Domain name service drops upfront fees.
[Update: What I couldn’t write about yesterday but can now is that Parked.com has purchased WhyPark.] Domain name parking alternative WhyPark has dropped its upfront fees and is now free. Previously, WhyPark charged $99 for the first 100 web sites. Add-on services, such as article writing and search engine submissions, are still available for a fee.
WhyPark enables domain name owners to create dynamically updated web sites on their domain names. Using article feeds and various other content sources, clients can quickly develop their domain names. The system is flexible and allows users to customize templates and add their own content.
WhyPark is a good solution for domain names that receive little type-in traffic. A properly designed and promoted WhyPark site can get into organic search listings, driving visitors and revenue. The system includes an integrated two-click advertising system, similar to what you find on most domain parking pages.
Some people shied away from the system in the past because of the upfront fees, so I expect WhyPark to rapidly grow its user base going forward.
I guess I got to give them a try as everyone else makes them sound like the leader in the field.
Most folks I have talked to have been happy with it.
so um, how do they make money now? Are they still charging for extras?
“how do they make money now?”
1. Charging for extras
2. Revenue share on ad network
The real question is, how is the domainer going to make money out of these “templated” sites? I cannot call them minisites because they are not. I see no ad feed, is this an extra? Can one add their own AdSense – if that’s the case, why not develop real sites?
Free or not, there has to be a method that monetizes better than parking companies.
Acro, exactly. I just signed up and added a few sites. Compared to the choices we have in in parking, I’m really impressed with WhyPark. Don’t knock it until you try it. 😉
@Acro,
You can use your own adfeed code (like adsense) or WhyPark’s ad network.
You can create your own templates (see mendmyheart.com to see a non-stock template) and add your own content (so long as it is text). See my site, timmyth.com, for more tips on that.
Why not develop real sites? Because installing Joomla, picking a template, adding my adsense code and some content from articledashboard takes at least 30-45 minutes. Pointing a domain at WhyPark takes about 5 to 10. Updating a dozen domains that use Joomla is also time consuming. Updating a dozen domains at WhyPark can be as simple as two clicks.
@ Tim_Myth – I don’t think you can use your own Adsense code on the free system; you can only use it if you have an existing (paid) account. It makes sense.
I heard that WhyPark will be incorporate parked’s yahoo feed. IF this is the case, if this is the case this will be like printing money. Adsense pays peanuts.
@ Frank – yes, that would be the new top tier ad feed.
@Frank
Amen to that!
Their concept is really great for parking, however the fee might be too expensive. Thanks to Parked, they’re going free