Domaining.com no longer free

[internext]

Got my usual daily email, clicked a link and got the domaining sign-in page rather than the story I expected. No problem, I logged in only to find the following:

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Unfortunately the Domaining.com membership is no longer free. We started to charge a low annual fee to help us pay our bills: hosting, data transfer, ... For this reason free accounts have been closed. If you are serious about domaining then we invite you to SIGN UP AGAIN HERE.

 

[jeffoverman]

lol...i only really enjoy reading couple blogs so this dosent effect me...

wish them well...

they have other features which i didnt use, i probably wont be paying for this..less reading, less time being wasted, lol...

 

[-REECE-]

I'm saddened to hear this and I wish there could have been some other way. Francois has made a great site out of Domaining.com which I feel has really brought the domaining community more together.

There are some alternative domaining RSS aggregators and I fear most people will switch to them rather than be required to pay a fee which really is too bad because I know a lot of time + money went into building + promoting Domaining.com.

Got my usual daily email, clicked a link and got the domaining sign-in page rather than the story I expected. No problem, I logged in only to find the following:

 

[DotUSDomains]

Sad to hear,

I hate to say it but i wont be paying to read other peoples blogs.

only 4 or 5 i read daily.

Shame.

 

[Mark]

How do you opt out of the emails if there is no longer an account to log into ?

 

[DotUSDomains]

I'm still able to view my account as it has alsways been,

i'm sure in there emails there will be a link for you to "opt out" of any future emails (thats the law i think )

 

[henniemeijer]

It would be ok to pay if you get to read just informational blogs instead of "more or less" paid reviews of services and self"fragger" image promotion.

 

[cobainer]

I never really used it apart from finding some specific info that I required...& I always found info that I needed

Such a shame that I'll have to stop using it now...

 

[Sameh]

i'm sure in there emails there will be a link for you to "opt out" of any future emails (thats the law i think )

No, there's not.

Only this link, which requires login anyway : http://www.domaining.com/account/editnewsletter.asp

 

[Pound]

It seems someone didn't write a business plan...does he not realise that this is not an original idea and that it could easily be replicated for free?!

 

[Sameh]

It seems someone didn't write a business plan...does he not realise that this is not an original idea and that it could easily be replicated for free?!

I think he should realize that from last time.

 

[footodors]

trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip.

 

[Giode]

Still working free of charge for me.

 

[-REECE-]

I think reducing the advertising rates would be a much better choice. Instead of $100/day to have a sponsored headline, cut it to $50/day. Instead of $1400/week for a banner ad, make it $500/week. The banner advertising prices ($1400/week) are a fair bit more expensive than at Namepros despite Namepros receiving about 250% more traffic than Domaining.com according to Compete.com, so that might explain why it's being hard to sell.

I think Domaining.com could make $2000/month pretty easily between advertising sales and commissions on domains sold -- it just requires looking at the prices and adjusting them accordingly. Better to make at least some money than no money, everything already invested being already sunk.

 

[deleted984054565403]

Hosting/server costs? It's a glorified RSS aggregator. I enjoy the site, but not enough that I'd pay to read someone else's articles.

That also means I'll stop listing "featured domains" for sale at Domaining.com now knowing that a very limited number of people will be viewing my name listed for sale.

 

[Robbie]

IT'S STILL FOC!

I havent seen any differance today!

Im using the site as always!

Regards,

Robbie

 

[DotWeekly]

IT'S STILL FOC!

I havent seen any differance today!

Im using the site as always!

Regards,

Robbie

Maybe early news the OP discovered? I logged out and logged back in and never seen the message either.

 

[JoshuaPz]

Got my usual daily email, clicked a link and got the domaining sign-in page rather than the story I expected. No problem, I logged in only to find the following:

Same happened to me just now.

 

[Mark]

The actual news feeds on the index were always free - But clicking on "submit a domain" or one of the "domains for sale" leads me to a New signup page for a paid membership.

 

[prague7]

Looks like the email has just been sent out informing the site will no longer be free - just received mine saying my account is now closed, no more newsletters and asking for $35 p.a. Doesn't seem much, I know, but I'm afraid I won't be signing up.

What about the bloggers - what are your view on this? Will you be looking for other ways to promote your blogs to the domaining community?