Just like there is an assortment of ice cream flavors, there are varieties of proxy domains that are popular today. These are the Brandable .com, Random .TLD, and Easy-to-Remember .info. Let's get into a bit more detail about each of these.
Brandable .com
This type of proxy domain is usually used for companies that plan on establishing and expanding their proxy. They aren't set for a URL form and a some Google ads. They need to have a forum, link anonymizer, URL shortener script, and full proxy website. An example company that does this is Privax. These types of proxies are usually more popular with people who need anonymizers, not unblockers. Why? Because proxies get blocked. And established proxy sites are definitely going to get blocked. These usually have cool domain names, like ProxyPimp.com or CantBustMe.com.
This method takes time, is generally expensive, but can eventually reap good rewards. However, we will not be talking about these.
Random .TLD
These are the 'Ooh I have some random domain that I don't need.' or 'Ooh this guy is selling random domains $1/each' type of domains. They are usually a random mess of numbers/letters and come in any TLD. 25Hn62.com and H03d.net and the such are examples.
These are only useful if you have random domains lying around and want to make some cash off of them. However, they are very hard to remember, so don't expect any return visitors. You are also gonna have trouble getting people to advertise them through Word of Mouth. This is very important. So say no to these domains.
Easy-to-Remember .info
This is the best option, and the one I use and recommend. Easy-to- Recommend .info domains are usually a combination of two words (could be anything) and use the cheap .info extension.
Some examples of this are BirdWorld.info and MathWork.info – They are short, easy to remember, and inexpensive.
.COM – Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easier to Remember – Especially for Non-Geeks :P
- More Brandable
- Easier to Market/Establish
Cons
- Expensive to Renew
- Expensive to Buy in Bulk
- WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!!
.INFO – Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cheaper
- Inexpensive to Buy in Bulk
- Also easy to remember
Cons
- At first it is hard to remember – But visitors will get used to it. .INFO is known as the 'Proxy TLD'
- Not The Best Domain to Market/Establish
My Suggestion: Go for The Easy-to-Remember .INFO
Finding a Registrar
The key in this is to find the cheapest and most efficient Registrar. I am assuming you will be using the Easy-to-Remember .INFO domains.
NameCheap.com
This is the registrar I use, and the registrar I recommend. It is currently have a promotion for $2.98 .INFOs. Now, the good part about this is FREE WHOIS PROTECTION. WHOIS Protection is very important, I will talk about it below. Either way, NameCheap gives away free WHOIS Guard with every new registration.
But that isn't all. For those of you who use SSL on their proxies, Namecheap also gives away FREE SSL CERTIFICATES for all new registrations. This is a great deal.
GoDaddy.com
GoDaddy commonly has '99cent .Info' sales, and many proxy owners like to stock up on them at this time. The good thing about this is that in addition, GoDaddy gives you free WHOIS Guard when you buy 5+ domains with them.
I do not use GoDaddy because they require a credit card, and because of all of the horror stories I have heard about them.
The Importance of WHOIS Guard
Did you know that when you register a domain, your name, email, phone number, and address are visible to the public? Now, considering proxies are used by people who want to be anonymous (maybe criminals) and are enemies with big filtering companies (like WebSense), it's wise that you keep your information hidden. When you buy a domain, make sure you buy WHOIS guard with it. When you buy WHOIS guard, the registrar will place their information instead of yours, and they will contact you before giving your information away. This is very useful. Both of the registrars above that I mentioned give away free WHOIS guard.
Summary: It is suggested to use Easy-to-Remember .INFO domains – such as BirdWorld.info. Use NameCheap when buying domains and get free WHOIS protection and SSL. WHOIS protection is very important, because you generally do not want people who use proxies to know your information.
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