ebikes.com or endless-sphere.com

[NoFanBoiz]

As it appears the forum software is going to transition from phpbb to xenforo with one of the likely reasons being more SEO friendly and to help stem the gradual decrease in topics and member growth to other online forums, most of which have more SEO website addresses [https://electricbike.com/forum/ as an example - ES has been online for many more years, yet look at the number of members there online compared to ES], this poll is to ask members which website address makes more sense [ebikes.com or endless-sphere.com]. Logic seems to indicate ebikes.com, nostalgic feelings probably endless-sphere.com.

note that Justin 'owns' both website addresses, amongst others, and that he is under no obligation to move the forum to ebikes.com

[99t4]

If we are allowed to make comments here, I would like to say that to me, endless-sphere does seem klunky and not entirely descriptive, nor SEO friendly, but ebikes.com is flashy and better for scaling, yet not really appropriate because the forum(s) here are more than just ebikes.

Also, maybe we shouldn't get too hung up on sheer numbers of members. Quality over quantity and all that.

[LeftieBiker]

On the one hand, ebikes.com would be much easier to suggest, type, search, etc. On the other hand, think of all the casual dumbasses, trolls and spammers who would suddenly appear. I agree that we should consider whether we want more people here, or if we want people who are genuinely interested in E-bikes.


Don't forget that new forum for pre-built bikes!

[NoFanBoiz]

On the one hand, ebikes.com would be much easier to suggest, type, search, etc.

Yep, I once tried to suggest this forum to a person who I met that had an ebike, and she thought I was saying endless fear. I doubt she ever found this site. Even if by miracle she did, have a look at the page at https://endless-sphere.com/ - nothing about the site nor any obvious links to the forum [you can click the image but there is nothing intuitive or descriptive]. Sorry, but that is just stupid.
At the minimum, the forum should load on https://endless-sphere.com/ not https://endless-sphere.com/forum, OR second best option, when visiting https://endless-sphere.com/, it should auto-redirect to https://endless-sphere.com/forum/

[NoFanBoiz]

ebikes.com is flashy and better for scaling, yet not really appropriate because the forum(s) here are more than just ebikes.

"endless-sphere" doesn't seem to be appropriate for any category, e-bike or other. At least ebikes.com fits the overwhelming majority of members posts and categories compared to the non e-bike forum areas!

[amberwolf]

I'd rather have something other than the present domain name, for the same reasons given in posts above (especially people thinking I'm saying "endless fear", and can't even find it if I write it down for them or they take a picture of the sticker on the side of the trike!

However: There are MANY MANY MANY links in posts that directly point to this domain, and there are places elsewhere on the internet that do this too. So there needs to be a redirect at the present domain to point over to the new one for external links we can't affect, and then something will need to be done during the forum transition to translate all links to the present domain to the new one.


Which domain name we actually use, I don't know that I have a preference for, other than it not be what it is now.

EVs.com would be nice and short, but hard to tell what it's about for those that don't already know.
Ebikes.com is easy to figure out even if you don't know what they are yet, and it is what most of the content here is presently about. It's also very easy to "hear" when telling people about the site in person.
EVehicles.com is probably closer to the usage of the site, perhaps a bit less easy to "hear" when spoken to someone.
ElectricVehicles.com is a more specific but harder to remember version.
DIYElectricBike.com might be useful for those that already know what DIYElectricCar is (but less so for many others).

There's others I'm sure I didn't think of in the minute or so I let my brain overheat.

[Dauntless]

On the other hand, think of all the casual dumbasses, trolls and spammers who would suddenly appear.

We already get those, too.

Ebikes ore any other name can be made to forward here. But I remember the first time I heard it, Endless Sphere was such a kewl name. Think of the possibilities . . . .

Like if I ever have a horror movie company, THAT should be Endless Fear . . . .

[NoFanBoiz]

On the other hand, think of all the casual dumbasses, trolls and spammers who would suddenly appear.

We already get those, too.

Ebikes ore any other name can be made to forward here. But I remember the first time I heard it, Endless Sphere was such a kewl name. Think of the possibilities . . . .

Like if I ever have a horror movie company, THAT should be Endless Fear . . . .

Unfortunately forwarding direct keyword domains to ES doesn't result in strong SEO unlike having the domain itself hosting the content.

I do agree endless fear does sound like the apt name for ongoing horror.

[MJSfoto1956]

The domain name has almost no bearing on SEO. Seriously. Having language-friendly, keyword-rich URLs to individual pages however do have a positive SEO impact. However, the single biggest driver of SEO is "engagement" -- i.e. how long someone stays on the page. The second biggest driver would be references to it by reputable sources.

[neptronix]

endless-sphere is the name for a hosting company ran by knightMB and was never intended as a name for this forum.
We really need a better idea.

I bought magnetic-motion.net and magnetic-motion.org quite a bit ago, came up with an aesthetic for it, rules, etc. It was meant to be endless sphere 2.0 during the period of time where it's future was up for question. The plans were shelved when i learned Justin's takeover was a good thing.

magnetic-motion-mewe.jpg (348.42 KiB) Viewed 328 times

I would be willing to donate these domain names to the cause, and think that anything other than endless-sphere.com would be an improvement.

