How Do You Manage Your Assets? (Domains, Developed Sites, etc..)

[dotker]

Hello guys,

Would like to know what is the best way to manage websites across different servers and different types of sites/services.

Right now im just using spreadsheets but its getting bigger and im finding it a bit too cluttered so there must be some software out there than can do more and help me get productive with hundreds or even thousands of sites and domains.

Thanks,

 

[Albert]

I only have less than 100.
I am using spreadsheets as well for data recording
Password management I used Lastpass
Bookmarks I used Xmarks.
I didn't use multiple server as my sites is low traffic I put all of them under a single VPS (easier for control/manage)

What do you mean by manage websites here? How do you want to mange it?

 

[alien51]

I am using plain Microsoft Excel spreadsheet as well.

It's convenient to me, because it is highly portable. You can save it on a thumbdrive. But i prefer to upload the entire backup copy to a cloud storage like Skydrive or Google Docs.

All the domain sorting and due date tracking stuffs, i only use spreadsheet macros.

Setting up the spreadsheet is difficult at first. But once all the structural tables and macros are in place, you just open, add, and click. That's it.

 

[Name Trader]

I wholeheartedly recommend www.domainpunch.com. It manages my large portfolio with ease. It's not free though.

If you only have gtld's their free Domain Name Status Reporter might be enough. You can find that here... www.domainpunch.com/products/domainstatus/, but it's much more limited than domain punch. Nice and simple though, which is often good, and might be enough for you.

 

[alien51]

I wholeheartedly recommend www.domainpunch.com. It manages my large portfolio with ease. It's not free though.

If you only have gtld's their free Domain Name Status Reporter might be enough. You can find that here... www.domainpunch.com/products/domainstatus/, but it's much more limited than domain punch. Nice and simple though, which is often good, and might be enough for you.

One problem i see with that software, is that it is not extensible. The column or tabs, are fixed. You cannot add anymore information to it.

Unlike a spreadsheet, you can add a column to track how much you paid for each domain's renewal or transfer costs. Then link that domain to another sheet that tracks your Adsense earnings for that domain, then see if your revenue is paying off your domain cost. Or track how many Godaddy 1-dollar coupons you're using on which domains.

I can even add yet another sheet that tracks which domains are listed at Sedo, and another column which tracks the selling prices i posted on which domains.

Another issue i have with third-party software, is whether they are trustworthy. I have no idea whether the software has some hidden code somewhere that secretly transmits your data to some mother bot without your knowledge.

 

[dotker]

Hmmm.. maybe i need to get into spreadsheets even more, right now were using google docs and im not too happy going back and forth editing them and looking for something.. i find it way too slow..

http://www.domainpunch.com/ seems interesting though any other option?

 

[Name Trader]

@alien51 - There is a whole slew of columns you can add (I counted over 60 in addition to the standard ones), and there are 4 columns for notes. That should be enough for most people. I also use a spreadsheet for tracking my profitability. Your last paragraph, spoken like a true paranoid alien

@dotker - I think domain punch gives you an extremely good bang for your buck. I've been using it for 2 years now. Use it multiple times every day. Couldn't live without it. It's loaded 24/7. But it might be too expensive for some people's taste @ $129.

 

[alien51]

right now were using google docs and im not too happy going back and forth editing them and looking for something.. i find it way too slow..

So i'm assuming you don't have Microsoft Excel on your machine, where you can do it offline. It automatically synchronizes with Skydrive. So your cloud copy, is just a backup copy.

I'm not sure though if the Open Office free spreadsheet software also offers ability to create macros to simplify your life.

---------- Post added at 08:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 AM ----------

Your last paragraph, spoken like a true paranoid alien

Somehow "domainpunch" as a name, sounds kinda creepy. Can't they think of a better name? lol

 

[hopkism]

I only own several running websites so these are easy to manage with each getting a particular folder on my favorites. From there I include the links to my webmail, the CP, social media, relevant links, affiliate accounts, etc. This is a really easy and orderly way of keeping track of it all.

I use Microsoft Works Spreadsheet to manage my domains but I have less than 50 and look to liquidate all to about 8-10. I put in the price I paid, date purchased, an appraisal, registar, and what they sold for or if I dropped/deleted them. I then have the last row for the profit or loss.

I would have to say to be careful in calling domains assets. I think a lot of us, myself included getting caught up in pie in the sky day dreams of domain names being virtual real estate and all of them have immense value. Yet the reality is most of us have junk that is indeed costing us money. I am not trying to put down your efforts or discourage your management of assets. Yes, many can be worth money and are, but a lot are just plain junk.

 

[Name Trader]

With only 10-50 domains I think a spreadsheet is the best way to go. You could use the free Domain Name Status Reporter (see link above) for keeping track of your expiry dates.

 

[lothos]

I have a password protected website that I can access from anywhere. It gets backed up weekly.

domains are listed with expiration date, creation date, and registrar.
Developed sites are listed on a separate page with links to each site.

 

[jacal1]

I may be totally 2010, but I use an Excel spreadsheet and my quite simple means to both back it up and have it handy is to e-mail it between two e-mail accounts as an attachment.

 

[cache]

no need to track very accurately because it does not translate to any thing actionable, you should not drop the domains by looking at the record because who knows, the next day the domain could be sold.

 

[Name Trader]

True, cache. That's the big gamble you make when you drop any domain. But I think accurate information is always more preferable than inaccurate information

 

[NetOctave]

Its google docs all the way for me here. And then the accurate whois information so that I receive proper notification before expiry.

 

[JB Lions]

Excel works great for me. I can't think of anything that I need, that I can't do with it. This is what I have right now in my top row:

Domain
Where At (which registrar)
Exp. Date
Extension
Category
Exact Global
Reg. Date
Information To Help Sales, Sources - NameBio, DNSalePrice, Sedo, related sales

And I keep it sorted by expiration date, the ones expiring the soonest at the top. Very organized.