Should I Buy This Domain Name Right Now?
So one of the first things many marketers do when they're creating a website is buying a domain name (YourWebsite.com). And it's definitely the right thing to do. The biggest reason is credibility! Imagine if Amazon's website url was www.FreebieSite.com/Folder/Amazon Chances are you wouldn't take them as seriously.
Afterall if a company isn't willing to spend a few bucks to get a real professional domain name (.com), where else are they cutting corners? So getting a domain is a great idea in theory! Does this mean you should buy one right now? Not necessarily...
Changes Like The Wind...
Here's the thing. When you first get into this business it's very much like going to college. Initially when you go to college you start off pursuing one type of Major. By the time you get to your Sophomore year, you may decide that Major isn't really your cup of tea. So you may switch. Well your internet marketing journey will probably work the same way.
With that said, the domain you initially have purchased may not make sense for your next niche or website. For instance, if I initially purchased the domain "ILoveBunsOfSteel.com" that name makes sense if my website is about exercising your butt or some other type of butt fetish. (Don't judge me. This is purely an example I pulled out .... LOL).
But after a few months of being in that niche, I may realize that it's not all it's "cracked" up to be. (Pun intended.) So let's say that I've decided that my new site will be about old school parenting techniques. "ILoveBunsofSteel.com" isn't really going to do a good job of representing what my old school parenting website is going to be about. It may even turn some people off as I'm sure it has people reading this article. LOL
What's the Answer?
I think initially it may be a good idea to just use the free website address that WA provides you. Work through the training. Continue to build content as suggested. Then determine if the niche you initially picked still floats your boat a few months down the line. If it does, then invest in a REAL domain name and you can easily point it to the free website url you have here at WA.
The other option is to just bite the bullet and buy the domain name knowing you may not stick with it. And then buy another one if you decide to switch niches or directions. I personally own many domain names, most of which I'm not using at the moment. But I may decide to use them later or sell them. I also view the purchases of domain names as a business expenses I can write off my taxes as well. So it's not really a waste of money in my mind.
So what do you guys think? Have you struggled with this problem and if so how did you deal with it? Chime in below.
Until next time folks.
Eddy with a Y
Recent Comments
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hmm have not thought about buying any domains yet. Still developing my first site. Need to see if I can get good traffic. What is so bad with the domain given to me by WA?
MC7791, Does Google.com, Amazon.com, Yahoo.com, Facebook.com have urls that look like freebesite/subdomain/webpage.html ? Can you imagine trying to tell people to visit that url instead of saying go and visit Google.com. It makes for a poor user experience and it just shows people that you aren't serious enough to invest in a real domain name. This makes you seem less professional and thus less credible. Why would I trust someone that doesn't invest in their business to give me advice or product recommendations?
That's like me going to a doctor who works out of a starbucks. So that's the bad thing about relying on a free url for the long term. It's perfectly fine when you first start out. But once you start getting traffic, people are going to question why you don't have a real domain. Keep in mind you can still use the hosting and website builder here on WA and you should. But eventually you want to invest in a real domain name that automatically points to your web page and hosting here on WA. Hope that makes sense now.
Hi, I tend to buy a domain that can be multi purpose just for this very reason, for example one of my niches is guitar playing, so I purchased playguitartoday. I then started a site with a free WA site and the free domain provided. The site changed directions a few times but my domain would still work as it encompassed most aspects of my niche! When completed I transferred my site from WA on to my computer and re launched under my own domain.
I use namecheap.as they are as they say, cheap as chips (UK humour!) and the transfer is simple and can be done in seconds.
Hope this helps!
To your success!
Bernie
Hey Bernie, I think it's hard to have a catch all domain name. Unless you think of something like Amazon, Yahoo or Google which could have meant anything. But with your playguitartoday domain you couldn't use that if you switched to a totally different niche like karate.
If you're only making a slight change in direction but staying within the same niche, then your argument makes total sense. So you're right in that respect. Thanks for chiming in!
You make some great points! I tend to be of the mindset of buying good URLs if they're available since the cost is negligible and someone else could grab the same URL if you hesitate. I make my purchases knowing that I may or may not build a website around them, but that I probably will. I bought 13 when I joined WA and have started developing thee so far.
Thanks ParkWriter! I feel the same way about domains. Sometimes I think of a really good domain name and even if I can't use it at the moment, I snatch it up. Because I know someone will in the future. Thanks for chiming in!
I appreciate your choice to write (or type) this post. It makes a lot of sense. Happy Holidays
Loved this! I was thinking about this very thing and trying to decide what to do. You helped me make a choice and used humor to do it. Thanks!
Nice! I'm glad I wrote this NMason! I figured a lot of people struggle with this. So I'm glad this resonated with you! I'm also happy you can appreciate my corny humor. LOL
Thanks Steinway! I'm a firm believer you can educate people without being dull or boring them to death. LOL
If you apply mind you may create sub domain site first then move to your own. If you listen to your heart you may buy domain (excited about availability of your choice) So I have done both ways. Thanks.
Top job Eddy!
Very shmick (is that an old school term : ) ).
Crisp, to the point, well versed & with good humor!
If I was an American I'd say home run...As an Aussie - Nice one mate! (Actually that was not very Aussie :) )
This article could be sent back to me as a 3 week younger man & I would have had light bulbs busting out all over. Still now with a slightly better handle on the subject, great read man....Kudos
Thanks Damien! Glad you liked it! Thanks for the laugh as well. Love your sense of humor and glad you can appreciate mine.
Great to hear Eddie re sense of humor.
I am still rather surprised & flattered when someone sees anything humors when I make the effort, you must have rather odd taste.....
Damien, you're preaching to the choir. I feel the same way about my attempts at humor. I know I'm very corny but apparently there are other people that share our sense of humor and that;s what makes the web a great place.
Amen Damien! You just gave me a topic for my next blog which I just put into my drafts. Thanks mate!
Start scribing brother, I want notification on publication!
....Kidding I'll track it down - don't worry about that!
.....Hey Eddie, u there man.....Eddie.....I'm growing impatient here......No blog yet???
;)
LOL. It's already done my friend. But I'll launch it next week. I like to spread my blog post. By the way it' Eddy not Eddie. Might as well get that out of the way before it becomes an issue. LOL
Sorry about the typo man.... Usually I cut & paste names to avoid this issue, must not have this time...diggin' the convo too much methinks.......and an extra key to boot, wish you'd told me sooner....I hate typing :)
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...........Ok.....Hope all's forgiven.....back to your next post....... Well now I know your real nickname...... 'Smooth Operator'....... ( @ . )
Hey Eddy, (noob here remember). Can you tell me the (not quite sure of the word here) ethical (?), amount of responses to a single thread.... Are we getting close or anything like that...
......Great connect brother, looking forward to your next post....Though you already know that, can tell by your nickname ;)
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Oh thank goodness! I thought I was the only one here that loves domain names! I have waaayyyyy too many domains! It can be addicting :) Everything you said is dead on! Thanks for sharing!
No Kim! I'm an addict as well. LOL Glad you could relate to this article. Thanks for chiming in!