Your domain name or business name will play a huge part in whether or not you will make it. So many business and websites have amazing content and products but simply don’t realize their potential. You don’t have to be incredibly inventive with your name or brand, or even ridiculously witty;
Brand
Look around you right now, the computer you are using, the TV, the soft drinks bottle. All of them are branded, they spend millions of dollars every year to make sure they get it right. You don’t need to spend anything to get it right. Take my site for example, I could have called it JamesRichmond, but I seriously doubt I would be where I am now after 11 weeks.
Make your name and logo particular to you, complicated or clean, it’s entirely down to you, there is no right or wrong answer. What ever you choose, make sure that is how you refer and present yourself where ever you go.
Trust
Brand image is hugely important, as I said above you need to leave your mark everywhere you go, which means you absolutely need to represent the brand and name properly. People buy into brands and names once they trust them, so be trust worthy, be the person os business that people go to for answers, answers that are honest and given without an agenda.
Always being honest with your readers or customers is vital, if you make a mistake then own up to it. If you have success, share how you do it. Contribute to other sites and business and leave your calling card behind.
Easy
I took a bit of a risk by going with TheInfoPreneur, it could have back fired by miss-types in the domain url etc. Luckily it worked and I play on the overuse of InfoPreneur as the new term for a successful blogger. Could you create a new term or word? It happens all the time, new words being added to the dictionary so try it?
What ever your domain name or business name is, make it easy to read and recognize.
James Richmond, AKA The InfoPreneur, is a 28 year old family man from the UK. After several years of success online, James is sharing his knowledge with the world on his site, TheInfoPreneuer.net! From Motivational topics to How-To posts, you’re sure to find something to improve your blog! Follow James on Twitter @theinfopreneur
firstnamelastname.com
How about just plain old http://dool.in/ ?
No. The point is that Google was a non word, so it does prove that the name actually isn't relevant, it's what you do with the name that matters/
Let me give you an example. Let's say I decide to start a business today called Drin, or Blen, or Birat. I've plucked those ideas randomly out of the air.
Which is the best name? Which one will “make it or not?”
Nobody can answer that, can they? It depends what I do with that name, in terms of marketing, product and promotion of the brand values.
The name doesn't “play a huge part in whether or not you will make it.” It's almost irrelevant.
I didn't misunderstand you – your opening sentence is very clear.
First name, last name or both, doesn't matter. I'm not a big fan of the national domain identifier, but I guess that would do
Antti,
I'm not a huge fan of the national domain identifiers either. I like the .com and if you must, a .net or .org. The .otherstuffs are harder to remember because our brains are programed to remember .com even if that's not what we see/hear. Perhaps this will change with time.
I couldn't get my firstnamelastname.com. I had to add 'online' to it, and figured if I was going to brand my name, I wanted something shorter, thus EricaSays.com
Boy, your name would be on heck of a mouthful to remember!! Perhaps Zemalf is the best route!
I always remember it just fine!
Antti,
I'm not a huge fan of the national domain identifiers either. I like the .com and if you must, a .net or .org. The .otherstuffs are harder to remember because our brains are programed to remember .com even if that's not what we see/hear. Perhaps this will change with time.
I couldn't get my firstnamelastname.com. I had to add 'online' to it, and figured if I was going to brand my name, I wanted something shorter, thus EricaSays.com
Boy, your name would be on heck of a mouthful to remember!! Perhaps Zemalf is the best route!
I always remember it just fine!
Hey James,
That's what we're all here for!
I kind of like JamesRichmond.com but what do I know.