Domain Name Necessary? - geek/talk: Signature-free discourse for serious web publishers

washjob · 08-13-2001, 09:43 PM

Hi Everyone,
I'm relatively new to the forum but I hope you can provide some advice. I have a web site that is hosted on the free web server space provided by my ISP. It is an employment resource site for Washington State. I get about 26,000 visitors to my home page each month. I have not had a problem getting my site listed on Yahoo and the major search engines. I also was accepted by and run banners for Advertising.com, Commission Junction, and DirectLeads and earn about $200 per month. I've toyed with the idea of spending the money to get my own domain and separate hosting. My question is whether would it be worth it or not? Has anyone been in my positon and switched to their own domain name seen any dramatic changes in visitors or revenue?

Thanks in Advance!
Jerry @ Washington Employment Web

Strider · 08-13-2001, 10:24 PM

It is hard to say without more information on your site but in my opinion a free host can only take you so far. You are going to hit a plateau where you have outgrown your free account and will need to get a more professional image to take your site further. In terms of revenue, if you establish yourself and create a more professional image you can attract another level of advertisers and partners.

emmzee · 08-13-2001, 10:43 PM

Domain names are pretty cheap nowadays ... anywhere from $8-$15 per year. And hosting can be pretty cheap too, you could always go with the starter account from DigitalSpace (http://www.digitalspace.net/webhosting/), only $3/month for 10megs of space and 2.5gigs transfer. So cost shouldn't really be a barrier.

Another advantage to moving a popular site to a domain name is that there are already a lot of links pointing to your old URL. Once you move to your domain name, places will start linking to your new URL, but there will still be lots of links to your old site. So you'll get traffic from both. I still get 20-30 hits redirected per day from my old URL that I started my site at. (I got my domain name about two years ago.

)

gallery · 08-14-2001, 04:21 AM

If you want to make a serious business you must buy a domain name :

-It brings credibility
-Lots of advertisers will reject you because you do not have one
-Very easy to change of host when you have a domain

and the price is very low now.

I recommend www.000domains.com to buy one

firstmark · 08-14-2001, 06:26 PM

The real reason one should have their own domain name is so they can assure that they will continue to be able to hold onto the links and traffic they have built up. If you use a free host then the free host can just take away your url, or decide to add new ads to your space if they wish. You then will watch as everything you have built is lost.
Such is the real risk of free hosts.

Steve_S · 08-14-2001, 07:02 PM

Ditto!

Thanks to Super Team Geek member WildComputer and his new domain finder application this domain is available:

washingtonstatejob.com

LastActionHero · 08-15-2001, 02:55 AM

uh OH! Bad Idea posting an available name in a public forum

just my 2 cents. You never know with domain squatters.

washjob · 08-18-2001, 06:45 PM

Thanks Everyone for the input I really appreciate your time. I will probably get my domain and hosting set up in the near future and give it a try.

Thanks
Jerry @ Washington Employment Web

ezclan · 08-19-2001, 02:16 AM

give me a shout at support@ezclan.com

I might be willing to host your domain for free..

08-13-2001, 09:43 PM	#1
washjob Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 44	Domain Name Necessary? Hi Everyone, I'm relatively new to the forum but I hope you can provide some advice. I have a web site that is hosted on the free web server space provided by my ISP. It is an employment resource site for Washington State. I get about 26,000 visitors to my home page each month. I have not had a problem getting my site listed on Yahoo and the major search engines. I also was accepted by and run banners for Advertising.com, Commission Junction, and DirectLeads and earn about $200 per month. I've toyed with the idea of spending the money to get my own domain and separate hosting. My question is whether would it be worth it or not? Has anyone been in my positon and switched to their own domain name seen any dramatic changes in visitors or revenue? Thanks in Advance! Jerry @ Washington Employment Web

08-13-2001, 10:43 PM	#3
emmzee Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 1,372	Domain names are pretty cheap nowadays ... anywhere from $8-$15 per year. And hosting can be pretty cheap too, you could always go with the starter account from DigitalSpace (http://www.digitalspace.net/webhosting/), only $3/month for 10megs of space and 2.5gigs transfer. So cost shouldn't really be a barrier. Another advantage to moving a popular site to a domain name is that there are already a lot of links pointing to your old URL. Once you move to your domain name, places will start linking to your new URL, but there will still be lots of links to your old site. So you'll get traffic from both. I still get 20-30 hits redirected per day from my old URL that I started my site at. (I got my domain name about two years ago. ) __________________ Darren Hewer NEW: Simpsons Trivia Quiz My sites: DOS Games - Free Web Games - Video Game Stores - Windows Games - Why Faith

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08-13-2001, 10:24 PM	#2
Strider Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 387	It is hard to say without more information on your site but in my opinion a free host can only take you so far. You are going to hit a plateau where you have outgrown your free account and will need to get a more professional image to take your site further. In terms of revenue, if you establish yourself and create a more professional image you can attract another level of advertisers and partners.

08-14-2001, 04:21 AM	#4
gallery Registered User Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Belgium Posts: 691	If you want to make a serious business you must buy a domain name : -It brings credibility -Lots of advertisers will reject you because you do not have one -Very easy to change of host when you have a domain and the price is very low now. I recommend www.000domains.com to buy one

08-14-2001, 06:26 PM	#5
firstmark Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 836	The real reason one should have their own domain name is so they can assure that they will continue to be able to hold onto the links and traffic they have built up. If you use a free host then the free host can just take away your url, or decide to add new ads to your space if they wish. You then will watch as everything you have built is lost. Such is the real risk of free hosts.

08-14-2001, 07:02 PM	#6
Steve_S Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Posts: 5,223	Ditto! Thanks to Super Team Geek member WildComputer and his new domain finder application this domain is available: washingtonstatejob.com

08-15-2001, 02:55 AM	#7
LastActionHero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 615	uh OH! Bad Idea posting an available name in a public forum just my 2 cents. You never know with domain squatters.

08-18-2001, 06:45 PM	#8
washjob Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 44	Thanks Everyone for the input I really appreciate your time. I will probably get my domain and hosting set up in the near future and give it a try. Thanks Jerry @ Washington Employment Web

08-19-2001, 02:16 AM	#9
ezclan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Palm Bay, FL, USA Posts: 221	give me a shout at support@ezclan.com I might be willing to host your domain for free..