Google doesn't actually credit very much to a custom domain over a well-formed subdomain.
— Eric Post, founder of Huzi.ai
Buying a custom domain won't bring you much extra traffic. A custom domain is an address you buy, like LivingInPortlandOregon.com. A subdomain is an address that sits under another site's name.
As long as the subdomain is set up well, Google gives the custom domain very little extra credit.
However, there are two good reasons to buy one anyway.
To own your territory. If you want to own a neighborhood, a niche, your own name or a charity you support, buying that domain makes it yours for good.
To keep your marketing clean. LivingInPortlandOregon.com is easy to say and easy to remember, while a long subdomain is neither.
Bonus Tip
Before you buy a domain, ask two questions.
1. Is there a neighborhood, niche or name I want to own for good?
2. Is it easy to say out loud and remember?
Two yeses? Buy it. Otherwise, a well-made subdomain does the job.
If you'd rather not sort this out alone, Halo already sets up a well-formed subdomain for you, so a custom domain is a choice, not a requirement.
So don't treat a domain as a traffic trick. It's just the address, and what you put on the site is what gets you found. Want to see one get built?
See How Halo Builds Your Site
Watch a site get built from start to finish, live.
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