DOMAIN NAMES. Free URL's etc: objective analyses. Don't get hoaxed. The ins and outs of all types of URL registration services. - Getting a real domain name is similar to getting married: always a good idea but not always the most feasible. - Internet - http://maxpages.com/moneydata/Domain

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See the bottom of this page for a summary of TOP INTERNET VALUES.

1. Free URL's vs. Domain Names.

WHAT IS A "FREE URL"? Sometimes grandiosely called a "free domain name," it is really a "subdomain" with "free URL forwarding." You do not own the name at all, and you must use a certain standard suffix or prefix in your name. There are numerous companies doing this. The following sites maintain good lists of such companies:

www.thefreesite.com/webmaster.htm.
www.webweaver.nu/url.htm

"Free url's" work in about a dozen different ways. It is "free" for you because it is also a "free" way for them to get advertising exposure. Some post a little ad on your page, others make an "introductory" page to pay for the service. Some offer only one tasteful suffix or prefix---others offer 20 tasteless choices (and vice-versa). Some allow you only one free url, others one per site, and others four per site. There is of course little to prevent you from using ten different services if you want ten different "free url's." You can also direct the "free url" to a welcome page which has nothing more than a link to your real home page---thus the advertising placed by the "free url" need be of little annoyance. The goal is a "shorter" url that is easier to remember---easier to put into a classified ad---and less recognizable as being from a "free website."

PROVE YOURSELF FIRST. What a "free url" can never offer you is security. If you build up a successful business using a clever directional name, no one can steal your traffic if the domain name is your property. Therefore, free URL's and free websites alike are poo-pooed by successful internet marketers. They are right. But just remember, you may not be a successful internet marketer and statistically the odds are better than 100 to 1 you probably will not be. What makes the Internet so rich in opportunity is not that you are more likely to succeed---but that you can give it a try without risking significant money. Start spending money and there goes that reason. So, depending on how much money you have to throw around and to what degree you know what you are doing, there may be little need to bother with a real domain name until you prove yourself. Sure, you may get a few less visitors---but so what? If you cannot break even with a secondary URL, a real domain name is not going to make you rich.

THE ONE GOOD REASON FOR A REAL DOMAIN NAME: you have a hot idea and don't want it stolen. For example, an Elvis memorabilia site called "Elvis Pelvis." (Sorry folks, it's been done.) So this becomes a huge success, but you don't bother to register elvispelvis.com. Someone else does and steals your traffic---permanently.

KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY. If you are just experimenting with making money on the Internet, every cent counts. Chances are, you may register your "great idea" of elvispelvis.com---and a few months' experience later, you find that you can get ten times the traffic from Marilyn Monroe fans. Then after dabbling in Marilyn Monroe, you see a market opening with ten times again the potential in Mickey Mouse. So why not PREFER A NAME THAT NOBODY WANTS. Meanwhile, keep a list of clever "Elvis" site name ideas not yet taken---and be sure NOT to use those phrases on your site. Then, if and when you have some solid cash returns, put your idea list in order from best to worst and take the best available.

Now for the disadvantages of "free URL's":

(1) The "providers" go out of business constantly.
(2) Just one irrational complaint that you are "spamming" or etc. and the "provider" may stop providing if he had a bad breakfast that day.
(3) I.e., IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY.

But there are advantages, even if you have a real domain:

(1) If you are testing various advertising methods, various temporary URL's to various "welcome pages"---which "visit counter" will tally the success of that method---are useful.
(2) SUMMARY: so long as you realize it is TEMPORARY---not to be depended on---free URL's can be nifty.

Just never allow the "free URL" to replace a "real" URL to be permanently bookmarked by your visitors (even if that is cheesy looking like www.thefreesite.com/yourname/youretc.)

P.S.---One thing I like about www.maxpages.com/yoursite is that it is brief and not instantly saying, "this is a cheesy free site." So do consider that when getting your "cheesy free site"! (See more pros and cons on our free websites page.)

2. Getting a Real Domain.

Registering a domain name is advertised everywhere as a simple matter---as indeed it should be! Nonetheless, as newcomers to this process, we were constantly disappointed not only by the misleading commercial hyperbole---but even by the objective articles by "experts." To make a long story short: it took us several days and nights just to figure out what to do. But our loss is your gain. You are about to read what may be (in our humble opinion) the one and only complete and plain-English explanation about how to register a domain name.

For further research, we suggest the following site:

DOMAIN REGISTRATION FOR THE VERY SMALL BUSINESS. (November 16, 1999)

Once you have a steady job and know who you are in life, it may be time for a wedding. Similarly, once you have proven your Internet marketing skills, it may be time to purchase a real domain name. But just like marriage, this unquestionably good idea can be a serious quagmire if you don't know what you are doing. Here are the major issues.

(1) MAKE SURE YOU WILL OWN THE DOMAIN. Make sure that your registration service lists you as the "registering authority"---or in other words, YOU are the owner of the domain. If this is not made very clear in the URL register's advertising---as seems to be the rule---write to them demanding that they make it clear.

