What domain name should I choose for my blog? You ask. There’s a lot to consider before slapping any ol’ URL and blog name to your website because it’s cute. You must consider SEO and your SEO strategy. A great domain name can get you to rank on Google search. Sounds confusing? No worries, I am here to help! I’m going to teach you how to choose a good domain name for SEO. 

What Domain Name Should I Choose for My Blog? 

What’s considered a good domain name for SEO? One that has been well-researched and selected strategically. Your domain name may be the first point of entry for readers. You want it to stand out and to speak to your audience. And yes, you want it to be brandtastic. Your domain name should also attract organic traffic from Google.

How to Choose a Good Domain Name for SEO

The first step to a strategic blog domain is to research SEO keywords. Once you’ve conducted the research consider the following:

Add your primary keyword in the domain (URL)

Do you write about recipes? Then "recipes" should be part of your URL. Do you sell tulle skirts? You guessed it, "tulle skirts" should be part of your URL. 

When using primary keywords in your URL Google is very happy, which means it will make you happy. Cause you get traffic! Search engines and readers alike will know exactly what your website is about and that's exactly what you want. Extra tip: add your keyword at the beginning of your URL. Google likes that too.

Brainstorm various names

Don't get stuck on one name because it's kitschy and so you. In fact, your domain should be less about you and more about strategy. 

Brainstorm a few names (with keywords at the beginning of the URL). Do not decide on a name and shout it out on the 'Gram until you know if it’s available. That’s just one of the things you need to do before launching a blog.

Always use a .com 

You're so excited, you're so excited (enter Saved by the Bell gif here!) you're so…scared!

Because your thought-out, well-researched name is taken! 

"So what?" you say, "I love my new blog domain. I can just grab the .net." 

STAAAAAAAAAAAAAHP! 

As desperate as you may be to hold onto that domain, don't do it. It reeks of Amateur Hour. So, what domain name should I choose, Sujeiry? It’s time to go back to the drawing board. You’ll find a good domain for SEO that is available, I swear! 

Keep it simple and short

You do not want a 30-letter domain name. Not only is it not as memorable, but a long domain name will become a hindrance when you actually publish blogs. 

Imagine having this domain: youarethebestmomever.com

And then, you have a blog titled How to Discipline Your Kids with Love and the slug for the blog post is /discipline-your-kids-with-love

That means that the URL for that blog post will be: youarethebestmomever.com/discipline-your-kids-with-love

Holy Guacamole! That’s a long URL. In other words, disastrously long and horrible for SEO. In fact, SEO's best strategies state that your article URL should be no more than 50-60 characters. So, do yourself a favor and keep that domain name short, sweet, and to the point.

Avoid hyphens

When you introduce yourself to a potential brand and/or client, you don't say, "Hello, nice to meet you! My name is Sujeiry hyphen Gonzalez hyphen Blogging hyphen Coach!" That's what it sounds like when you add hyphens to your domain. Do not do it! 

And last but certainly not least, think long term.

It's a bitch to change a domain name after you've published loads of blog posts. If you don’t move the content strategically to the new URL, your blog will be full of broken links (404 errors) and that hurt your SEO. 

Think long-term when choosing your blog name for SEO. What are your long-term goals for this blog? How will you monetize it eventually? What direction do you want to take it in? It will save you a world of time if you map out your monetization plan, your blog content strategy, and your long-term blogging goals. 

Cliff Notes for the Extra Busy 

So, what domain should I choose again, Sujeiry? How do I choose a good domain name for SEO? Here’s a quick recap:

• Conduct an SEO strategy for your domain name. 

• Create a list of domain names that are great for SEO and that also feel true to your brand, blog niche, and audience.

• Always use a .com.

• A shorter domain name is better for everyone. 

You’ve thought about starting a blog for years, but something keeps holding you back. You wonder, is it too late to start a blog? It takes time to create blog content and articles and to grow organic traffic, so is it worth it?  

I’m here to help you decide whether you should enter the world of blogging. If you continue to ask yourself, should I start a blog? I have the formula to help you decide. 

Is It Too Late to Start A Blog?

