it on your domain as yournameatyourdomain.com/index.html. Most places you’d buy a domain from would have an integrated graphical tool that will let you do just that. Just own the thing and pay for it. Don’t worry about creating a blog and programming and the fact that you’re not a computer person. Just be an internet citizen who has a domain, that’s all.

Of course, the problem is that everything on the web looks so polished and professional compared to what a single person without experience or knowledge can create. Well, that’s because “polished” and “professional” are concepts that big social media places blast you with until you accept them as the truth. I’ll save you from the “back in my day” speeches; just take a quick look instead.

There are places on the internet that are not free because free is mostly bad on the internet today (yes, I know it’s an oversimplification; sit this one down please Linux and FOSS folks, will ya?), but also don’t cost an arm and a leg that will work with you to get you a blog. You’re much better off paying $5 or $10 a month for a place that is yours than a free crapshoot that belongs to a corporation that will sell everything you give them in a heartbeat.

As for the how and where, both Manu and Kevin said you can ask them for help. I’m afraid I’m a bit more thorough, so I’d end up writing a guide, which I can’t commit to right now. Maybe I will if there are enough folks out there who need it.