Domain building experience log

Ashton · 19-08-2010, 11:04:15 PM

This is a progress log of my experience in trying to make a passive income from domains and microsites.

I hope it will help new domainers not make the same mistake's I do, and some of the more experienced domainers will provide some sort of advice and direction when I am doing something stupid.

19th August 2010
Completed first beta of http://www.hygienecourses.co.uk - All thoughts are appreciated. �5 commission per course purchase. Will update on google ranking and hits when it gets listed.

August 2010
Purchased the following domains for development (plans on the right):

HannahMontana.co.uk - Hannah Montana blog + gallery, no adverts until success, maybe affiliates to itunes for music, amazon etc.
UsedBikeSales.co.uk - Bike classifieds, completely free to list, no adverts planned.
SiteCreate.co.uk - Info on creating your own website, affiliated with the website builders like webs.com
LuxuryWeekend.co.uk - Luxury weekend reviews, hotels, etc - Affiliates
HygieneCourses.co.uk - Food hygiene courses online.

July 2010
Foolishly over confident in myself I bought buyusedpcs.co.uk off a drop list. I made a very basic and hastily made site, and signed up to affiliate programs, surprise surprise, no traffic, not many google searches. Bad choice. Once burned.

Early 2010
Joined acorndomains as an experienced web designer, tired of earning <�50k a year and wanting to have some passive income. I initially joined tempted to offer my design services to gain experience.
Gradually got hooked to the ideas behind domaining and that led me to start spending my time on researching and creating sites

All thoughts on what I am currently doing and any advice is really appreciated. If the admin would prefer I kept this off the forum let me know, better than me asking for a website review on every site I complete I thought

rob · 19-08-2010, 11:57:37 PM

Good info - will be nice to follow progress - keep it updated!

springer · 20-08-2010, 09:28:47 AM

Your Hygiene Courses site is nice and clean, although I would add a logo instead of the tightly spaced text at the top.

I am sure it is something you considered before your purchased the domain, but I would think carefully before investing, and quite possibly wasting, time on Hannah Montana. I doubt Disney would be too impressed you making money from their intellectual property.

Look forward to further updates Ashton.

Ashton · 20-08-2010, 09:41:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Good info - will be nice to follow progress - keep it updated!

I intend to

Quote:

Originally Posted by springer

Your Hygiene Courses site is nice and clean, although I would add a logo instead of the tightly spaced text at the top.

I am sure it is something you considered before your purchased the domain, but I would think carefully before investing, and quite possibly wasting, time on Hannah Montana. I doubt Disney would be too impressed you making money from their intellectual property.

Look forward to further updates Ashton.

The text is for SEO purposes, although currently its only h2 and h3 so I could add a logo.

Regarding Hannah Montana, it wll be a fansite. It will have similarities to: http://www.hannahmontanazone.com but be targeted at a UK audience.

At the end of the day, I will be earning them money (Branded products, DVD's and music) and promoting their show.

Unfortunately it has been the last Hannah Montana series... so unsure how long it will last.

Thanks for your reply

accelerator · 20-08-2010, 10:34:49 AM

Food hygeine site is nice and clear. On a page like:

http://hygienecourses.co.uk/food-hygiene/

The click here for more info button is a little far down the page and could be given more contrast.

Rgds

Ashton · 20-08-2010, 02:48:39 PM

Today I am redesigning hygienecourses.

I will make a design that will get picked up by some of the showcases and hopefully improve its ranking considerably. (Its currently page 10 on google for hygiene courses haha)

New design will have some elements of the old and some entirely new bits

Thanks for the suggestion about the buttons, they are all being changed in the new design to a slightly more square look, with a better hover.

accelerator · 20-08-2010, 02:54:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashton

Thanks for the suggestion about the buttons, they are all being changed in the new design to a slightly more square look, with a better hover.

I was thinking a better colour ... my favourite is orange.

Rgds

Ashton · 20-08-2010, 02:56:02 PM

Green is associated with hygiene, that was the idea.