Starting a blog is fun. You can be creative and it feels amazing to share your thoughts with readers once you grow your traffic. Blogging is also a great way to make extra money as a side hustle. Some bloggers even make enough money to quit their day jobs. I was that girl! For 10 years and counting, I’ve made money as a blogger and content creator. However, money should not be the only reason why you start a blog. 

Start a blog if you have a passion you wish to explore. (And I mean one passion!)

In order to make blogging worth it, you should focus on one topic. When you niche down you build a community and let Google know, “Hey, Google! I’m an expert/connoisseur on all things (enter your topic), so my blog should be on the first page of a Google search!” If you write about a specific topic, Google will eventually listen, especially if you have a kickass SEO content strategy. 

Take my blogging experience as an example. I began blogging in 2006. I chose to write about relationships, dating, and sex, which set me apart from other bloggers at the time. 2006 was the Wild Wild West of Blogging; it was a new phenomenon with very little variety in terms of content. Most women bloggers wrote about babies and toddlers, family life and products, and all things #momlife. Does that mean you cannot write about motherhood if you start a blog? Of course, you can! You just have to niche down and blog about a specific topic within the motherhood/parenting genre. 

It’s too late to start a blog if you won’t blog consistently. 

To grow as a blogger and eventually monetize your blog, you have to blog consistently. Many new bloggers do not realize this, but Google tracks how often you write. The less content you have on your blog, the less content Google has to rank. Also, ad platforms like Google Adsense don’t approve your blog if you lack content. So, if you can’t commit to writing on a schedule and often, it’s too late to start a blog.

Start a blog only if you have time (or make time) to write long-form content. 

It’s easy to blog consistently when writing 200-word blog posts. But you won’t make a dent in your traffic as it’s unlikely that you’ll receive organic traffic from Google. That’s because Google prefers long-form content. So, be prepared to write long blog posts and stick with it. 

All in all, blogging consistently becomes more challenging when writing long-form content. That’s why I suggest batching content before launching a blog. If you have an SEO strategy, writing content in advance becomes even easier.

So, when asking yourself, “Is it too late to start a blog?” you should also ask yourself, “Do I have the time and energy to consistently write, write, write?” 

Start a blog if you’re willing to invest in your blog. 

Launching a blog is pretty affordable. You only need a domain, a web host, and a WordPress theme (I always recommend using WordPress as a content management system/blogging platform. WordPress was basically built for bloggers - and it’s free!). Down the line, however, you may want to consider investing in Facebook ads, Pinterest ads, and even hiring a VA to help you with social media. You have to think big to manifest success as a blogger! 

Start a blog if you love to create content.

As stated earlier, you’ll blog a lot and potentially for a long while before you can monetize and grow your traffic. It’s easy to burn out, which is why you should love creating content. Also, pick a topic that you enjoy writing about and exploring. You will write about this topic a lot! 

Also, blogging is more than writing and publishing a post on your website. You also have to create social media content. Being active on social media opens up opportunities for brand partnerships, which is one way to monetize your blog. If you're shy about social media and don’t know what to post, check out Brandtastic Instagram Content Creation Course on Udemy. 

Remember: blogging can get overwhelming. Even though I’ve blogged since 2006, I sometimes still feel exhausted, especially now as a mom. I love it enough not to stop. I also don’t have to blog every day because I batch my content. Plus, my SEO content strategy keeps me sane! 

Again, I love creating content; I am a Content Creation Queen! If you do not feel the same way, then yes, it is too late to start a blog as a method to make money. 

Final words.

Blogging can be extremely liberating. It also serves as a great creative outlet. Moms especially love blogging as it gives them a digital space to share their voices and ideas. Blogging often gives moms an identity outside of #momlife.  

Personally, I love blogging because I love content creation. And, as a single working mom, it also provides me with extra income. I also feel super proud of myself when my SEO content strategy helps my blogs rank on Google. There’s no other feeling as a blogger than seeing your blog on Google’s first page! 

So, if you’re asking yourself, is it too late to start a blog? Should I start a blog? Know that although it takes grit, dedication, and determination, it’s so worth it. Because you have a space that is all your own.

