I wonder how many abandoned sites like this exist?

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by sarahk, Apr 7, 2014.

  1. #1
    I found this site today

    [​IMG]

    So many people come to dp looking for dirt cheap hosting yet here we have a company that continues to register their domain name and possibly pays for hosting for so many years that the site no longer recognises our browsers as valid.
     
    sarahk, Apr 7, 2014 IP
  2. Acroplex

    Acroplex Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Last modified: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 4:13:56 AM :D
     
    Acroplex, Apr 7, 2014 IP
    DomainMagnate and sarahk like this.
  3. risqq

    risqq Member

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    #3
    There's so many sites like this. The annoying thing is the fact that you cannot contact the people to enquire about purchasing it or doing something with it. I've had a few site ideas which have been taken up by people that purchased the domain umpteen years ago like the site above. Nothing has happened to it and it hasn't been updated.

    The amount of sites out there right now that are dormant must be into the millions. I'd like to see Domain providers bring in something for renewals to stop this. Auto-Renew for 2 years, after which the owner has to manually review on the third. All of these Auto-newing domain names along with the tonnes of squatters has left us with no decent domain names :)
     
    risqq, Apr 8, 2014 IP
  4. hsownage

    hsownage Member

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    #4
    Ha I'm sure I have some super super old Web 2.0s properties still hosting content I made nearly 10 years. Strange people to continue to pay for those domains and not realise.
     
    hsownage, Apr 8, 2014 IP
  5. jrbiz

    jrbiz Acclaimed Member

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    #5
    I was just posting in another section on DP about a "hobby" website that I put up in 1999. I have not changed the design or the content in the past 15 years. I have a newsletter subscriber base of about 500 people that I send out a free weekly newsletter (no advertising, no revenues...it is a hobby for me.) It still displays the same as it did 15 years ago and on the latest browsers, etc. Obviously, it is a VERY simple website so that may be why I have not had any compatibility issues or the like. But I am one of those people that you are discussing above, I suppose. ;)
     
    jrbiz, Apr 9, 2014 IP
  6. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #6
    Not necessarily although I'm surprised some of the content from your newsletter hasn't made it into the site.
    I'm not a big fan of those banners which warn users that their browsers are out of date but this one wouldn't even let me see the site! If the site owners had visited their site even once in the last 5 years they would have noticed the problem. I'm guessing you've viewed your homepage occasionally.

    Not that it matters really, I was just surprised
     
    sarahk, Apr 9, 2014 IP
  7. jrbiz

    jrbiz Acclaimed Member

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    #7
    Yes, I do visit the site at least once per year to update the copyright year. I just went there today after posting on this thread to make sure that it was still there. :)

    It's a looong story as to why I have kept the site the way it is. First, I offer personalized advice on the topic to anyone who sends me an email from the website. I cannot handle a ton of traffic, in this regard. I put the best questions and my answers into the weekly newsletter. If I were to post the content (and there is a lot and it is unique) I would be just like every other website in that space and there are a ton of them offering generic content, forums, etc. I originally had a few expert volunteers like myself answering questions, but they drifted away and, fortunately, the volume of visitors slowed down enough to where I can take care of it alone. I still find it enjoyable and interesting as a hobby and have no interest at this time into trying to commercialize it. if someone comes to the website and is turned off by its looks and does not understand what is being offered (free expert advice by email), then I really won't miss them. I know, it's kind of weird, but it has worked for me for 15 years and counting.
     
    jrbiz, Apr 9, 2014 IP
  8. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #8
    That's pretty cool.

    I met with a group of people from an organisation called "age concern" many years ago and tried to plant the idea that they had expertise of value to someone, somewhere hoping that maybe one of them might do exactly what you are doing - sharing but without the hassles of being a "big deal". I think its great that you haven't felt obliged to turn it into something else and spoil your hobby in the meantime.
     
    sarahk, Apr 9, 2014 IP