Turning hits into clicks

[domainregger]

I already owned a few domains myself for personal reasons, but decided to dip into the domain parking/selling business recently.

I bought a few domain names already - previously unregistered ones. In the past week, one domain has 15 visits, another one has 14, and there's another that has 5. For only being active a week, this type-in traffic seems to be pretty good. I only got one click so far that was worth 3 cents.

I have most of the domains on NameDrive as that seems to have the best-looking parking pages and relevant ads.

So for having nearly 30 visits and one click in my first week, is this pretty good? Will it typically increase from here? I try to register names that will get a lot of hits, but I would like to try to increase the clicks I get on these names.

 

[novatheory]

Read more about CTR = Click Trough Rate. It involves ad positioning, landing page optimization, and other things. But Understanding your domain/stats is as I believe essential to your success.

 

[RazorNF]

The fact that you received traffic on a new reg in the first week is decent, but think beyond parking, unless you are using it for the sales page.

Don't even equate parking in the traditional sense as a serious revenue stream at this point. Those days have come and gone.

Start thinking about development and other monetization methods.

 

[domainregger]

I would like to at least break even on the domain + gain a few more dollars before I do anything else for now.

In terms of site development, would I make a Wordpress-esque website with AdSense ads on the side?

I have some basic web design knowledge. Is it a good idea to make a custom HTML/CSS design and then just change the content itself depending on the domain?

 

[novatheory]

Well, I personally like to test things and gather my own intel if I know the market or want to enter into a market. I have read in a few posts about mini-sites. While I like WP as blog engine and cms. I would stay away from joomla, modx is better. I will show you a sample mini site I just created. airportparkingvalet.com - I used CodeIgniter/Smarty and some what latest technologies. Why go so overkill? Well it took me 1 extra hour of work but I can actually use responsive design or even track and record the queries off from G.A. I can do so many things quicker and easier than WP/Modx/Joomla. Also I can copy over and over to other domains since is very light on the footprint.

You can see for example that I am testing 3 different positions of the the link ads in the content. 1 at the end, 1 before last paragraph and 1 kinda in the middle.

 

[GiftedDomains]

For those of use who are not programmers , coders, etc.. Wordpress or other easy solutions are better. I personally have absolutely no idea about php, etc. not even advanced html. So i use programs which are easy to use and for people who are unexperienced (in programming)

 

[novatheory]

For those of use who are not programmers , coders, etc.. Wordpress or other easy solutions are better. I personally have absolutely no idea about php, etc. not even advanced html. So i use programs which are easy to use and for people who are unexperienced (in programming)

Yeah WP and the plugins available contrary to Joomla/Modx. Is a great solution. Now WP is becoming little by little like Joomla for getting a plug-in you need to register or pay what made the app great was the free availability of things. I know we all do it to make the living but it really doesn't hurt to once in-while give something back to the community.

But back to topic, yes WP is easy to install, maintain and SEO. Have you try WP Multi-Site? One control panel, manage multiple sites?

 

[tetsuo_it]

And what about PageZen? There's a domain seller where they give you 1 free page with it, you can set it up after you buy the domain.

Example: youmdisplay.com
I've had like 400 page visits in 2 weeks but 22 eurocent gained with Ads. This sucks!

 

[novatheory]

And what about PageZen? There's a domain seller where they give you 1 free page with it, you can set it up after you buy the domain.

Example: youmdisplay.com
I've had like 400 page visits in 2 weeks but 22 eurocent gained with Ads. This sucks!

It could be worth it, but I personally stay away from pre-made system like this. I would spend 1 or 2 more hours and get something more unique or use NameDrive and park it. I like to keep control of things, if you know what I mean.

 

[tetsuo_it]

Sorry I think I do not know what you mean, still too noob for that. Furthermore I don't understand where could I upload a page made by me if I bought a domain with no space

 

[GiftedDomains]

How about Software like this?
I heard very good reviews about it. And its easy to use.
I don't want their hosting, just the software

http://www.websitex5.com/en/evolution-9.html

 

[novatheory]

How about Software like this?
I heard very good reviews about it. And its easy to use.
I don't want their hosting, just the software

http://www.websitex5.com/en/evolution-9.html

I have seen some links about it, but unfortunately I can not speak about it. It seems quick and fast. Many will use Wix because of flash not understanding how much it would hurt them. But do a search for WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) there is tons of them. For example for mac you have iWeb.

 

[alien51]

I would like to at least break even on the domain + gain a few more dollars before I do anything else for now.

Unless you are extremely lazy, you have plenty of time to breakeven-- 12 months. And since you said you got your domain at reg fee (that's about 8 bucks), breaking-even is much easier.

One of my boring domains is even earning about 6 bucks per month. I may not be able to cash-out in a year, but atleast i'm already way beyond breakeven for that domain.

And if you haven't cashed-out after 1 year, make sure you use the rock-bottom coupons from various registrars when you transfer so that you will keep your costs down.

In terms of site development, would I make a Wordpress-esque website with AdSense ads on the side?

That's pretty much standard practice. Although i use Joomla. I find Wordpress to be prone to website hacking.

I have some basic web design knowledge. Is it a good idea to make a custom HTML/CSS design and then just change the content itself depending on the domain?

Wordpress and Joomla have lots of templates. You don't need to design one yourself. Once you install the template, just make minor parameter tweaks and all you need to worry about is putting content.

 

[novatheory]

Ill say to keep yourself away from Joomla. WP and don't use the content as post but pages.

 

[Name Trader]

Nice link novatheory. I'm downloading it as I type

 

[novatheory]

Nice link novatheory. I'm downloading it as I type

If you are talking about WS5 you want to thank GiftedDomains. :D

 

[srisri24]

I seriously doubt if one can make at least $8(reg charge) through parking. At the most 2 or 3 dollars. So its better not to depend on parking but start developing content. I used to have over 400 domains in parking and they used to make $20-$25 year. So no point depending on parking.

 

[Name Trader]

Nice link GiftedDomains. I'm downloading it as I type

 

[DnEbook]

If using wordpress, use wordpress firewall 2 and secure wordpress to avoid being hacked, wordpress firewall 2 was suggested here and so far has been a godsend ....worth knowing about for sure, always update any plugins as required

 

[Bannen]

I have most of the domains on NameDrive as that seems to have the best-looking parking pages and relevant ads.

So for having nearly 30 visits and one click in my first week, is this pretty good? Will it typically increase from here?

I used Namedrive years ago but do not anymore, so anyone can correct me if things have changed: Namedrive has a platform of domain buyers (private, not an open buying platform like Sedo), and these buyers will have a quick look at most newly-parked Namedrive names.

Which means it's common to have a few 'type ins' in the first week or 3 at Namedrive, just enough to get you excited for more... and then the visits go down to what their type ins really are... usually around zero for new regs.

If you want to develop your domain/s via any of the methods mentioned by above members, be sure to dev based on the domain/s' relevant stats, like exact monthly searches via google, advertiser competition, estimated cost per clicks, that kind of thing. Also - especially - whether you're interested in developing that particular kind of site and can write some interesting content that adds something to the world... even through a minisite, ha

If you want to post any of the domains you're thinking of developing, I/we can let you know if we think they're minisite material or not, based on stats etc.

Welcome to Namepros
Good luck