How many Internet users have the same name as you?
For most of us, the answer will be in the thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or more. Right now, this represents a challenge for a growing number of consultants, entrepreneurs, trainers and authors etc, who trade or work in their own names. That’s because right now, it’s almost impossible for them to register their name on social networks or to buy theirname.com.
Whilst there is something nice about owning yourname.com, there are also a number of good reasons why it’s useful for some people to own a version of their name online. For example, if you are an advisor and trade in your name, it’s easier for people to remember your URL / web address, if it’s yourname.com.
Also, as Gina Trapani, the founding Editor of lifehacker.com recently pointed out, there are some great SEO benefits from owning at least one version of your own name online, IF people are likely to be searching for you, by name. I experienced this myself, when I used JimConnolly.com as my primary website and was the number one result on Google for anyone searching for me.
Social media name grab
Until quite recently, it was pretty easy to get yourname.com. I was able to buy JimConnolly.com with zero effort at the first attempt. However, in more recent years the Internet “got social.” Today, hundreds of millions of people are building social networks and blogging. For example, I was the first Jim Connolly to register their name on Twitter, so when my friend, who’s ALSO called Jim Connolly (From Thomas, Connolly & Phelps in Bloomington Illinois) joined Twitter, “his” name was taken.
To resolve this name issue, there are stories of people creating unique names for their unborn children, so that they can get them their own .com address and social media accounts!
Some possible answers
Here are a few suggestions for businesspeople, who do not already own their own name based URL, but would like to:
- The most obvious suggestion, is for you to check now if your name is actually taken. This is especially the case, if your name is uncommon or uses an uncommon spelling. Even if your name was not available the last time you looked, it could be now. I use 123Reg.co.uk to check URL availability. By the way, that is NOT an affiliate link. It’s just a service I use.
- You can also try and get an alternative to the .com top level domain or TLD. For example; yourname.me, yourname.biz, yourname.org etc. However, some TLD’s come with restrictions on how you can use them, so check before you buy.
- Another suggestion is to get creative and add something to your name, such as JaneSmithMarketing.com or MrBobSmith.com or Mary JonesOnline.com etc. This is still pretty effective and provides an easy to remember option, when giving out your web address to people you meet or in radio interviews etc.
So, what if even the most creative versions of your name are taken?
Don’t panic!
As you can see, even though I own JimConnnolly.com, I still choose not to use it here on my primary marketing website.
Why?
By including the words marketing blog in the URL of this site, almost every link that points here also includes those 2 words. This means there are thousands of links, which point here and tell Google that this is a marketing blog. As a result, anyone searching for marketing blog or marketing blogs etc on Google, will find this blog on page one; even though there are over 100 MILLION results listed. It’s also pretty easy to find me here using Google, just searching for Jim Connolly. BTW: Keep an eye on JimConnolly.com!!
With the annual price of a URL around the same as a quick trip to Starbucks, there’s no reason for business owners not to try and get at least one version of their name. Even if it’s not something you plan to use immediately, it could prove useful for a future project.
Do you own a version of YOUR name online?
I would like to hear about your experiences, of either owning your own name based web address or trying to get one. Equally, I would appreciate any suggestions you have, for people trying to get a name based web address.
Photo: Natalie Maynor
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This post is actually a bit funny for me because I was thinking about this topic a few days ago.
I’ve registered the .com version without a problem. A few days later I thought that I don’t want anybody to have the “same” domain as do because if someone is searching my name and forget that mine is ending with .com I might loose some potential readers.
Though my blog is not ready yet, I decided to purchase almost every domain. Such as .net, .org, .tv and .me
It might sound and/or look a bit over the top, but I think I could profit from that step in the future.
.-= Mariam´s last blog ..This Blog Is Not Ready Yet, But I Can Drop You Line =-.
Hi Mariam. It’s great that you got your name, though I’m not sure there’s any real value in owning all the iterations of your name.
