NAMEKING.COM, INC. has bought a domain name that I am currently using as a subdomain of a hosting company (my first website, I didn't know what I was doing, but it's done really well, lots of links and traffic). Let's say the domain is helleborine.hostingcompany.com - the name is very specific. To continue with the example, that nameking.com company bought "helleborine.com" and "helleborines.com" The parked domains have a slightly different appearance everytime I reload. But the xwhois doesn't like, the nameking fellows are behind it. What's going on here? They hope to force me to buy that name from them??? There is a button "inquire about this URL" that sends me to "www.juccoholdings.com" Never! I never will. I'll use hyphens, I'll pluralize, I'll do whatever I need. It's not like I am a big fish on the web. As flattering as it may be, let them waste their money. I will never buy a domain from these speculators.
If you're doing business under that name you could possibly prove common law TM rights and send them a C&D letter informing them of your TM and requesting that the domain name be handed over to you. I'd probably do this anyway, because you have nothing to lose by doing it. They may just laugh at you though and unless you can prove your rights and pay something like $1000 to file a UDRP through WIPO, you pretty much have no options as far as getting the name. One thing to consider though at this point, before the site gains even more popularity, is maybe it would be wise to just register a completely different domain name and then redirect your current site to the new domain. Unless you're cool with them gaining potential traffic and revenue from people who are looking for your site and mistakenly goto helleborine.com instead... It's always better to have a real domain, rather than a subdomain and it will definitely be easier to make the switch now before it gets even more popular.
It's not good to use a subdomain if you actually care about the domain. What you might want to do is not access the domain through the URL & wait a week, it just might be available again. Again do not access the site through the URL & try a few days to week later it might be available.
One domain is renewed until Nov 2007, and the other until June 2007. How could it be available in a few days? The speculators have had this domain for a couple of years already.
This subdomain site is one of a dozen sites I have. It is the oldest, and most popular. Being a parked domain with an MFA phantom site, I doubt they are getting much traffic at all, because my real site ranks a million types more than they do. There is one advantage of the subdomain: ZERO DOWNTIME. Not even a second! Haha. The host makes sure they have no downtime, and I don't have any either! This being said, I'll rather have my domain name, and take the bits of occasional downtime that comes with it. I am afraid that if I install redirects, I will lose some of my ranking. And this one site is the anchor for all my others. I have a lot of cross-traffic. I can't be taking any chances.
Just a thought, if you liked the domain so much, why didn't you buy it before them? I understand it was your first domain (the subdomain) but as soon as it started to do well, you really should have done something about it - sorry! Again, if the domain is that good, do something about it, buy it from them and put it down to experience. Domains are no longer expensive to buy, if you have an idea, don't use a sub domain, but the .com domain straight away, just my 2cents worth!
Hopper - for sure! I did learn my lesson. However, as long as the subdomain website is working, there isn't much reason for me to purchase the speculator's domain, is there?
most likely they found that your site's topic is searched for and then registered the domain. Depending on the income you have from your website you might at least try to C&D or buy the domain so you are not loosing any visitors to them through type-ins
I agree - so I don't understand your objection to their registering this domain. Its a ball ache but these things happen. Good luck
If you use a 301 redirect to point it to a different domain, you shouldn't lose any rankings. This is considered a permanent redirect and is search engine friendly. You could definitely find some info on it if you are considering this option, but ultimately it comes down to what you're comfortable with. Like I said before, I'd try a C&D, it cant hurt.
301 is the way to go. But its a lot easier with apache than IIS server so you're better off if your pages are PHP than ASP. And you'll have to continue with the redirect scripts on the old URL for ever(to keep getting the PR from other pages currently directing to you). A lot will depend upon how much of access/control you are given on your old server. 301 cud be a pain in the neck and it takes at least 3 months to stablize. Having said all that, YOU MUST MOVE TO YOUR OWN DOMAIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. As the cake gets bigger, it'll hurt more if you lost your sub-domain at a later point.
I'd rebrand personally & redirect the traffic. They owned the domain for years. Does it only make sense in regards to your site? Even so does the average domain investor think that a person who had a subdomain for years is suddenly going to hire a lawyer? It sux but it's some things you have to think about.
Yes, it only makes sense with regards to my site. I am not going to hire a lawyer. They make no earnings from the domain, because they don't rank at all. Their only hope of making money from this, is if I buy the domain from them. Needless to say, I don't intend to rewards these leeches.
They're definitely make earnings or they wouldn't have had it for years. They didn't buy it in hopes that you'd want to buy it from them, they bought it due to the popularity of your site and banking on the fact that some people would naturally type in hellborine.com instead... They're making money on PPC. And it has to be enough to make registering the domain every year worth it.
Exactly what I was thinking. Ranking for your keywords is not the factor they think about. People clicking on ads is.