Yet another reason to avoid NetworkSolutions.com

October 16, 2007 | 1 Comment

In addition to the other reasons to shun NetworkSolutions.com, here’s a fresh one. If you register a domain name with your hosting company and don’t use it, don’t provide an index page of your own, or don’t point it to another domain, the hosting service posts a default Web page. These usually have the host logo and a notice that the site is under construction. If you have a similar situation with Network Solutions (i.e., have not yet “assigned [the domain] to your hosting account” to use their typically incorrect parallel universe of terminology), they display a page that contains a big promo for Network Solutions’ products/services at the bottom, and a looks-like-a-real-Web-page but is actually a paid directory of businesses similar to yours at the top. Unless visitors to the page have pop-ups blocked, they will also see a pop-up window with more directory listings for businesses like yours. In other words, you have paid for domain registration, you are their hosting customer, and Network Solutions uses your unused Web space to put up a page that looks like a legitimate Web site, advertises your competitors and themselves, and includes an annoying popup. And they are making money from it.

I can’t emphasize strongly enough that Network Solutions cares more about selling themselves than serving you. If you are stuck with them for the duration of a contract, consider these options: see if you can terminate the hosting account and get your money back, or get into their arcane Hosting Control Panel and either do it yourself or have your Webmaster make sure that an unused domain name is “assigned to your hosting account,” and either point the domain to the top level directory of your active site or to a custom home page. If you don’t occupy your own Web real estate with Network Solutions, they will squat on it and rent it out.

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More info:
“Registrars also use domain monetization for “parking” customer domains. Godaddy is an example. Registrants at Godaddy are given a parked page. It’s quite obvious that this side of the business is likely much more profitable than the miniscule margins that domains registrations receive. Seemingly a major conflict of interest, virtually all the major registrars monetize names on some level and many have utilized the loopholes to acquire more traffic through retaining expiring names for themselves.”
[Network Solutions is doing just that.]

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/internet/network_solutions.htm
(old, but still true, comments from NS customers)

http://consumeraffairs.com/news03/ftc_nsi.html
Network Solutions Settles FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Charges

Posted by Lynn | Filed Under Web Tips | 1 Comment

Vintage yellow robot: finding or selling stock images

September 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment

vintage yellow robot I’ve noticed over the months that a number of visitors have come to this site as a result of a Google Image search for “vintage robot” or “vintage toy robot.” I’ve used the robot image in one place or another on Sparkling Dawg for well over a year, most recently in the “Search Engine Optimization” post. I also use it on my spam tips site: ctrl-zweb.com.

Here’s where I found this image: iStockphoto.com. If I’m not using one of my stock photographs, or creating a new illustration, I often use iStockphoto to save time and client expense. It’s free to join, and then you pay whatever amount you want in credits. Each image download is a certain amount of credits. Most of my downloads are for Web use, so they are low-resolution and just 1 credit. A high-resolution vector illustration can be 5 credits. With bulk credits, downloaded images only cost from a little over a dollar for web sizes to about 6 dollars for vector illustrations. In addition to photos and illustrations, you can get Flash animations and video. iStockphoto’s catalog is pretty large, the images are always high-quality, and downloads are straightforward and reliable. You can also download a watermarked low-res comp to see if the image will work in your project before you buy it. Compared to other services, I find iStockphoto to be a much more affordable alternative for good quality images. Their Web site is attractive and easy to use, too.

iStockphoto will also sell your work, but I can’t vouch for how favorably they compare to other services for commissions. I do know their standards are high, and judging by the extent of their catalog, lots of folks are selling through them.

If you want to find the source of the vintage robot above, his catalog number is #403291. A search at iStockphoto for “vintage robot” will include him and many other excellent alternatives.

Posted by Lynn | Filed Under Images/Image Handling | Leave a Comment

Blog deal from Garlic D’zign for like-minded bloggers

September 27, 2007 | 2 Comments

It’s nice to have my plate full enough to be able to share another Web services company’s offer. Besides, Deborah Kunzie of Garlic D’zign is looking for folks who are trying to create blog works like her own Sunday Morning Blogger, so we are more complementary than competitive. The special blog offer from Garlic D’zign is for a “selected few (at my discretion)” to get “a hosted blog using the Wordpress Platform” at an unbelieveably low price. She’ll want to know a bit about you and what your blog is or will be about, and she will “under NO circumstances allow any Adult themed sites or anything that could be harmful to children, pets or other individuals.”

Posted by Lynn | Filed Under Web Tips | 2 Comments

IP blocking

September 27, 2007 | 1 Comment

If you or your Webmaster has access to an IP Deny Manager in your server administration tool (mine is CPanel), or know how to work with an .htaccess file, you can block IP addresses from visiting your site. Because I noticed today that I had a new spam commenter who struck every time I wrote a new post, I looked at the IP address –69.41.230.8, the same for all of today’s spams– and blocked that in my server admin control panel. Since this is a new post, I’ll be able to tell quite soon if his spam is stopped via server-level IP blocking, or if he switches IPs. [Later: It worked. For now.]

Be aware that this approach has risks, and limited utility. On the first count, some services use proxy servers for a bunch of users, and both innocent ones and spamming ones will be coming from the same IP address or range of addresses, so you might inadvertently block someone you do not intend to. You can look up an IP address to see where the spammer is coming from, and whether or not it is a service or another kind of site. When WordPress sends a notification email about a comment, it also includes a link to the IP lookup tool WhoIs with the IP address of the comment already loaded so you can check right away to see what IP the comment is coming from. As for limited utility, spammers will just launch their spam from a different IP address later.

When I employ IP blocking, I do it just long enough to get the spammer off my back for a day or so, and (I hope) to drop me from their list of domains to attack. In truth, these vilest of creatures can change IPs faster than you can say “IP blocking,” so this solution is not a lasting one. The above-named offender IP address is from a service, but I am going to block them for a day or so anyway. Sometimes I just need to feel that I am doing something, as long as it only takes a few minutes of my precious time, to slow down these odious creatures. Spammers are the lowest of the low.

Posted by Lynn | Filed Under Web Tips | 1 Comment