Website with your own name - is it worth it?

1. 88

   Marisa Wrightposted 15 years ago

   Almost a year ago, I was reading Lissie's excellent Hubs about her quest to make money online, and she said to be sure to grab the domain of your own name.  So I did (MarisaWright.com).
   
   It's up for renewal soon and I'm wondering whether to keep it.  After all, we all know "me" diaries don't make money, and on one's going to be typing "Marisa Wright" into a search engine. 
   
   Right now it's merrily auto-blogging the 60 Day Challenge Hubs, so at least it's good for something.  But what can I use it for after that?

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   1. 59

      Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Marisa - absolutely keep it.

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2. 87

   rebekahELLEposted 15 years ago

   mine is also up for renewal plus I need to find a different host.
   I'm keeping mine.
   
   you could continue to expand on what you're doing with the 60 day challenge and may want to branch out with it later.

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   1. 88

      Marisa Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I guess - but what's the point of just reblogging other people's stuff? 
      
      I'm struggling to think what I could "branch out" to, that wouldn't be better served by a domain name that reflects the subject of the blog.

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         Norah Caseyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I'd keep it, because you never know! I know a designer who let go of his domain name years ago, after he decided he was just going to do print work. Now he is a web designer and that domain name would have been pretty handy now that he is putting together a portfolio. If it isn't too expensive, I'd keep it.

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      2. 87

         rebekahELLEposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I'm not familiar with everything you're doing with the 69dc.
         so on your site, you're blogging about others hubs also?
         
         you have such a great knowledge of dance. you could expand on the different genres, where they originated, pics of costumes or famous dancers. monetize it with dance gear, etc. ?
         
         my own site is currently down, but when I start it up again, I'll continue with basic themes from my hubs and expanding more in a blog style. sometimes I just like to ramble about topics.

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         1. 88

            Marisa Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Rebekah, what I'm doing is using a plugin to import 60dc Hub excerpts as blog posts.  As part of the challenge we're all supposed to do our bit promoting so it's part of that.
            
            I already have websites on ballet, belly dance, ballroom dance and flamenco, and all of them have a URL with the dance style in the name.  If I was going to do any more dance sites, I would be much better off with a domain name related to dance. 
            
            Rambling is fine if you're not seeking to make money - but if you do, it's bad because Google can't figure out what your blog is about because it's all over the place.

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            1. 87

               rebekahELLEposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               o, I see. hmm. I would still keep it. you never know what the future will bring.
               
               I've had mine for a while, before HP or google adsense. I don't use it to make money, it's more a creative writing site on social issues and topics of interest. the site name is my pen name. I don't really want ads on it.
               
               good luck with the 60dc!

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3. 70

   waynetposted 15 years ago

   I would just stick to one primary topic on it, if you wanted to keep it going, maybe one of your top hobbies to make it worthwhile, whilst no one may search your name now, but what of the future and plus a domain name with your own name can be potentially shaped into or under any niche and you become the expert in that niche if you be consistent.
   
   I've got waynetully.com, but I'm in the same situation as I have not used it for anything yet....

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4. 80

   sunforgedposted 15 years ago

   Mw - what plug-in are you using? Did feedburner end up making sense to you?
   
   Im not sure what your paying but for 7-10 bucks a year, I think its worth holding on to. You never know - Your name could become synonymous with dance info online!

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   1. 88

      Marisa Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I'm using WP-o-Matic with the feedburner feed. 
      
      I had trouble finding one that worked.  This one only imports about 10 posts daily - it's supposed to do more but it ignores me! 
      
      Feedburner - your Hub said "make it your own unique code" and I had no clue what that meant.  So in the end I just pasted in the feed and it worked so I accepted it....

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         sunforgedposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         so within feedburner you pasted the generic code, that we have all been using and the feedburner service gave you your own unique code?

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         1. 88

            Marisa Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Yes that's right - when I read your Hub,I thought you meant I had to make it unique somehow before pasting it into feedburner.  Got it now though.

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5. 81

   MyWebsposted 15 years ago

   I sure would keep it. I have always thought about buying up myname.com and using it as an online portfolio type site to link out to other web sites I own.
   
   It sure would suck one day to become famous and not own your own name wouldn't it?

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6. 60

   Jane@CMposted 15 years ago

   Your lucky you have your name...mine is already taken!  I was so sad!

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7. 70

   Cagsilposted 15 years ago

   I would say, if you already have it, then keep it and utilize it any way, shape or form you can. Thus, this leaves it up to your creativity.
   
   Just my thoughts.

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