Old, Informational Website Discontinuation

Best Options for closing down a website

[contentmaster]

Hello, I have an old domain. The content on the website is original and informational in nature.

I am considering closing down the website and need to know what is the right way to do it? Are there any formalities to complete or should I simply let the domain expire?

Thanks in advance.

[buckworks]

simply let the domain expire

If that's all you do, the web will eventually figure out that the site is gone.

However, consider doing these while you still own the domain. I wouldn't call them formalities but they'd make for a tidier exit:

• Set up 410 GONE responses, domain-wide. The 410 will tell search engines, link-checking tools, etc. that your pages are gone and won't be coming back.
  
• Use the page removal tool in your favorite search engine(s).
  
• Create a custom 410 page to tell human users that the site is gone. (If you're removing the site because it never gets visitors, you could skip that.)
  

[engine]

One other alternative might be to sell the whole site and domain.

[lucy24]

Are there any formalities to complete or should I simply let the domain expire?

It depends, frankly, on whether you care what happens to the domain name. When a registration expires, the name doesn't just disappear, leading to humans getting a "can't find the server" message from their browser. Instead, it will be bought by one of the many domain-name dragons who keep track of about-to-expire or newly-expired names. Future humans will then find themselves on a "This domain is for sale!" page plugging the services of some registrar. If your reaction is "Well, tough patootie"--or if, as buckworks sugests, the humans don't exist in the first place--that's one thing. If the idea gives you the creeps, or you feel bad for the humans, then at least keep the registration going for a few years while serving a steady 410 all the while. That's assuming it's currently only costing you $10 a year or so and the name doesn't have any particular value to others. (I mean, ahem, actual value. You will never see a domain name advertised for less than $1000, no matter how worthless it really is.)

If you have content that is valuable to humans--even if there are only ten of them on the planet--it would be a nice gesture for your 410 page to suggest some other sites that continue to offer the same information.

Option B is to keep the site going, but slap a header on all pages saying "This site is no longer maintained. Content is only current up to October 2004" or whatever it may be.

[tangor]

I have several domains I no longer update and have no intention of doing anything with them in the foreseeable future. I do keep them registered and moved them to a far more inexpensive host solution to keep general costs at a minimum.

While they don't provide any income (not set up that way), they do provide information useful to users, are part of the "linked web" in general, and give me an Author/Creator credit on my resume and are still on the web.

Registration and hosting run about $50/yr in this "standby mode" and for all the above reasons I'll keep the sites for now.

But if you are truly done and it is time for something else in your life, all of the suggestions above are excellent.

[contentmaster]

One other alternative might be to sell the whole site and domain.

I was considering selling this WP website since the content is well-written and well researched. However, I'm not sure where to begin. Any suggestions?

That's assuming it's currently only costing you $10 a year or so and the name doesn't have any particular value to others. (I mean, ahem, actual value.

I am spending a lot more than $10 a year on it (+ hosting costs).
How does one judge the value of a domain name? It's a nice, industry-specific name - one I came up with after a lot of thought :)

I'll keep the sites for now.

So what happens when you finally decide to let them go? Is it wise to 'advertise' / 'mention' on the website that we're looking for a buyer?

But if you are truly done and it is time for something else in your life, all of the suggestions above are excellent.

Honestly, I have spent quite a lot of time and money on it. But with changing priorities, it may be time to let it go.