Squidoo?

[3kidsmom]

Hello Everyone,

I've noticed that most of the experienced internet marketers are recommending that people who are starting out in affiliate marketing get their own domain (correct term?) rather than using free sites or blogs like blogspot. I understand the reasoning behind this since having a site that you own gives you more control and you don't have to worry about someone changing the rules or policies on you.

My question is for those of us who are new to affiliate marketing and are getting a feel for how this process works, is squidoo a good place to "test the waters" rather than getting a website right away? Then if the product/niche is producing good results, the person can get a website and go back to the ezine articles that were previously published and edit the articles to include the links the new website and remove the link to the squidoo lens?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Jen

[pamb1010]

I would say that squidoo is a good way to test the waters but on the flip side of the coin, purchasing a domain is not anything that is too expensive. You could set up a blog on your site if your hosting service provides the option. They usually do. I use Hostgator and using their package I can host unlimited site for just under $10/month. I can share my hostgator link with you if you are interested in checking them out for hosting.

HTH
Pam

[Laura B]

Your theory is certainly an option. It would help you decide whether this is something you really enjoy as well as whether your niche might be profitable. I'm one who recommends going with your own site right from the start, though. It could be that I'm just a let's-get-going kind of person, I don't know. As Pam mentioned, a domain for less than $10 a year and hosting for less than $10 a month, it's certainly not a huge start-up expense.

[trishO]

I would suggest that you start a blog instead of Squidoo. It is true that Google loves Squidoo but there are so many distractions for your visitors that the conversions drop dramaticallly.

If you don't want to pay for a domain than go for a blogger blog. The free wordpress blogs do not allow any affiliate links or monetary links on it.

[LilBlackDress]

I would definitely not recommend Squidoo. They have recently changed their policies and are coming down hard on many affiliate products; locking lenses etc.

One of the reasons it is good to get your own hosting and domain is because you control it. When you are on blogger, squidoo and other sites they can change the rules at any time, delete your account etc.

Why build business for them?

It is easy to get hosting at substantial discounts and cheap domain names.

[3kidsmom]

Thank you so much for tour replies! Your advice is extremely helpful since I am new to affiliate marketing.

Where are some of the best places to look for hosting and domains? I need something simple. I don't have a lot of experience on the technical side of things.


Thanks,


Jen

[Yuliya Mironova]

Lots of members here will have various recommendations for registrars (to buy a domain-name) and for hosting services.

The important thing to know before you start, whatever advice you end up following (and all of it will be perfectly good, valid advice and it isn't usually terribly important anyway, in my opinion), is not to get your hosting wherever you register the domain, but to use two different places, even if it costs a few dollars more. In the long run, this really can matter and it's the one real "trap" that people doing this for the first time can fall into if they don't know about it beforehand.

[LilBlackDress]

I can get you a substantial discount on several top hosting companies. PM me if you still need it.

Yulia is your reasoning that the domain site might withhold your domain from you if you choose to move to another host later? Have you heard of this happening a lot? I just can't imagine reputable places doing that.

[Yuliya Mironova]

Originally Posted by LilBlackDress

Yulia is your reasoning that the domain site might withhold your domain from you if you choose to move to another host later?

Yes, if you ever want to move, there can be horrendous expenses and delays involved.

Originally Posted by LilBlackDress

Have you heard of this happening a lot? I just can't imagine reputable places doing that.

Yes, really a lot, including many otherwise apparently very reputable registrars. I know you post at the Warrior Forum, LBD: have a look round there - there's a huge number of posts about this very point, and among the experienced IM-ers there, the standard advice to "not host where you register" seems to be something like "Internet Marketing 101".

[LilBlackDress]

I wonder how they can do that and get away with it?

I have not read any posts on that but I will be look for them now. Happily I hosted and got my domain names from two different companies. In addition my hosting company gave me a free domain name when I signed up but I have not used it and definitely will not now.