Free Websites and Blogs – Bad For Business
by AJ Farro
Free websites and blogs can only take a serious entrepreneur so far. They’re a great sandbox for getting your feet wet and figuring things out, but they’re full of advertisements, gaudy templates and themes that reek of “free”. It’s like doing business out of the back seat of your car – with a Hannah Montana sticker on the bumper. Few people, if anyone, will take you seriously.
If you build your business on free sites, you risk losing everything because you do not own the site and it can be taken away from you for any reason.
In May 2009, Facebook disabled accounts with, what it “assumed”, were fictitious names. People with legitimate accounts that have spent years building personal or business relationships had everything disappear in the blink of an eye.
When I first started using free blogs, Blogger shut down one of my blogs and to this day I don’t know the exact reason why. It could have been because I was using it to pre-sell affiliate products. It could also be because I hyperlinked every occurrence of my main keyword to my main website and they considered that spammy. What did I know, I was a noob. I couldn’t get back into the blog to fix it. No amount of contacting them ever got an answer and I was forced to abandon it. Can you imagine if I had built an entire business around that blog?
I also know that using free WordPress.com blogs for business purposes is a violation of their terms and they will shut you down, too.
Many people starting out don’t know that because they never read the terms of service. Stay away from free blogs. You need to own your own blog or website. Always remain in control of your business.
Before you can run your own website or blog you need your own domain name and web hosting. The good news is, it’s cheap to get started and I’m going to give you my personal tips for doing it.
Warning: Do not take advantage of “free domain names for life” when you buy web hosting. They are only free if you keep your hosting account with them. Plus, you will not own the name, the web hosting company will. Always remain in control of your business.
Domain Registration
I’m not going to get real deep into selecting a domain name because that’s beyond the scope of this material. However, I will leave you with a few guidelines.
If you want to be found in the search engines, it only makes sense to include a keyword or two that people are using to find what it is you’re selling. So if you’re an affiliate selling outdoor furniture, incorporating “outdoor furniture” into your domain name is nothing but beneficial. BestOutdoorFurniture.com beats TomsDeals.com. No one is going to be searching for outdoor furniture using the words “toms deals”, but they will be searching with “outdoor furniture”, even “best outdoor furniture”.
Only use a .com name. Stay away from .net, .biz, .info and all the other dots if you can help it. People don’t remember extensions so when they type in your domain name they will be typing your domain name and automatically adding .com to it. So get found. Don’t be invisible.
Make a list of several domain names because the chances of finding something that isn’t already taken is going to be slim. Oh, and to stay out of legal hot water, do not use trademarked names in your domain name.
A great example of that is new businesses that come on board at Commission Junction or other affiliate networks frequently have no restrictions on their name. Then affiliates will go hog wild snapping up domain names with the vendor’s name in them and spend weeks or months promoting and establishing an online presence. Then sooner or later the vendor modifies its terms and suddenly bans the use of trademarked names. It’s happened to me more than once. It’s a knife to the core of your business.
Hot Buying Tip
- Get your domain name at NameCheap.com.
- $9.69 for a .com name, but use the coupon code and get it for $8.81.
- They don’t sneak stuff into the shopping cart during checkout like other registrars.
- They have a very easy to use Domain Manager interface.
- NameCheap is a great domain registrar, but don’t buy web hosting there because you pay too much. Just get a domain name.
- Be sure to enable the free privacy manager on the domain. It will hide your personal details from spammers. goDaddy charges $8.99/year for privacy protection. At NameCheap, it’s free for the first year and renews at only $2.88/year after that.
Web Hosting
In order for your new domain name to be seen online, you need to have it hosted by a web hosting company. It pains me to see web hosting companies take advantage of their customers, so I will only recommend companies with outstanding customer service and reliability. I also wouldn’t recommend something I don’t use myself.
Hot Buying Tip
SuperGreen Hosting- Unlimited green hosting with cPanel. Very reliable. My WordPress blogs run at lightning speed and customer service is quick and courteous. Easy blog setup.
I hope you found these tips helpful for getting your business off on the right foot.
Even Your Website Can Go “Green”
As we find an increasing need to become more environmentally responsible in the shadow of global warming, perhaps you’ve asked yourself, “What can I do to help?” Let’s find out.
More and more people are coming online and using social services like Facebook and Twitter or starting their own websites and blogs. Having your own web hosting with a personalized domain is probably one of the most effective ways of communicating with the world. But, before you jump on board and buy your first or next web hosting account, here is something to consider.
The data centers that are needed to run a web hosting company consume enormous amounts of electricity. In October 2009, US Infrastructure magazine did a study on data centers and compiled some interesting facts.
Between 2000 and 2005, the energy consumed by large data centers doubled worldwide.
In 2006, online data centers in the US accounted for 1.5 percent of the entire country’s electricity use.
25% of the power needed to operate a data center goes towards air conditioning to keep the servers from over-heating.
The good news is, more data centers are turning to green energy, mainly wind and solar, to power their operations. SuperGreen Hosting is one of them.
