YourName.com: 5 No-Brainer Reasons for Choosing a Name-Domain

When someone stumbles across your site, they will do one of two things: Bookmark your siteor forget it. With a name-domain, you increase the likelihood of them remembering you and your site.

AnthonyBlake.com
TonyRobbins.com
DanKennedy.com
BarryMorris.com

What do these four domains have in common?
If you said, all of the domain's registrants are incredibly good looking....you're only 75% correct. ;-)

If you said that they all belong to those who've branded themselves with a name-domain...
Bingo!, You win!

A domain name is crucial to the success of your online presence. Everyone knows that. In addition to this basic fact of web-life, there is the question that we all ask: How can I get my web visitors to more effectively remember me and my site?

The answer lies in a name-domain.
You know what I mean: an example like those above where individuals have chosen to brand themselves and their site by choosing their own name as their web domain.

There are many good reasons for reserving your name domain. Here are five no-brainer reasons for doing so..
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-------------Reason Five-------------
With a name-domain you own your niche.
The waiting before BarryMorris.com became available was three years. T
he moment it did, I reserved it. I didn't put up a site right away, but I did own it. And as long I own it, I can do pretty much what I please with it.

By reserving BarryMorris.com, I can more effectively position my business (and my name) as the "top-of-mind" choice for solving the problems experienced by those in my target market.

Will I do anything differently than before? Maybe not. But the added benefit of having my own name woven throughout the interspaces of my market is a priceless opportunity.

Positioning "Barry Morris" as the solution to the problems faced by my target market is enhanced by owning my own name-domain.

Another no-brainer reason for reserving your own name-domain is...

-------------Reason Four-------------
With a name-domain you build your online reputation quickly.

Here are some of the things you should be doing...
participate in discussion forums
contribute to e-mail lists
publish an ezine [like I do ;-)]
offer a free e-book

By attaching a memorable signature file to every email message you send to these environments, your name and site will generate attention.

Consider a signature file that obeys the same criteria for effective headlines:
question oriented
addresses a common problem
points to a solution

Here's mine:

Barry W. Morris
Helping Solo Professionals
& Freelancers Find the Spotlight
================================
Need More Leads from Your Web Site?
Surf Here: http://BarryMorris.com/tcdownloads.htm

When I check my web site statistics, I note how many people click through to my site directly from my signature file. Using a creative signature file invites more attention. Increased attention to your site means more traffic.

---------------Reason Three---------------
With a name-domain you generate more web site traffic.

And who among us doesn't want more traffic? Not capitalizing on every way to generate traffic to your web site is like putting up a billboard and then covering it up so that no one sees it as they sit in rush hour traffic.

Traffic to your site drive repeat visits. If you need help with crafting your freelance or solo professional web site, consider downloading my Web Leads Teleclass.

Not only will reserving a name-domain increase your web site traffic, but it will begin the process of creating an umbrella brand that is you!

That leads us to the next reason why reserving your own name-domain is a good idea...

-------------Reason Two-------------
With a name-domain you create a brand for yourself.

Coco Chanel
Tommy Hilfiger

Powerful brand names, to be sure. They each host a myriad of products. But they're only known by one powerful name.

Additionally, each of these example has so successfully entrenched themselves into the retail landscape that each are know by only one name.

Now, when talking about cologne, it's simply: Chanel.
A trendy line in clothing for children, teens, and young adults is now: Tommy.

Do you think one day people will talk about "Barry" and.......Oh, sorry...back to the article.
The best reason of all to reserve your own domain-name is......

-------------Reason One-------------
With a name-domain you make it easier for people to find you.

Let's imagine that your name is Joe Smith. (My dad actually had a cousin named Joe Smith!) You have several web sites that operate under different names. That's OK because they are each different entities that target different sections of the market.

Now let's imagine that one of your web sites makes a big impression of a visitor with a lot of credit available on their Platinum Visa card. They love your articles on design at www.design-a-widget.com but also think your poetry about widgets on www.widget-poet.com is pretty cool too.

A week later (after their system has dumped their surfing history) they want to find your site again and purchase your $59 e-book, How Widget Poetry Can Save Your Marriage. They failed to bookmark the site a week ago and now they're looking at a Google or Yahoo search screen.

What do they type into the search box?
widgets-and-wives.com (nothing)
widgetpoetry.com (nada)
poetryaboutwidgets.com (zilch)
I-married-a-widget-poet.com (uh huh)

They give up. You're forgotten. No sale. No return visit. No benefit from that lovely Platinum Visa card.
But, what if.....you had reserved a name-domain?

They might not recall the web address, but they do remember your name.

Now, when they type in: Joe Smith, widgets....up pops "JoeSmith.com!" www.JoeSmith.com can serve as your main site, or as a landing page that introduces all your web sites they come to know and perhaps a few they haven't.

By having a name-domain, you've just made it infinitely easier for perfect stranger (with Platinum Visa card) to find you on the web. Swipe. Chi-Ching

Thanks for reading,

Barry