Before I go, here are some resources that may help you as a new blogger: 

• Brandtastic Instagram Content Creation (Udemy Course)

Many aspiring writers ask me, Sujeiry, should I use Substack? My answer is often a long one and not only because I’m long-winded by nature. Substack is an amazing, free, newsletter platform for writers for various reasons. For one, as a writer on Substack, you own your work. That means that you can take the stories, poems, articles, and blogs that you post on your Substack newsletter and do whatever you wish with them after hitting “Publish.” That is not the case on most platforms, especially when you are a freelance writer. When you write for digital platforms and magazines, they own the copyright to your work. That may not be a big deal for some writers, but for other writers like myself, I like the option of repurposing my content, especially when I want to go from online column to book, like I did with my book, Love Trips. (You can grab a copy here!)

RELATED: How to Go from Blog To Book

Now, back to the question at hand: should I use Substack? Here is a list of pros and cons, aspiring writers, so that you can decide for yourself. 

Should I Use Substack? Pros and Cons of for Writers

Pros of Using Substack

Substack is a great option for writers that have a mailing list. Perhaps you began growing  your list on Mailchimp since back in the day. It’s grown immensely and you don’t want to pay the Mailchimp fee anymore. You might even have such a loyal following that you are confident that you will convert your Mailchimp newsletter subscribers into paid subscribers. This is a great reason to start a Substack newsletter!

Start a Substack to promote book projects.  If you have book fans as an author, Substack is an amazing platform to connect with them and land right in their Inbox, especially when you have a new book release or want to promote an in-person or virtual book reading. Share bits and pieces of your writing process and/or offer free chapters, first dibs to pre-order books, and sales or discounts to subscribers. 

You can monetize with a paid subscription! If you have enough subscribers, you can eventually convert them into paid subscribers. That means that you make money monthly from your loyal readers. It’s a win/win for them as they get to support and enjoy your work and you get paid to do what you love - write! 

Should I use a Substack? If you don’t have an email list, yes! Whether you are an aspiring author, a new blogger, or even a new business owner, you need an email list. If you don’t have one, Substack is a great free option. 

Start a Substack newsletter and share the link on all social media platforms and your website, if you have one. I personally now use Substack as my website because Substack does allow users to monetize their newsletter with affiliate links and their own products, like my books. You cannot add code for ads, however! So, if you want to monetize that way as a blogger I suggest starting and/or keeping your blog and using Substack as an additional way to connect with readers when you want to promote something specific.

Substack now has SEO. That means your Substack newsletter is discoverable in Google search. That makes me very happy. As an SEO lover and expert, I love it when my content ranks, it gives me such a thrill! 

Because Substack has a higher domain authority than a new blog would, it bodes very well for writers that want to rank on Google (and don’t we all!). If your post ranks on the first pages on Google, you can:

• Get new subscribers.

• Sell your books or products. 

• Be discovered by people that are searching for answers and more information in your niche. 

One way to make sure that your Substack newsletter is discoverable on Google is to purchase a domain from GoDaddy and convert your generic substack domain (for example, doman.substack.com) to a custom domain (domain.com). Substack has instructions here on how to create a custom domain. 

Cons of Using Substack

Monetization blocks. Most people struggle with a monthly subscription because they rather not commit to paying monthly, especially if they stumbled upon your newsletter on Substack or Google. They can pay annually, so I would encourage you to have a call to action sharing the annual subscription versus the monthly subscription. 

Also, as stated earlier, you cannot make money on Substack with ads. If you are a blogger that loves to write and makes money off your blog traffic with ads (not affiliate marketing and/or products and services) keep your blog. 

You have to keep a consistent writing schedule, especially if you have paid subscribers. Cause paid subscribers expect to get something for their money. If you cannot write consistently and write great content that is worth every penny, monetizing with Substack subscriptions might not be for you. You have to deliver what you promise. 

Substack takes a big chunk of change. As of now, Substack takes 10% of the money you make from paid subscriptions. That does not include the 3% that Stripes takes to deposit the money into your bank account. 

Alternative to Substack - Buy Me A  Coffee

Buy Me a Coffee is a great alternative for a one-time donation. It’s less of a commitment for readers and fans that want to support you as they can pay per story versus paying every month, or every year, for your newsletter on Substack. 

