Help me make a decision on my website.

03/29/2006 12:58:51 PM · #1

//www.polishedtool.com

A lot of you have probably seen Polished Tool in my signature, some of you may have visited it.

Now, my decision is -- I'm trying to restructure my life a bit. For a while, I've made a living both doing web design and photography. I've been doing pretty good at getting more photography gigs and have been turning down web gigs and now am hosting only my sites on mys server.

I'm seriously debating on shutting down my server (at GoDaddy) and Polished Tool will be going too. I'd be saving $50 a month on 3 sites that have not been producing any income.

Now, here's my question: I like the site, because of its intent, but is it worth it to me to keep it up, just to try to help others? Or, should I close it down? I'm just sort of torn on shutting it down. Help!

Message edited by author 2006-03-29 13:00:00.

03/29/2006 01:03:32 PM · #2

Why is it costing so much?

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

03/29/2006 01:07:29 PM · #3

Originally posted by mk:

Why is it costing so much?

Well the 3 sites are all on a Virtual Dedicated Server at GoDaddy. I had the VDS, because I was hosting other sites, but have since moved those sites (client's) to thier own hosting.

Like I said, I'm getting out of the web design business and am passing off existing jobs to others.

I know the VDS is a bit much for a blog site. I could find cheaper plans, but will still need a service capable or PHP/MySQL to run the site.

One of the other sites is a joke site. //www.liggit.com, the other is something I'd rather not post a link to on DPC and is coming down as we speak, because it has not done nearly as well as those affiliate programs hype.

Message edited by author 2006-03-29 13:10:11.

photomikey

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/29/2006 01:10:25 PM · #4

I use my website mostly to transfer files between myself and my clients, or host video and photos temporarily while clients (or friends, family) are accessing them.

I think my web server is costing me $3 or $4 a month, paid yearly. (Works out to less than $40 -- also, I think they knock off $1 a month for a two year commitment, instead of one year.)

Please understand that my service is somewhat slow, but works for what I need it to do.

I use //www.ace-host.net/ ... my girlfriend and I share a blog site, hosted through godaddy, for another few bucks a month. I will probably combine them, when one or the other comes up.

Why is yours $40 a month?

----

Edit: Both of mine come with (I think) 10 MySQL's.

Message edited by author 2006-03-29 13:11:57.

giega

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

03/29/2006 01:11:19 PM · #5

GoDaddy has $3.95 a month plan with PHP/MySQL. I say keep it running. Just find a way to reduce cost.

03/29/2006 01:14:44 PM · #6

I wonder how well it would run, if I were to just place my content on Blogger.com and redirect my domain there?

Message edited by author 2006-03-29 13:15:12.

03/29/2006 01:15:09 PM · #7

I'd just switch to a more reasonable hosting plan then. If you want to keep up the site, that is. $10-20 a month should more than do it. I use vervehosting.com

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

03/29/2006 01:15:56 PM · #8

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

I wonder how well it would run, if I were to just place my content on Blogger.com and redirect my domain there?

Well, with Blogger, you get what you pay for. Which lately, seems like a heck of a lot of downtime.

giega

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

03/29/2006 01:17:33 PM · #9

I run a fairly active forum at //www.mutineerz.com

It runs fine. It was started in the beginning of March.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/29/2006 01:21:10 PM · #10

Originally posted by mk:

I'd just switch to a more reasonable hosting plan then. If you want to keep up the site, that is. $10-20 a month should more than do it. I use vervehosting.com

I may just do that. I'm now thinking about calling GoDaddy and ask them to transfer the site to a hosting plan and shutting down my VDS.

Also, had another idea of asking the admins if I could transfer SOME of the content to DPC tutorials... and just put my efforts there.

Message edited by author 2006-03-29 13:23:37.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

03/29/2006 01:35:38 PM · #11

Yeah, If you have the clients off the VDS then just dropping down to shared hosting on godaddy would cut down the bill a lot and should be pretty painless - obviously assuming you can play well enough with others to fit into a shared environment :-)

I have sigs turned off, so will have a look what you have out there tonight - I suspect it might not be a good idea for me to hit that link from work :) If there is something that fills some gaps in the DPC tuts then they might put it up here, but if you keep the site, it's not a biggie either way.

GentleSoul

Canon EOS-30D

03/29/2006 01:58:37 PM · #12

PM sent.

I hope you continue to host your site or share your knowledge somewhere, Leroy. It'd be sad to see it go away.

Liz

03/29/2006 02:05:58 PM · #13

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Also, had another idea of asking the admins if I could transfer SOME of the content to DPC tutorials... and just put my efforts there.

Good idea. I'm sure they'd like to see that happen.

03/29/2006 02:25:25 PM · #14

Originally posted by mk:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Also, had another idea of asking the admins if I could transfer SOME of the content to DPC tutorials... and just put my efforts there.

Good idea. I'm sure they'd like to see that happen.

I'm pretty fond of that idea. DPC has a LOT larger audience than my site.

03/30/2006 02:31:12 PM · #15

Well, the decision has been made and Polished Tool is no more. For those who found the content helpful. Most of it will be finding a new home at DPC Tutorials. :-) Wooohooo!!!

GentleSoul

Canon EOS-30D

03/31/2006 05:53:54 PM · #16

Fantastic! I'm so happy it's found a way to an even larger audience. Good going, Fotomann!

Liz