(2) MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WRITTEN ASSURANCE THAT YOUR DOMAIN NAME WILL "WORK" WITH OR WITHOUT THE WWW.

(3) "DOMAIN NAMES ARE RUNNING OUT?" Yes and no. I suspect that by the year 2525 ("...if the human race can survive...") this may happen and the whole system may have to be changed. If you know exactly what you want and have the money maybe you'd better get it---but otherwise, chances are you can always think of something, perhaps slightly less than ideal, that is not registered. So take your time to do things properly and not be bullied.

(4) YOU WANT ONE DOMAIN AND THEY PRESSURE YOU FOR THREE! When you do register, should you reserve ".net" and ".org" as well as ".com" to "prevent competition"? Only if you are already a huge success. Otherwise just get the .com if that's what you are (commercial) or .org if that's what you are (non-profit) etc. Don't forget "traffic stealing" works two ways. A big competitor with the same name but not the appropriate ending is more likely to help you than hurt you!

(5) MAKE SURE YOU ARE PERMANENTLY FREE TO CHANGE THE LOCATION OF YOUR WEBSITE & TO RE-SELL THE DOMAIN NAME WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT COST. It is best to work with your website host, but it is best to be wary of your web site host. It is in the interest of your host to tie you to a registration contract that ties you to the host. Obviously then, COST AND POLICY OF DOMAIN REGISTRATION IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION WHEN CHOOSING A PAID HOST.

(6) A URL REGISTER WITH A REDIRECTION SERVICE MAY BE YOUR BEST OPTION. If you want to stick with your "free" or "very cheap" host---then the odds are that you need a URL redirection service. If you allow your "cheap" host to control the registration process, you will very possibly end up with a contract that makes it difficult to move or even to sell your business if it is a success. A URL redirection service, on the contrary, gives you permanent and total freedom. You can probably try a new host every month without any loss of customers, bother or cost!

(7) IN URL REDIRECTION, COST MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN QUALITY. A URL redirection service is like a web site host---but instead of hosting your website, they just host your URL. Thus, the beginner seeking to save money need not be overly concerned about "permanence" and "quality." Unlike a "free URL," you own the domain name. Thus if your URL redirection host performs badly or goes bankrupt---you can easily find another. You are safe if you just make sure they have no significant restrictions against cancelling their service.

(8) TWO PROBLEMS WITH FINDING VALUE IN URL REDIRECTION. (a) Finding such a service can be confusing because a search for "URL redirect" or "URL forwarding" will result in a mix of "free url" services with what you are looking for: a serious, reliable service for registering, hosting, and forwarding real domain names. (b) Almost all "real" URL forwarding services are outrageously over-priced! The prevalent fee seems to be $50 per year. That is not much, but much more than it needs to be. Here is why:

There are plenty of "cheap but good" web site hosts at $120 per year---and there are even a few at $60 per year. If you can afford that, then you do not need URL redirecting at all---you just need to shop for a cheap site host that has ethical standards in URL registration, as we have listed above. So it makes no sense to cling to a "super cheap website" and end up paying $50 for redirecting!

(9) IN SUMMARY, WHEN READY FOR A REAL DOMAIN NAME, YOU HAVE THREE PRIMARY CHOICES:
(a) Stay where you are and register with your existing host---if you are lucky enough to have one with an ethical URL registration policy.
(b) Move to a decent, inexpensive site host with an ethical URL registration policy.
(c) Stay where you are and find a reputable URL registration service that offers URL forwarding at $25 per year.

Thus, our three-day study of "how the heck do we register a domain name," culminated in an all-night search for a URL registration & redirection service with an annual fee well below $50. We only found two! The first did not look reputable, and the second did. We have written to them asking to clarify a few points. The results should be posted here next week. (1999/11/16)

Guide-In-Brief to all TOP INTERNET VALUES (click on a heading for the complete report):

OWNING AN FFA. In theory the most powerful site promotion. But so far only "Iggy Links" seems worth trying.
FREE FFA LINKS. Certainly cost effective if you never pay for "500 instant links," etc. We tell how to get this free.
FREE CLASSIFIEDS. The most respectable way to advertise cheaply. But don't join a "broadcasting service." Buy the software for the same price or do the "top 10" by hand.
FREE BANNERS. Not instantly effective, thus snubbed by high-flying "experts." But if you stick to the "repectables" it does help and is free.
FREE WEBSITES. Cheap site hosts are not for everybody. But if you do your homework, probably are for you.
FREE+URLS+ETC. Don't depend of a "free url" but it can be useful. A "real" URL is best but can also be a quagmire.
SEARCH ENGINES. Never pay for "search engine submissions." If you want to spend money, spend it on "ranking software."
ASSOCIATE DEALS. Internet "drop shipping"----except you don't even handle orders. Sell anything starting with nothing. Books from Amazon.com, games from eToys, etc., etc.
SHOESTRING NEWS. The latest ideas for any innovative person to start a respectable E-business on a shoestring.

Page Updated Sat Oct 7, 2000 11:21pm EDT