A few years ago when eco-friendly web hosting was becoming popular, the pricing structure was at a premium, often more than double that of non-green hosting and with significant limitations on disk space and bandwidth.
In recent months, prices have been drastically reduced and web hosting companies like SuperGreen can now offer green hosting accounts with unlimited disk space and bandwidth for only $3.95/month, under pricing even the most aggressive competition.Surprisingly, that low price includes an Anytime Money-Back Guarantee.
If you are considering purchasing web hosting, take a look at carbon neutral web hosting from SuperGreen. Advertise your website with free classified ads.
All About The Invalid Domain Name
Invalid domain name is one amongst the common cases that happened beneath the domain name arena. Many machines have often noted some invalid domain names and that some errors on the domain name operation often surfaced.
Speaking of the invalid domain names, many resources have noted that if an invalid domain name is detected, you’ll eventually receive a message indicating the errors. These invalid domain name messages so play a somewhat vital role within the place of the invalid domain names.
A number of the conditions that cause the emergence of the invalid domain name messages are greatly stated in most resources and one of these is when the Domain Name Service or DNS host name or the DNS domain name laid out in the Transmission Management Protocol/Net Protocol or TCP/IP properties contains invalid characters, which then makes an invalid domain name.
Additionally noted is when there’s a specific downside with the net service provider’s Straightforward Mail Transport Protocol server. This mentioned issue is said to be a server that’s applied for outgoing mails. And another reason for invalid domain name message is matters when there are invalid characters or areas within the Computer Name box.
Outside of those grounds for invalid domain names messages, there are specific resolutions that most of the consultants recommends for such dilemma. Therefore, it’s thought-about that if the main reason for the invalid domain name message is that the DNS host or domain name contains invalid characters, it’s necessary to you check {that the} DNS host name and therefore the DNS domain name contain contains only valid characters. For explicit mention, so to forestall the invalid domain name message, is to understand {that the} valid characters for the DNS host name and also the DNS domain name are letters A-Z, numerals zero-nine, and therefore the hyphen. However, there are some instances that the amount contributes a half for preventing an invalid domain name message since this can be additionally used as a separator. In verifying the domain name system, several things or steps are concerned and most of these are greatly technical.
However, if the reason for the emergence of the invalid domain name message is that there is sure problem with the SMTP Server, it’s important that you simply watch for a flash of your time, and then attempt to send the message again. And if you still receive the invalid domain name message, it is a right move to better contact your Internet service supplier or ISP.
Such are just a few of the principles the surround the case for invalid domain names. Therefore if you’re extremely interested to know everything regarding it, you higher attempt looking some resources that give a number of the technical procedures.
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All About The DNS Domain Name System
We all understand that in the globe of domain names nowadays, the presence of the DNS domain name system is very abundant significant. It is interesting to grasp {that the} acronym DNS really stands for Domain Name System/Service/Server. However, I can be using the term DNS domain name system here to supply you with a clear data about the which means of this particular thing.
The DNS domain name system is truly a powerful tool that contributes a nice half within the domain name process. It is typically described as an net service that translates or transforms the domain names into an IP or Web Protocol address.
Apart from knowing such basic function of the DNS domain name system, it is additionally fascinating to learn {that a} basic possession of the DNS domain name system is caching. This property takes place in things when a server welcomes data about a mapping, it caches that information. Thus, with such function, a later question for similar mapping can use the cached output, and can not result to additional questions to different servers. And typically, the DNS domain name system applies the caching to optimize the value of the search. But how will the DNS domain name system caching works?
In terms of caching, it is terribly nice to know that each server incorporates a cache for currently applied names together with records of where the mapping data for a specific name was taken. So when a specific shopper is asking the server to see a sure domain name, the DNS domain name system then does check if it has the power for a site name, and if it will, the system doesn’t want to cache the information. But, if it has no authority for a site name, the DNS domain name system then checks its cache whether or not the domain name has been resolved currently, and if yes, the DNS domain name system reports the caching data to its clients.
There are some instances {that the} DNS domain name system cache can be examined when the system cached the info once, but didn’t change it. Due to the rationale that the data concerning a bound domain name can be changed, the server might have inaccurate data in its caching table. There’s a bound price called the Time to Live or referred to as TTL which is applied when to age the information. So whenever an authority responds to an invitation for a domain name, it then involves a Time to Live price in the solution which indicates how long it assures the binding to linger.
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A Simple Guide To Choosing A Domain Name
There has been a lot of debate on that factors are the foremost important when determining what domain to purchase. Selecting a website name should be deeply tied to the business arrange and therefore the vision of the company. A site can be chosen for its benefits in Search Engine placement, a company’s brand, or as a description of a general term. One must think about a domains size, pronunciation, how memorable it is, and if the name is taken in other similar forms or extensions. As an example, if one registers a domain.web, but the domain.com is taken and developed, making a complete for domain.net would be very dangerous and may end up being incoherent for its .com counterpart.