Once you own yourname.com, you can use sub-domains for different projects etc.
I only have jimconnolly.com and left the others, so other Jim Connolly’s could get them.
Of course I am THE REAL Jim Connolly (not them)
Thanks for the comment!!
I am still in major iterations with my blog and how much I want to share about my personal life. I did just recently buy myname.com but it is an uncommon name, so it was not a problem. I will eventually use it as a place for to show the multiple things I am doing.
.-= eradke´s last blog ..Out Sick =-.
Hi Eli. There are certainly some major benefits these days, in having an uncommon / rare name.
Thanks for the feedback!
I own myname.com along with half a dozen other domains. I agree it is convenient that people can find me by searching my name, but I needed the ability to market services with other domain names.
I like your solution of both a name and a service in the domain name.
.-= Tammi Kibler´s last blog ..SEO Tactics: Blog Commenting and Nofollow tags =-.
Hello Tammi. It’s all about developing the strategy that’s right for you and your needs.
Thanks for the comment.
The frustrating part is when someone owns myname.com and doesn’t use it. This is the case with me. I understand trying to save it for the future, but if there is someone who actually wants to develop the site now, it seems quite a waste. I wanted to buy lizking.com, but somone already owns it. It’s sitting there unused and therefore I can’t buy it. For me, I’ve been able to come up with a reasonable alternative – lizkingevents.com, but it my ideal situation! I say, if you aren’t going to use it, don’t take it away from someone else who IS going to.
.-= Liz King´s last blog ..The Business Side of Twitter: Part 1 =-.
I can understand that this might seem like a waste to you, but you never know what this person has in mind to do with it.
Maybe that person was clever enough to grab it fast and is now working on something.
I think everyone should look ahead and build a solid fundament as soon as possible, even if it means registering a domain a year before starting off.
.-= Mariam´s last blog ..This Blog Is Not Ready Yet, But I Can Drop You Line =-.
Hi Liz. I can REALLY relate to your frustration, as people register and then never use a domain name, which would be so valuable to you.
Sometimes, it’s worth contacting the domain owner and asking them if they are interested in selling the domain name. Whilst some will no doubt ask for too much money, others might be willing to sell the name for a reasonable fee.
You can (usually) get their contact details via http://www.whois.net/
Drop them a line. As they say; “Ya never know!”
Thanks for the comment, Liz.
Very funny, You bring This Up Jim,
Last year, I had a lawyer… I explained This method to Him for His Law Firm. Being an attorney We bought every domain to do with his Law practices.. (over $4,000.00 in names)
Now his method could get very very costly! For the not to economically secured I will suggest to STAY with one DOMAIN NAME and Tweak that til it does what You need it to do For You using Search Engine Optimization for Your name..
I use, STRAIGHTALK as my brand name but still focus with my name Norman Flecha, Online web Solutions..
However, it is cool to have or to buy as many names possible but TRUE Optimization is when You can make it show up for what ever You set out for!
Norman Flecha
Straigh Talk
.-= STRAIGHTALK´s last blog ..Do You make MONEY online?? =-.
Yes, I do own my own name. But I’m fortunate since my last name is so uncommon.
.-= Tom Wanek´s last blog ..Monday Morning Marketing Quote: Three Questions That Build Persuasive Momentum =-.
This is weird – I was just watching your video here: http://www.marketingbeyondadvertising.com/2010/04/monday-morning-marketing-quote-three-questions-that-build-persuasive-momentum/ When your comment came through.
Small world my friend!
re: checking your URL availability.
I’m a complete novice and noticed that the URL you mention to check your name is from UK. I realize the internet has no borders, but if one buys an URL from a British company will it be acknowledged anywhere outside the UK (as in the US)?
Hi Richard, You can buy a URL from anywhere. I buy some of mine from the US, which are fine. The site you buy the URL from needs to be legal, but where it’s based is irrelevant.
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