Once you see the new design it hopefully will sway you

theonemanyuri · 20-08-2010, 08:06:19 PM

Good work mate. Couple of thoughts:

- On mouse over, 'supervising' says manufacturing certificates
- The footer is offset to the left on my display, would look cleaner in the centre

But it looks smart apart from those small things. I agree green is a suitable colour for food and hygiene, not too intrusive on a site where your going to be reading alot either

Ashton · 20-08-2010, 08:51:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theonemanyuri

Good work mate. Couple of thoughts:

- On mouse over, 'supervising' says manufacturing certificates
- The footer is offset to the left on my display, would look cleaner in the centre

But it looks smart apart from those small things. I agree green is a suitable colour for food and hygiene, not too intrusive on a site where your going to be reading alot either

Sorted both in new design, but thanks for the feedback

19-08-2010, 11:04:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ashton Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Coast Posts: 1,518 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 21)	Domain building experience log This is a progress log of my experience in trying to make a passive income from domains and microsites. I hope it will help new domainers not make the same mistake's I do, and some of the more experienced domainers will provide some sort of advice and direction when I am doing something stupid. 19th August 2010 Completed first beta of http://www.hygienecourses.co.uk - All thoughts are appreciated. �5 commission per course purchase. Will update on google ranking and hits when it gets listed. August 2010 Purchased the following domains for development (plans on the right): HannahMontana.co.uk - Hannah Montana blog + gallery, no adverts until success, maybe affiliates to itunes for music, amazon etc. UsedBikeSales.co.uk - Bike classifieds, completely free to list, no adverts planned. SiteCreate.co.uk - Info on creating your own website, affiliated with the website builders like webs.com LuxuryWeekend.co.uk - Luxury weekend reviews, hotels, etc - Affiliates HygieneCourses.co.uk - Food hygiene courses online. July 2010 Foolishly over confident in myself I bought buyusedpcs.co.uk off a drop list. I made a very basic and hastily made site, and signed up to affiliate programs, surprise surprise, no traffic, not many google searches. Bad choice. Once burned. Early 2010 Joined acorndomains as an experienced web designer, tired of earning <�50k a year and wanting to have some passive income. I initially joined tempted to offer my design services to gain experience. Gradually got hooked to the ideas behind domaining and that led me to start spending my time on researching and creating sites All thoughts on what I am currently doing and any advice is really appreciated. If the admin would prefer I kept this off the forum let me know, better than me asking for a website review on every site I complete I thought Last edited by Ashton; 20-08-2010 at 12:06:16 AM.

20-08-2010, 10:34:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
accelerator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: England Posts: 4,918 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 31)	Food hygeine site is nice and clear. On a page like: http://hygienecourses.co.uk/food-hygiene/ The click here for more info button is a little far down the page and could be given more contrast. Rgds __________________ LowPrices.co.uk \| My Twitter \| KeyphraseDomains.co.uk \| Mens Shirts \| Hotels in Bath \| Money Off Code

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19-08-2010, 11:57:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
rob Founding Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,978 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 37)	Good info - will be nice to follow progress - keep it updated!

20-08-2010, 09:28:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
springer Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 453 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 14)	Your Hygiene Courses site is nice and clean, although I would add a logo instead of the tightly spaced text at the top. I am sure it is something you considered before your purchased the domain, but I would think carefully before investing, and quite possibly wasting, time on Hannah Montana. I doubt Disney would be too impressed you making money from their intellectual property. Look forward to further updates Ashton.

20-08-2010, 02:48:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ashton Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Coast Posts: 1,518 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 21)	Today I am redesigning hygienecourses. I will make a design that will get picked up by some of the showcases and hopefully improve its ranking considerably. (Its currently page 10 on google for hygiene courses haha) New design will have some elements of the old and some entirely new bits Thanks for the suggestion about the buttons, they are all being changed in the new design to a slightly more square look, with a better hover.

20-08-2010, 02:56:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ashton Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Coast Posts: 1,518 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 21)	Green is associated with hygiene, that was the idea. Once you see the new design it hopefully will sway you

20-08-2010, 08:06:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
theonemanyuri Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 481 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 2)	Good work mate. Couple of thoughts: - On mouse over, 'supervising' says manufacturing certificates - The footer is offset to the left on my display, would look cleaner in the centre But it looks smart apart from those small things. I agree green is a suitable colour for food and hygiene, not too intrusive on a site where your going to be reading alot either