We’re on video! Watch Should I Use Substack? Pros and Cons for Writers below.

Imagine a life where you can write stories for a living. The characters that live in your head now dance on the page and, if your characters are anything like mine, stumble through love and loss until they get their HEA (happily ever after). What if I told you that you can live this dream with this simple-to-follow, getting-started advice for aspiring writers? You just have to commit to the damn thing. 

But, Sujeiry, it isn’t that easy! I know, fellow writers. Most folks cannot understand the literal time and mental, physical, and emotional energy that it takes to write books. It’s a long and arduous process for even the fastest, most efficient writer. As someone whose words pour out as quickly as I talk (and, like a typical Dominicana, I talk fast) I still feel drained after a long writing session. Even more so as a writer with a full-time job and a 6-year-old to boot. Still, I get on my computer after working 8 hours and tucking my kid into bed. Because storytelling fulfills me like nothing else can.

If this resonates, here is advice for aspiring writers, including some mindset tips and getting-started tricks.

Advice for Aspiring Writers! How to Get Started Easily 

Claim you’re a writer. Cause if you believe it, you will be it. If you don’t feel like a writer or that you can succeed as a blogger or author, I recommend creating and reciting a mantra. Use this mantra as your daily affirmation to grow confidently as a writer. Words have that much power. And as a writer, you should know that and believe that! Need a mantra to get you started? Use mine: 

I am a rich and successful as fuck author. 

Write every day. Or, at least, as often as you can and when you can. Writing every day gets you into the habit of writing. It also cements your identity as a writer. Think about it this way: a doctor can’t claim they're a doctor if they’ve never treated anyone. So, the more you write, the more you will feel like a writer. 

Bonus advice for aspiring writers: you don’t have to write a novel every time you sit down to write. You don’t even have to write on your computer! Find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Whenever a thought comes to mind, write it down. Watching a reality TV show and having a thoughtful or hilarious response? Share it on Facebook. Reading a blog, like this one, or a book that is inspiring you? Pull up my favorite app, Day One, to jot down your thoughts or write a story about it. 

The point is to just keep writing. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Shit, this newsletter was riddled with typos when I first wrote it, and it might still have grammatical errors. (Sue me, I’m a working single mom!). The point is to write, write, write. 

Publish and share your writing. It’s time to share your writing with someone other than your newborn baby or dog. It’s time to put yourself out there. You can start a blog, like I did in 2006 to share my relationship stories ala Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. (I also wrote a book called, Love Trips, thanks to that blog. Order it here.) Launch a newsletter on Substack (yup, right here!) to share your stories with anyone that subscribes (it lands right in their Inbox). Or you can share your writing with your peers in a writing workshop or course. Just don’t keep your writing private. 

RELATED: The Pros and Cons of Using Substack as a Writer

Engage with other writers, including me! As writers, we are often alone with our words and our characters. It can feel isolating and like we have little to no support. That’s why I joined a Latinx writer's group when I began my writing journey. After graduate school in 2006, I began freelance writing for magazines and craved a community of writers that understood my passion for writing and my career path. Joining that group not only helped me feel less isolated but also opened up my social circle. I was invited to many events for writers, including workshops and open mics, where I was able to learn to be a better writer and share my work. 

If you wish to connect with me as a fellow writer, you can YouTube. You can also subscribe to this newsletter to get my writing and blogging tips for aspiring writers! 

And finally, the last piece of advice for aspiring writers: set goals. It’s easy to start a book and not finish it. Or to launch a blog and never post a story. Setting goals as an aspiring writer keeps you on track so you do not abandon writing. 

I, for one, used to get distracted by other hobbies and interests. But once I committed to writing romance novels I dedicated myself to my craft. 

RELATED: How to Write a Romance Novel FAST!

Your goal doesn’t have to be that lofty. Intend to finish a chapter a month or to write 10 blogs before launching your website. Just give yourself realistic goals and reasonable deadlines. Know that no matter what the outcome, you were diligent and stayed on track. You took the words and characters that live in your mind rent-free and brought them to life on a page. And that, aspiring writers, is the best feeling in the world. 

We’re on video! Watch Advice for Aspiring Writers now!

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