The Construction Site (tm)

Domain Name
"Should you have your own "domain name" or not?"

WARNING! Some sites are offering FREE home pages that can be created by the user? Whether you use the service, create your site yourself or have someone else create it, you need to register it with its own domain name.

Don't get trapped, read this article first!

As a result of falling into the trap, more pages without domain names of their own are popping up on the Web. Most of them are listed on sites that offer Free Home Page Makers, Instant Home Page, and other similar names. (Are they really free? Are there any strings attached?) Read on...

Warning!
Here's what can happen. The newly created page becomes a victim of the system. Say the page is all about Widgets and is listed on a "directory" of choice. The page address would be listed something like the following: <http://www.directory.com/~users/widgets.htm>, with "widgets" being the page referenced. (commonly referred to as a "lower" level domain name)

The host directory (www.directory.com) is in all probability listed on all of the major search engines. When each search engine traverses the host directory, the widgets page, will be listed on the search engine database and will stay on it from now on. The above address, <http://www.directory.com/~users/widgets.htm>, will be the reference to the widgets page.

If the owner of the widgets page later decides to get a domain name for the page, what will happen to all the references left on the search engines that are pointing to <http://www.directory.com/~users/widgets.htm>? Yep, you guessed it, they'll still be there, pointing the users to the former widgets page location.

What if "<www.directory.com>" is out of business? When an attempt to access it is made, there will be a "No DNS entry" appear on the screen of the user that is trying to access the directory.

There are many "what ifs" to be addressed.

What if <www.directory.com> starts charging for what used to be a free link to your page and you are not willing to pay the asking price?

What if your competitor is willing to pay the price?
Here's what could happen. In place of the original reference to your page, the webmaster of the directory could assign your former address to your competitor, "New widgets" or he could place the following on your old page that is still on his server:

<META HTTP-EQUIV=Refresh CONTENT=0; URL=http://www.widgets.com/010696.htm>

Remember, it's his server and he created the page address, so the page address he created is also his to do with as he pleases. In the above scenario, the "Refresh" would automatically bring up your competitors page instead of your page. Users with your page book marked would automatically be sent to your competitor when they attempt to access your old address.

The longer your page stays on the directory, the more vulnerable you become. With hundreds of book marks and maybe hundreds of references to your original page listed with users, and listed on the search engines, you are in deep trouble.

What if the reference address to your page is removed altogether? Then any user attempting to access your page will receive a 404 error message like this,

"404 Not Found
The requested URL /www.directory.com/~users/widgets.htm was not found on this server."

What if you decide to move the site to another server, for whatever reason? You can bet the former service provider will not forward anyone looking for the site to the new provider, unless someone is willing to pay for the service, and the former provider shouldn't be blamed for not wanting to provide services for which he will not be paid.

Folks, there is more to the Web, and its usage, than the average user is aware of. Don't be lured or suckered into accepting something that is FREE unless you are fully aware of what you are getting in the package. There may be more inside the fancy wrappings than you bargained for.Again, it may not be in your best interest to accept the offer. Some of the directories are now listing and linking to all takers without any charges whatsoever.
Beware, beware, beware!
Don't be vulnerable! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

In conclusion, if your site is on the Web for business purposes and you intend to stay on for the long haul, it is my opinion that having your own domain name is not an option, it is a MUST.

Don't take my word for the above, look what another person has to say on the subject.