Using your name as the domain name -- pros and cons?

[Tasaio]

Greetings,

I've registered a domain with namecheap, but I followed Steve's example and used my real name.

I thought it best for my first(!) website. What are the pros/cons of doing so? Is everyone else doing the same thing?

Why use Whois protection if my real name is the address itself?

Also, is it possible to switch, or get a refund if I change my mind?

Thanks in advance,

Tasaio

[Polonius Funk]

Originally Posted by Tasaio

Greetings,

I've registered a domain with namecheap, but I followed Steve's example and used my real name.

I thought it best for my first(!) website. What are the pros/cons of doing so? Is everyone else doing the same thing?

Why use Whois protection if my real name is the address itself?

Also, is it possible to switch, or get a refund if I change my mind?

Thanks in advance,

Tasaio

I'm far from an expert in this, but...I'm *very* cautious about my privacy on the internet - probably too much so! I just registered a domain name to promote my music with my real name and I still have mixed feelings about doing so.

To answer your questions:
1) Whois protection will prevent your home (ie street) address from being listed
2) That's up to your provider, but I'd imagine not - though you can also register a new domain name and move everything over

[Scott H Young]

I did the same thing with my website. I've noticed two major points:

Pro - It centers your website around you. Many blogs and websites appear lifeless if they are just about a niche. Making your blog share the same name seems to center your blog more around your personality and identity than topic. Steve's website really isn't personal development it is infused with the philosophy and ideas that make up Steve. People like brands that have human personalities.

Con - You aren't going to have new visitors doing web searches through your name. Plus this personality comes at a cost, it makes it more difficult to add guest bloggers, or content that doesn't vibe with your personality.

In all it is a pretty minor choice. Choosing your name for a blog might increase your personality factor a little and restrict you a little, but this is just one of thousands of decisions that comes when designing a website.

[SeriousKidding.com]

If you're happy with who you are, why not flaunt it a little? I think using your own name.com is great. If the site is all about you and what you do, and you're trying to drive traffic to it, well, name recognition is very important. Plus, what's more unique than naming your site after yourself?
I say GO FOR IT!

[rene_stpierre]

In my opinion, it all depends what one whats to have on his website.

Personally, I will begin building my first website this week. It will be a personal development website and I will use a domain I already have (www.*******************) which is tide to the purpose of the site.

However, later this year, I want to get into Life Coaching. Since the product for this line of business is "me", my plan is to register a Domain with my name for my Life Coaching website.

René

[Tasaio]

Thanks for all the replies. My one concern is that my friends will recognize my name...and the private opinions I express (politics) will be connected with me in real life.

Do you ever have a problem with real-life friends tracing your online activity? I'm talking about private discussions like "should I quit my job" or "I'd like to try and lose weight".

[dor]

Originally Posted by Tasaio

Thanks for all the replies. My one concern is that my friends will recognize my name...and the private opinions I express (politics) will be connected with me in real life.

Do you ever have a problem with real-life friends tracing your online activity? I'm talking about private discussions like "should I quit my job" or "I'd like to try and lose weight".

that could very easily happen./

What are you trying to do exactly? if you were trying to promote yourself as an author, obviously you would want to increase name recognition.

What opinions are you talking about? think of the name domain as your brand. so lets say you like to blow off steam by blogging - do that under an anonymous blog at blogspot and keep your domain name for 'business'.

[C.F. Jackson]

Tasio,

You do want to have your name registered, so
that you take ownership of it.

Also, to piggy back on Scott, having your name
or having a brand which do you believe would
lead people into finding you?

If you check any successful purpose they own
the domain to their name as well as the business
name.

Security - people can find you for just $19.99 on the
internet. Should you be that leary about that, be
sure to use a P.O. Box for your mailing address and
a your cell for contact. Better yet leave it blank. You
can choose to keep it private I believe.

Continue to make this an Awesome day!

Won't Be Denied!
C.F. Jackson

Lighting 1,000 Dreams Worldwide!

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Scott H Young

Con - You aren't going to have new visitors doing web searches through your name.

This may be true when you're starting out, but I'm seeing just the opposite. Once your online reputation begins leaking more and more offline, people will Google your name to find your site.

My own name is consistently one of the top 10 search terms that brings traffic here. So far this month about 3000 search visitors have come here from a search on "Steve Pavlina." Oddly enough it's one of my most valuable keywords. It would be exceedingly difficult for anyone to knock me out of the 1 spot.

The first time I realized this was happening, my reaction was like Maud'Dib from Dune saying, "My own name is a killing word."

[Tasaio]

Thanks for the replies, I've registered two domain names: my own name, and a business one.

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

The first time I realized this was happening, my reaction was like Maud'Dib from Dune saying, "My own name is a killing word."

LOL! Would you prefer we shout your name as a battle-cry (the novel), or as a magic word that literally kills (David Lynch's adaptation)?

From now on I have but one word for trolls: PAVLIIIIIINNNNAAAA!

[GoalGuru]

It doesn't have to be an "either or" decision.

I am a believer that everyone should own their own name ".com" At the time of this posting, my name JillKoenig.com redirects to my goal setting/ time management web site. A lot of people misspell my last name.

Having said that, I am also a huge proponent of branding. Because I launched my site under the brand GoalGuru.com, at any time I can sell it and it would still thrive on the foundation I built. I created a solid brand that can stand alone without me.

Believe me, I am having so much fun -I cannot fathom selling my site, but if need be, I always have the option.

Consider pointing your name.com to an easy to remember, branded keyword rich .com

Live Your Dreams,

-Jill

[Elenny]

Originally Posted by Tasaio

Thanks for all the replies. My one concern is that my friends will recognize my name...and the private opinions I express (politics) will be connected with me in real life.
".

Being outspoken about politics is not necessarily a bad thing, but you have to be ready to face the fire, since it's a topic that awakens deep passions in people.

And if they are going to somehow connect your business to your political views, you might end up losing potential clients.

Then again, if you want to run for office someday, it's never too early to get a head start.

[Scott H Young]

Steve,

You might be correct, but your personality is mostly online. I'm guessing most the people who searched for your website already got information from your website. So that traffic probably isn't new, but rather people who wanted to find your website but forgot the address.

If you had a big offline personality as well like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar or other big personal development speakers then I suppose people who have never seen your site would stumble upon it by referencing your name.

So the payoff of a self-named website probably wouldn't appear near the beginning, but might be important later on.