Domain names

[Melissa K]

The domain name is becoming the bane of my existence.  My company provides me with a fantastic website for $10 a month, but I need to come up with a domain name that's NOT owned already to name it.  I need to make this decision by Sunday, because Monday my business cards go to print.  Then I'm ordering yard signs, etc.  I've gotten lots of advice on this and its all different. 

Things I know for sure:  it absolutely MUST be a .com name and it needs to be easy to remember.

I keep getting conflicting info on WHAT it should be though.  Personally, I really like something along the lines of MelSellsBragg.com (I am here at Ft Bragg, NC) or MelSellsFayetteville.com.  However, then I get to wondering what to do if we move away.  Once my husband retires from the Army we don't really want to stay here.  That's still at least 7 years away, but if my location changes do I want a domain name that is flexible enough to change with me?  Something more like ItSellsWithMel.com or MelKnowsHomes.com or SellWithMelNC.com (I think I like that one best).  We are planning to retire in NC eventually, but it is possible that my husband could get orders to Tampa before retirement (although unlikely).  All of my suggestions are available, by the way.

Half the folks I've spoken with say to make it all about my market area, and the other half say to make it all about me.  Help!

Thanks, Melissa

[Lisa D Arnold]

When I first started someone told me to get several domains, a couple using my name and a couple mentioning my market area, create one site as my main site and just have all of the others redirect to that one.  I never did set my domains up that way because I have other plans for my extra domain names, but I still think it was a good suggestion. 

For example, you could create SellWithMelNC.com as your main domain, the website that has all of your content, but have ItSellsWithMel.com and MelSellsBragg.com redirect to SellWithMelNC.com.  Domains are inexpensive, I think I pay about $10/year/domain name.

I would say use a generic name for now (I like ItSellsWithMel.com), make that the site that has all of your content and the name that's going out to the public...for now.  Then, down the road, purchase some other domain names that are more market specific and have them redirect to your main site.  Use the more market specific names in your online marketing and/or farming. 

This way, if you do move you don't have to worry about creating a whole new website, you just need to buy a few more domain names that are market specific to your new area.  Eventually, once you are established in your new market, you either let the market specific names from your old market expire or sell them to another agent in that area.   

[Jennifer Allan]

For the record, I am NOT a web expert, so whatever I say here comes from my own common sense, not any expertise on the matter.

I would first try to get a domain name that is MINE - for example, I own JenniferAllan.net (ja.com is a porn star, bummer). I also own sellwithsoul.com and other domain names that are obvious to who I am.

I've never been a real fan of all the convoluted market-specific domain names - it's great if you can get an obvious one (e.g. denver.com), but at this point, those are all gone.

However, on our Rookie Show last month, one of my guests said that she has her domain name (www.sarahsellstoledo) on her back windshield and has gotten business from it.

IMO (again, my very un-expert O) is to simply nail down a domain name that is easy to remember, fits nicely on a business card and easy to say outloud without a lot of additional instruction. Make that your website until you come up with something you absolutely love and then just direct that new name to the "old" site.

[Melissa K]

Thanks so much for the input ladies!  I bit the bullet and bought MelSellsBragg.com.  I'm sure there will be more in the future, but I think I'm off to a good start with this one.

[MikeA]

Melissa, I think you have made a good choice! Your URL incorporates both your area of business and your name. If you think about how people shop for real estate it's usually by area first then price and so-on, so having a URL that is about your area of business makes sense.

I want to make my business all about my clients wants and needs and put them first, providing great service and making their experience with me a good one. To that end I want my web site to be more about the areas that I work, which will show prospective clients that I am an expert those areas.

Yes, absolutely there will be content about me and why someone should choose to hire me, but that is secondary to them. And yes I'm having a problem too choosing a URL, but I will get it done! 

[janfarley]

I have the .com that consists of my name, and also several other domains that point to the main one.  It is really cost effective if you buy the domain at godaddy or yahoo.