Why Do People Do This To Themselves? Do You Do This To Yourself?

Posted by Paul Colligan on Monday, February 9, 2009

It seems to simple …

Create media, be the media, own the media.

Pick the media – written word, spoken word, video – whatever.

Kill the middleman.

Enjoy the profits.

But then, AND THIS IS THE PART I DON’T GET, …

Host it on someone else’s site / domain name / URL.

Or as they say in some areas of the country: flush it all down the toilet.

So that when they go down, you go down with them.

Or, if you try to move, their association with your content make it almost impossible to depart.

Heck, half the time, they even sign away their rights when they click those “I agree” buttons.

I’m talking bloggers who host at a free hosting service and put up with http://myhardwork.someoneelsesdomainname.com – and then spend their time promoting that very domain name.

I’m talking podcasters who sign with organizations that force a url of http://www.myhardwork.someoneelsesdomainname.com – and then force their audience on that service.

I’m talking video makers who think promoting http://www.sometube.com/me is a good idea. Did you get a part of the action when they sold to Google?

Why do people do this to themselves?

I understand that hosting large/popular media files can be an issue but you can always host the files somewhere else, and point back to your own domain in everything you do.

Domains are $7.99 a year at 1PlaceForEverything.com. They also have a cheap hosting – as does Bluehost and PowWeb. The options are plentiful – do a Google search.

If your media isn’t worth that much to you, why are you even creating it?

What am I missing here?.

  • http://www.RobMcNealy.com Rob McNealy

    Great post. That is why I host on my own domain. More control too. I had too many podcast hosts flake out. I totally agree with hosting your own blog and audio podcasts.

    However, there are some obvious traffic advantages to hosting video podcasts with sites like Viddler.

  • http://www.paulcolligan.com Paul Colligan

    I got no problem with your videos on site x – i got problems with people promoting site x on their videos.

    Paul

  • http://http:www.affiliateavalanche.com David

    Excellent post! People seem to undervalue the permanency, identity, and branding that goes along with having their own domain. One of the simplest principles I learned many years ago was to operate your business like it’s going to be around forever.

  • http://www.peakassist.com Sandy Zuniga

    Paul,

    I think some people are just not well versed in this area. There are a ton of people saying we in the virtual world should create podcasts, videos, etc and some “do as they’re told” and create and don’t know to invest in a domain name and if they do just don’t know what to do with it. You’ve got a great post and ability to cater to those who don’t understand, to teach them.

    Just my thoughts on the subject.

    Sandy

  • http://www.TheSmallBusinessGuru.com Melody Campbell, The Small Business Guru

    Why don’t you tell us how you really feel, Paul? Don’t be so shy ;)

    I think hosting http://myhardwork.onsomeoneelsesblogplateform.com just a stepping stone for those that are intimidated by technology. It’s not a cost issue, it’s an education issue.

    I agree with you though – every serious Internet Marketer – or my market…coach, speaker, author – should host their own message. There are some advantages to hosting ones own blog, audio, video etc. For example, one of my clients who has not made the leap to hosting their own blog yet, cannot run the script for a good email capture on the WordPress.com hosted blog – but she could if she self-hosted.

    Know of any good video’s that walk a newbie through the steps of hosting their own message – blog, audio, video? It’s not that many don’t know they should…they just don’t know how.

    Thanks for the follow on Twitter! I love your strong message. I’ll be back to read more.

  • http://www.TheSmallBusinessGuru.com Melody Campbell, The Small Business Guru

    Good point! Everything you create on line should be branded with your identity.

  • http://realwebsitehosting.biz rick mcginnis, Jr.

    couldn’t be more on the money there your ability to help people understand these obvious things is why i read and listen to your info

    keep up the great work