Some Good Advice For Proxy Owners and Webmasters

Here's a few ideas for all proxy owners and webmasters to think about. I've listed a few things that I think should be taken into account when making a proxy. I consider them important enough to include here. There are more but these'll do for now. I'll do a proxy blog with more in one day.

The first thing any proxy should be is useable with Internet Explorer©, I mean it, it is one of the most important things it really is. When you consider your main users will be people at work, school or college, and they don't have a choice of browsers. They're stuck with just the default options normally and can't change them. The system administrators want an easy life so go with what works for them. These places usually have their own systems set up, an intranet, and they're designed around Microsoft® products, it's a fact. Whatever the ins and outs, good or bad, they're not going to change anytime soon. They're usually a bit behind too, if there's version 7 or 8 then they'll be using version 5 or 6 because that works for them. A lot of the web is blocked so it doesn't really matter if they're using the latest version or not, as long as it has the updates and patches in.

I see far too many proxies that will only work properly with FireFox or Chrome (or Safari or Opera etc.) and that's no good to the majority of users in the office or classroom. Take the time to check these things out properly and make sure that what you've got works with the default browser. The most common problem is an invisible or covered url input box, if you can't see where to input the url how can you use the proxy? It might work in FireFox or Chrome but it NEEDS to work in I.E. too.

Another turn off is full page ads or pop-ups and pop-unders on the home (index) page. CPA (Click Per Action) ads like surveys is another big no-no. All that's going to do is drive potential users into other proxy sites, not yours. CPA on the proxy pages is also a waste of time, imho, people are lazy and just won't bother normally. They'll just move on to the next proxy site and won't be back. The odd one might complete the extra hurdles but the vast majority won't. it's not worth it for them.

Don't annoy your visitors, they don't want or need any extra hassle, they just want to go surfing the web, doing social networking, watching videos, playing games, checking emails and messages etc., if they like your proxy they'll be back, probably every day (until it's blocked) and they'll tell all their friends too. Make them want to use your proxy again, because there's a million other ones.

Don't under any circumstances put any adult ads or content on the proxy. Not on the home page especially but not on the proxy pages either. They might want to surf for 'grown-ups' websites, and why not, but they won't want to use those at work or school. Keep it family friendly and work safe.

Use proper proxy hosting for your proxy sites as well, I see a lot of proxies using shared hosting, which is totally unsuitable and will be cancelled by the hosting company when they find out. Web proxies use a lot of processing (CPU) and memory (RAM) and the better hosting companies monitor these thing as a matter of course. When they get a peak on a particular account they will investigate. If any one user is taking more than their fair share of resources it affects all the other users so they'll just remove the offending site(s). Read the terms of all hosting before you use it, it's the stick they'll use to beat you with, that's why they put it there. Always read the small print. Don't be a cheapskate, proxy hosting is not expensive these days, it'll pay for itself in the first day or two.

These are just a few suggestions and ideas if you own or run a web proxy. It's to make the experience an enjoyable one (hopefully) for the proxy user, because they're your patrons, your meal ticket. Treat them right, and with respect and you'll keep them happy. If they're happy they'll keep coming back, and they'll spread the word too. More visitors equals more revenue for you :)

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