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And by the way, you did a great service to board readers by bringing the $1.99 domain name up.
Having said that, procrastination is the name of the game. I note that Joe (YouGotThe Money) has still not registered: acmehealthplans.com
Now Joe if that name was just a joke, I didn't get it. I think it is a great domain name and if you are using that as a DBA, then register it fast and use Ray's coupon code.
Ray, bravo to you for doing business the right way. Everyone take note that Ray has set this out publicly, making him safe to deal with for site development. It makes no sense to purchase web development services from an entity who does not give you ownership of the files or who creates a site for you that relies upon the use of propietary components that are not your's if you terminate the relationship.
On a side note, for those of you who plan to, or who have already invested a lot of time and money into a site, you need to purchase an inexpensive shared server deal with another provider ($60 per year at godaddy) and register the .net and .org variants to your domain name.
Next, I would point the .net to the new shared server, and completely replicate your site on that second server. Make sure that it works exactly the same as it does on your primary server and if possible, you should be the one to upload the files to make the new server look like your main server.
If it won't work ask your developer what the problem is. If he tells you it's because he's doing something exotic that is only supported on his server, and not a more generic less expensive server, then that is bad news. Get it fixed. There is no excuse for web programming code to be non-generic.
I practice what I preach. I have different servers/sites hooked up to these domain names:
compulife.com
compulife.net (currently compulife.org points to his one)
compulife.us
compulife.ca
Each domain name and site looks the same, but in truth they are all independent sites with the same pages on them. If the .com goes down, then we can just tell our customer to go to one of the others. Nothing says redundant like redundant.
Ray, got to disagree with you here. Most agents need a very, simple site and students can whip those up just fine.
On the other hand, if you are a significant agency, and trying to move your business dealings with agents more and more to the web, then you are dealing with complicated enough things where what Ray is saying makes sense.
But we are talking about people who think a $1 domain name, rather than the normal $10.99, is big news.
REMEMBER, you started this thread not me. And around my house I am nicknamed ebob because I live and breathe ebay - I hate to pay retail.
So if you are an agent, and don't have a web site, the student is a good solution unless your neighbor does web sites and wants to do your's for free. And all you need is a single page/brochure to get going. WALK before you run.
Ray, I would recommend that you offer that as a low cost, entry point service. As a former life insurance agent, I can tell you that I never looked at a small term life sale as something I wouldn't bother with because most small term sales usually lead to more business in the future. You have to have a low start up point to get them in the door. Why would you not have a simple one to four page package that agents can get super cheap? Look at what State Farm has done for it's agents. I turned up these doing the earlier search of Lexington KY agents:
State Farm Agent Maggie Lee LUTCF -- Lexington,KY (isn't this the one divorcing Tiger?)
Now this program for agent web sites that State Farm has is just as smart as a whip. I would think independent agents would buy a service like that from someone offering it. Nice clean cookies cutter starting web site deal.And Ray, I give this advice to you for free, I don't want to be your partner.
Look, I am not talking about a site that takes weeks to build. What I am suggesting is the kind of thing that should be wrapped up in a day or two.
Sorry Roy, talk like that makes me cringe. I occassionally get a reseller of my services who want to call themselves a partner and I have to lay down the law. I don't have partners, and using that word characterizes an image of a type of relationship I don't have or want.
I suspect a lot of other long term business people feel just like I do, most have had partnerships and bad experiences with them, and I don't think you are doing yourself a favor throwing that language around. You'll notice the phone company doesn't.
The point I have been making. We still haven't heard what your hourly rate is.
Ray, you got to make up your mind here. I think what you are saying is that you rely upon the user for content, and if they have not decided what their content should be, then THEY slow down the process.
Now that's a good point no matter who is doing your site. So, regardless of whether you are hiring a student or high priced help like Ray (tell us your deal, maybe I have to eat my words) you need to know what you want "content" wise before you begin. If you don't have a site, you can start making notes right now and the best way to get content is visit other agent sites for ideas.
All right, now we are talking. Why don't you come up with a simple, 3 to 4 page agent web site idea/deal, slap a one time price of $199 to $299 on it, and make it a special offer to the good folks on this board. Agree you will throw it up on godaddy for them so their ongoing costs are only $60 to $70 per year. That way every agent reading this can have a web site, and won't have any more excuses to not have a web site.
They can be and should be if we are talking about agents who don't have sites already, and who would be the target of a thread talking about a $1.99 domain name.
Ray, you can't have this both ways. $1.99 does not apply to anyone who already has a web site unless they are thinking about more of them.
Simple .html web pages are NOT complicated. My favorite web site remains the drudgereport.com and Matt Drudge has stuck with simple, and it hasn't hurt his traffic a bit. You can't tell me that it is that hard to set up an FTP for an individual and teach them how to download and upload pages from their PC.
There you go again. You are starting with complicated and an agent who doesn't have a site should start simple. If you start doing more and more with your web site, then a guy like Ray and concepts likes these may make sense.
Ray, you have to have a simpler way for a guy to get started. You are trying to put sixteen year old, first time car buyers into new Cadillacs.
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