“Buy your name,…”
“Buy your name, before you buy anything else.”
There is one item that is more important than than any other for your home-based-on-line-business.
That’s a domain name, and host.
“That’s two things,” you say.
“Well yes, and no.”
It’s actually more than that. But it’s by far more important than anything else. More important than any Must-Have-eBook, Special Killer Software, Exclusive-Members-Only-Site, etc.
The reason is, all these things ride on top of that. If you serous about doing business on-line, then do this much at least. Get your own domain name and host.
I say “It’s the single most important thing to do.”
Yet it’s a two step process, even if you do both with the same company. First register a domain, second rent space to park it.
Now I told you “It’s actually more than two things.” You also get numerous email accounts, a place to park files for downloading, and often times auto-responders, and list services.
All under one name. Your Name!
“Why should I pay for something I can get free?” You ask.
“Credibility, Manageability, Control.” It’s that simple.
Those free services that your using, have been used and abused. When people see that free address in your links. They automatically turn away. Because they figure, if you don’t care enough about your own name, you certainly won’t care about them. Credibility!
Free services often do things inside your area, because that’s they right. Your using their space, you only have the rights they decide to give you. Manageability!
Free services, maintain control over all aspects of the service, if you don’t like it. You go somewhere else, but your address and traffic stay there. Control!
If you can’t afford anything else, you must buy and park your name. Without that, your chasing your tail.
Then when you build relationships on-line, you have credibility, Manageability, and control.
People see you for who you are, yourname@yourname.whatever instead of yourname@scumservice.beware. Credibility!
You build and make changes in your rented space, nobody else can do anything in there except you. Manageability!
If there is some dispute or reason, and you move elsewhere. You name comes with you, also all your traffic, and relationships.
“Are you beginning to see the reason I say, This is the single most important item you need? Your name.”
“Yes, but I’m a newbie.” you say, “I just need to learn a little first.”
“OK learn, but don’t learn chasing your tail.”
There are lots of people and services, willing to teach and help you if your serous. But most of the good, moral, ethical people on-line steer clear of people using those free services.
“You don’t put gas and tires on a borrowed car do you?”
Then you don’t want to publicize someone Else’s domain name, and drive traffic there. That’s exactly why they can give you that free name and space. Look at Yahoo for an example.
Now I’ll grant you there is a time and a place to use those free services. Just not for your name.
Written by Steve (Muskrat) McMullen