Search Engine Placement Domains
The aim of those domains is to rank high in the search engines, as a result of the actual domain name contains the keywords being searched for. Search Engine domains are terribly rarely brandable, and are principally used exclusively as aspect Web properties to redirect traffic to the main site. A corporation who sells red widgets would benefit from acquiring red-widgets.com and redwidgets.com , as a result of it’s natural that folks will remember such address, but most significantly, that domain name includes a high chance of ranking at, or terribly near to, the prime of a quest for ‘red widgets’. A very standard tool used to find what’s being explore for on the net is: Overture Keywords (http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/)
Whole Domains
When returning from the offline business into the web, the apparent alternative for brand domains is the offline complete name as .com and/or .country extension. Country extensions are employed in countries were there is additional popularity in their country extension than on the .com. Within the case that no previous complete existed before moving on-line, one most be terribly inventive into the approach of a brandable name. At this point, there are variant domain names registered and several times, one finds that the desired domain is taken. There’s a consensus among most Internet domain specialists {that the} shorter the domain, the better. A domain that is regarding 5 letters long is very desirable for a brand. However, the domain must make sense as well. Xyqpt.com would be undesirable, because it cannot be simply said or remembered to the general public.
General Term Domains
In the peak of the Net Bubble, general term domains were the most popular choice. Several companies failed, while they had the generic word for his or her market. Firms like TheKnot.com refused to purchase Weddings.com, because they were conscious that they needed to focus on brand. Although this strategy worked for TheKnot.com, generic words have a price of their own that cannot be ignored. Like Search Engine Placement Domains, that attract a large range of visitors through search engine referrals, therefore do generic word domains. For this reason, generic word names are still terribly much desired and their price still rise. What should be learned regarding the Dot Com Bubble is that generic domains don’t seem to be everything in a very dot com business, rather they’re a valuable (however, not essential) component in an array of variables that build an Web business a success. The present worth of those domains, and different domains normally will be seen at an on-line publication that covers recent domain name transactions at: Domain Journal Sales
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A Guide To Domain Name Registration
Are you considering doing business on-line? If you’re affirmative concerning that then, you need a home for your site on the Net 1st, for that you simply’ll must register a site name.
A domain name provides your web site an Internet address. Below the Domain Name System DNS, domain names are framed of the four components – a server prefix, a site name, a website suffix or extension, and a rustic code (optional). As an example, www.jasssony.com is an example of a site name where ‘www’ is that the server prefix, ‘jasssony’ is the domain name and ‘com’ is that the domain suffix.
‘Dot-com’ is an example of a high level domain extension. There are generic high level domains, gTLDs, and country code prime level domains, ccTLDs. Register a site name of your own. Several ‘Net Service Suppliers’, ISPs and Internet Hosts additionally supply free or cut price-rate domain services that essentially build a domain name an extension of theirs. For instance, if the ISP is a fictional like ‘youneedweserve’, then the resulting domain name might be www.youneedweserve/jass/index.html. Whereas registering your own domain name, create positive {that the} extension name ought to appear as if a skilled one. With an extension domain name, you always have to change the ISP or net host.
Several individuals do not realize it, however it is a fact {that the} names on the Web really matter. Choose a domain name that identifies the business and it should conjointly be easy to remember; so many individuals sort the names or partial names into search engines for finding the location that they’re seeking for. Most of the simplest or obvious domain names are already registered by the people. You should conjointly take into account the facts when you’re choosing a site name for the net business and a way to register a domain name.
Registering a generic top level domain name or a country code top level domain, the things largely depend on the marketplace for the merchandise or service. For instance, if you are selling your product or services to USA, you’ll be able to use the country code top level domain, dot-us domain. If you are promoting the merchandise or services globally, you’ll be able to select to register the net business as a dot-com or a dot-biz.
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I would be a zillionaire if I earned a greenback each time someone complains that every one the nice domain names are already taken. It’s just not true, however. Even in a very highly competitive business, you’ll be able to think up original, appealing domain names for businesses by using naming techniques that few individuals use, like these:
1. Target results. What’s the outcome or finish result that folks wish to possess from buying a bound product or service? How do they feel once they have finished the transaction? My own company name, Named At Last, falls into this category.
2. Look for puns. Make a list of relevant keywords, say each out loud and play with the sounds. Puns are much less possible than alternative types of names to have been registered because their part elements aren’t actual words. For instance, the name Sitesfaction, for a web design company, was a finalist in our 1st naming contest – and an offered domain at that time despite tens of thousands of web design corporations in the English-speaking world.
3. Assume slang. Let your imagination and memory fly around for pleasing-to-the-ear expressions. As of these days, the domain BoyOhBoyToys.com for an online toy store is unregistered, as is a domain for its sister store AttaGirlToys.com.
4. Go symbolic. Suppose you’re an professional on the horror genre and want to start out a paid on-line community for horror fans. Horrorific.com, horrorgate.com and Horrornet.com are all taken, however as of nowadays, the less obvious and additional vivid FrightOwl.com is not.
5. Vary real words. “Google’s name may be a play on the word googol, which refers to the amount 1 followed by one hundred zeroes,” says the Press Center of the planet’s most successful search engine. “The word was coined by the 9-year-recent nephew of mathematician Edward Kasner,” it continues – providing another hint for inventive naming: consult a kid.
Happy Naming!
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