Without getting into the specifics of how Google indexes stuff 
online, lets just say that having your full name as your domain pretty much guarantees that you will appear on a search for your name.
Some examples are:
http://dannycoxdidit.com/
Do a Google search on each of these people and their URL will be on the first page.
Let’s set something straight. You ARE going to get Googled. Even the most self-proclaimed Techno-phobe will admit that.
And a large part of your personal brand comes from the results of that pivotal search of your name.
Even if you don’t intend to do anything with that domain, such as a blog, website or portfolio, it doesn’t matter. The domain company will allow you to redirect your personal URL to your LinkedIn profile.
Best of all, your domain will cost you about $8.00 /year.
It’s going to be the cheapest and easiest thing to ensure your online reputation that you can do.
So what are you waiting for. Get your domain right now!
Here are some pointers:
- If you have a common name, use your middle initial in your domain. Example, www.joshuabwaldman.com
- If .com is not available, use .net or .org, but don’t use any of the others.
- If you are still having trouble finding an available url, use one of the key-phrases you want to be associated with. For example, you can be, www.joshuawaldmanmarketinggenious.com
- Avoid dashes, they are cheesey, you can always capitalize the first letter of each word, for example, www.JoshuaWaldmanMarketingGenious.com
Suggested Domain Resources
Just for full disclosure, the links below are affiliate links. That means that if you decide to use these services, and you got there using these links, I’ll get a buck. However, I would NOT recommend something that I wouldn’t use myself. And I use all of these:
- Get Your Domain Name from Name Cheap (they have monthly 10% discount coupons that you can find with a simple search. I hate GoDaddy and suggest you avoid them too.)
- Host your domain with: BlueHost (they have cheap and reliable hosting for simple sites, like blogs or portfolios)
- Learn how to set up your blog: from Laura Roeder’s Zero to Blogging videos
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Your own name is the best domain name you could get! Aside from the fact that it is easy to remember, you’re always going to have it. Sooner or later you will change jobs, interests or even industry so it is important that you will have a domain that will transcend all of those stuff! Just keep a positive online reputation and your business will last. Any other sites where I can follow your posts, Joshua? I love reading topics like these. I even have a collection of books written by this author: http://www.martinlindstrom.com/ .
Josh:
I recently took a course on personal branding and one of the suggestions was that you get your name as your domain name as you suggested in this article and then establish that as a personal portal with links to your linked in page, twitter, blog etc. — Is this how you envision using the personal domain name?
@Dean F. Radke Yes, it’s one way. I redirect my personal doman (http://joshuawaldman.net) to my about.me page. http://about.me is a great portal for personal sites, b/c it’s simple yet highly personal.
joshua: you stated above that hosting your own domain costs $8.00/year. In none of the sites you provided a link to did I find that kind of deal. Can you tell me which site offers it?
Use Namecheap, I fixed the link. Then do a google search for, “Name Cheap Discount 2011”. It will give you a special code for this month. Enter it and get a few bucks off your domain.
Gary,
Of course you are right. Every decision needs to be held up against the light of one’s own personal brand. In these things there are no easy answers.
So Yes. A Canadian might choose .ca if that re-reinforces their brand.
Mainly, however, I don’t like .biz, .tv or .us and the other very cheap options. They look trashy no matter what you do.
As far as Google, their URLs are not dedicated. You would have to work out a redirection to actually get a just your name. Their tools are OK for beginners. But are quickly limiting if you are looking to do more than very basic portfolio or online resume.
The best advice is to find platforms that has the fewest amount of psychological barriers to actually using them. Why stop at Google? Why not have Google, Lookuppages.com and wordpress? The more content you generate, the better off you’ll be at getting found and ranking on Google’s first page.
Gary,
Of course you are right. Every decision needs to be held up against the light of one’s own personal brand. In these things there are no easy answers.
So Yes. A Canadian might choose .ca if that re-reinforces their brand.
Mainly, however, I don’t like .biz, .tv or .us and the other very cheap options. They look trashy no matter what you do.
As far as Google, their URLs are not dedicated. You would have to work out a redirection to actually get a just your name. Their tools are OK for beginners. But are quickly limiting if you are looking to do more than very basic portfolio or online resume.
The best advice is to find platforms that has the fewest amount of psychological barriers to actually using them. Why stop at Google? Why not have Google, Lookuppages.com and wordpress? The more content you generate, the better off you’ll be at getting found and ranking on Google’s first page.
Joshua;
Your readers may need to be wary of your advice to use only .com, .net & .org. The latter two might “brand” an owner as something they are not.
This could damage your brand’s trustworthiness before you get a chance.
Canadians who may feel there’s an advantage in identifying themselves as a citizen of the northern part of “America” also could use .ca in lieu of the ubiquitous .com.
Google Apps will not only give you an inexpensive URL and hosting, folks, but also a complete Suite of tools in which to run your brand, for FREE .
Regards,
@GaryFPatton in Toronto
The People Development Guy
.-= Gary Patton´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Joshua;
Your readers may need to be wary of your advice to use only .com, .net & .org. The latter two might “brand” an owner as something they are not.
This could damage your brand’s trustworthiness before you get a chance.
Canadians who may feel there’s an advantage in identifying themselves as a citizen of the northern part of “America” also could use .ca in lieu of the ubiquitous .com.
Google Apps will not only give you an inexpensive URL and hosting, folks, but also a complete Suite of tools in which to run your brand, for FREE .
Regards,
@GaryFPatton in Toronto
The People Development Guy
.-= Gary Patton´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Jenn, you can redirect a personal domain to your blogger site. I helped somebody do it once before, but I don’t recall the details now. I do recall that it wasn’t that difficult. If you need help figuring it out let me know.
Jenn, you can redirect a personal domain to your blogger site. I helped somebody do it once before, but I don’t recall the details now. I do recall that it wasn’t that difficult. If you need help figuring it out let me know.
Great article! I have a question, though: does it matter if you’re using free hosting for your site, and it’s reflected in your URL? For instance, right now the majority of my online presence is on Blogger, so my website’s URL looks like this: http://jennboyer.blogspot.com. Does the “.blogspot.com” detract from the fact that I have a personal website? What would a potential employer think about that?
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..I’m Not Usually One For Speeches… But… =-.
Great article! I have a question, though: does it matter if you’re using free hosting for your site, and it’s reflected in your URL? For instance, right now the majority of my online presence is on Blogger, so my website’s URL looks like this: http://jennboyer.blogspot.com. Does the “.blogspot.com” detract from the fact that I have a personal website? What would a potential employer think about that?
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..I’m Not Usually One For Speeches… But… =-.