If your name with a dot com is available and you don’t own it … you’re being short-sighted. No offense, but you are.
Sure, there are a lot of domain options out there. But dot com is by far the most recognizable. If you had a choice for a domain name, you’d get it. So if it’s available for your personal name, get it. Today.
“But Mike, I’ll never use it.”
Never say never. Just get it.
“Mike, I don’t know how to use the interwebs or world wide whatever.”
Doesn’t matter. Get it anyway.
“Blogging is stupid, Mike. I don’t need a blog or website.”
You’re reading my blog right now, aren’t you? Stop reading and go get your dot com.
“It’s a waste of money.”
Most personal domains cost less than 3 Starbucks lattes. Skip the drinks a few days and get it. You never know, some person might be willing to buy it off you for a hefty sum. How do I know? Because I did.
After 18 long and painful years, I finally got mikekim.com.
Several months ago I hired a broker from sedo.com to find and negotiate with the owner. Long story short, I got it for an amount some might consider outrageous. Others said it was a bargain. Either way, getting it was important to me for several reasons:
- I plan to monetize my domain. I’m already on pace to recoup my costs quickly, but the upfront investment is an added incentive to work that much harder.
- My name is very common. If you Google “Mike Kim” I’m right on top, but I still wanted the .com to be THE Mike Kim.
- I settled for the .tv domain when I first got it because it was somewhat relevant to music (what I was doing at the time I got it) and now marketing. I don’t do a lot of video, so the .tv feels a bit off-brand.
- I feel like I can do ANYTHING with .com. It doesn’t restrict me.
In the next few days, I will begin moving this entire blog over to my new domain. It’s a bit scary because my friend Jason Clement and I are trying to do it without losing my search engine rankings and podcast feed. Alas, I’ll let you know how it goes.
What if my .com isn’t available?
Find the next best thing and run with it. I did it for years. Even if I didn’t secure the .com, I was determined to outpublish and outrank whoever did on Google. You can do the same, and the .com is not an absolute necessity to run a business or share your thoughts with the world.
See if your .com is available on sites like Bluehost.com or GoDaddy.com. Just type it in, and they’ll let you know.
How do I setup a WordPress blog with my .com?
Just visit mikekim.tv/wordpress, or better yet just watch the video below. You can get your domain and setup your blog hosting in one shot with Bluehost. They are the service I use and recommend. It will take you less than 7 minutes.
To get Bluehost with my lower affiliate rate, click here: www.bluehost.com/track/mikekimtv
How to point your GoDaddy domain to Bluehost:
1. Login to GoDaddy, scroll over your name, and click on “Visit my Account.” That will lead you to this screen:
2. Click on “Domains” and select the domain you want to point to Bluehost.
3. Go the the “Nameservers” tab, then hit the “Manage” button.
4. Select “custom”, and enter ‘NS1.BLUEHOST.COM” for #1 and “NS2.BLUEHOST.COM” for #2. Your field will then look like this:
5. You’re done with GoDaddy! Wait a little while (they say 24-48 hours, but I’ve never had it take that long) and resume signing up at Bluehost.
BLATANT THREAT (well-intentioned, of course): If your .com is available and you don’t get it, I’m going to buy it and make you but it back from me. That you could purchase yours for a few bucks vs. what I paid for mine is reason enough for me to do so. =)
Stop debating. Stop making excuses. Skip a few Starbucks lattes, and get your .com if it’s available. Ok, go!