If we switch domain names, there will be full forwarding over to the new domain for at least 5 years, since we can't afford to lose our searchability/name recognition. That's no problem; the xenforo plugins and other technology to enable that exists.

SEO will improve dramatically simply by switching to Xenforo, according to many webmasters who have made the switch.

So don't worry about the effects of a name change.

[neptronix]

Yep, I once tried to suggest this forum to a person who I met that had an ebike, and she thought I was saying endless fear. I doubt she ever found this site. Even if by miracle she did, have a look at the page at https://endless-sphere.com/ - nothing about the site nor any obvious links to the forum [you can click the image but there is nothing intuitive or descriptive]. Sorry, but that is just stupid.

I've had that experience numerous times and it's frustrating.

At the minimum, the forum should load on https://endless-sphere.com/ not https://endless-sphere.com/forum, OR second best option, when visiting https://endless-sphere.com/, it should auto-redirect to https://endless-sphere.com/forum/

It is important to keep the forum folder separate so that we have the option in the future to add a front page portal. Xenforo makes such a thing readily possible. An improvement to the current setup could be to redesign the logo graphic so it just says 'click to enter the forum'.. or automatically redirect to /forum.

[NoFanBoiz]

An improvement to the current setup could be to redesign the logo graphic so it just says 'click to enter the forum'.. or automatically redirect to /forum.

I suggest a short term and quick 2 minute job:

- Add some text to the home page along the lines of 'electric bikes and more' or whatever you think most appropriate that links to the forum? Ideally text and links to each forum category that match the category text.

- html title on home page currently says "Endless Sphere Forum" - change to whatever you think most appropriate

- Forum home page html title is "(4) Endless Sphere - Index page" !
Wow - that needs changing too.

[NoFanBoiz]

The domain name has almost no bearing on SEO. Seriously. Having language-friendly, keyword-rich URLs to individual pages however do have a positive SEO impact. However, the single biggest driver of SEO is "engagement" -- i.e. how long someone stays on the page. The second biggest driver would be references to it by reputable sources.

Exact match domains took a hit as a ranking factor back in 2012, but they’re still an important part of online marketing for different reasons.

[MJSfoto1956]

Removing/changing our domain name would be a disaster. There are much better ways of obtaining SEO these days.

M

[neptronix]

Removing/changing our domain name would be a disaster. There are much better ways of obtaining SEO these days.

Given there'd be 301 redirects for everything, why?

[NoFanBoiz]

Removing/changing our domain name would be a disaster. There are much better ways of obtaining SEO these days.

M

Considering there is no SEO at all on ES, anything would be an improvement, even the basic word of mouth for an easier to understand website address over endless fear.

[NoFanBoiz]

Removing/changing our domain name would be a disaster. There are much better ways of obtaining SEO these days.

Given there'd be 301 redirects for everything, why?

Exactly. Two lines in an existing htaccess or four for a new one and done.
http://enarion.net/web/htaccess/migrate-domains/

[MJSfoto1956]

Simply going to have to disagree.
The domain name is fine as is, even good if you want to be discovered/standout from the rest.
ebike.* would be a disaster.

Michael

[kcuf]

sentimentally prefer endless-sphere.com

but hyphens in web addresses suck imo

endless sphere has always been difficult to share verbally

especially to someone casually asking

where to learn about ebikes

ebikes.com ftw

[marty]

How many ebikes would you like? Why is there a s at the end of ebike? I like short domain names. How about ebike.com

ebikes.com forwards to https://ebikes.ca/ Must be because as NoFanBoiz explain, Justin owns that name.

ebike.com forwards to https://www.buckleymedia.com/ebike.html

Interested in buying this domain name? sales@defining.com

Wonder how much money they asking? Wouldn't hurt to ask. If you want to have the best electric bicycle forum you should have the best domain name. Note that I type [electric bicycle forum] not [electric bicycles forum]

[LeftieBiker]

How many ebikes would you like? Why is there a s at the end of ebike? I like short domain names. How about ebike.com

There is discussion about quite a few different ebikes.

[neptronix]

Exactly. Two lines in an existing htaccess or four for a new one and done.
http://enarion.net/web/htaccess/migrate-domains/

Yes, something along those lines. It gets more complex when we start forwarding phpbb URLs to Xenforo. But technically, this is all feasible with small, temporary negative impacts to SEO. Use of Xenforo will improve SEO, and so even with a domain name switch, we'll be in a better position.

The domain name is fine as is, even good if you want to be discovered/standout from the rest.
ebike.* would be a disaster.

endless sphere does stand out, but doesn't relate to what we're doing.

ebike.com or ebikes.com are nice domains, however we cover much more than ebikes in our forum, and with some shuffling of subforums, could cover even more without making the category list much longer than it already is.

I like prefer magentic motion because it relates to our subject matter quite well. The name has good mnemonics.

[MJSfoto1956]

I prefer magentic[sic] motion because it relates to our subject matter quite well. The name has good mnemonics.

And ya gotta love alliterations!
(I presume you meant MagneticMotion, because MagenticMotion sounds like some sort of marital aid)

M

[neptronix]

I'm not offended that you're making fun of my mild dyslexia, but i was hoping for a response to the question i asked you.

[NoFanBoiz]

How many ebikes would you like? Why is there a s at the end of ebike? I like short domain names. How about ebike.com

There is discussion about quite a few different ebikes.

Exactly.