My Domain Name
by Colleen Wilkinson
a Domain Name Helps Your Business Reputation"
My business was in operation long before the days of the internet and the domain name rush. For years I managed quite well with a telephone land-line (there weren't any mobiles either) and good old 'snail mail'. If anyone wanted to find out what my business could offer, I would courteously make an appointment to see them and present my portfolio. Alternatively, I would mail off a brochure and follow up a few days later.
When mobiles and the internet emerged, we didn't all jump on the bandwagon as soon as they entered the market. Some couldn't justify the expense at the time, and others had a 'wait-and-see' approach to the concepts.
No Tech - no Biz
As it turns out, having a mobile phone and a domain name nowadays has become vital for any successful business. One is considered 'behind the times' if people cannot contact you immediately on your mobile or e-mail, and immediate access to your product information is just as important.
Fortunately, increase in demand and advancement in technology have also brought costs down drastically. I gave in to the mobile phone concept years ago. Now I can't do without it! (Nor can I figure out how anyone else can! ) I've become one of those 'other' people who get frustrated by not being able to contact someone immediately!
Back to the Domain Name Dilemma
As I mentioned, the necessity for a domain name in my line of business was still regarded as rather 'o-t-t' (over the top). Anyway, I finally figured out that if I want to be regarded as credible in the eyes of my current and potential clients, I had to have a domain name.
So, after investigating what's involved in owning a domain name, I learned that it's quite a process toward the point of finally being able to announce ownership of such a 'vital element' for a successful business.
The Reality of Being Slow at Domain Name Registration
When I came to register my domain name, I was faced with another shocking reality. My chosen domain name had already been taken! How could this be possible? I mean, my business has been around for years - what cheek does some internet upstart possess to get away with registering my business domain name as their own!
How hard was the reality of realizing that my business domain name, unlike my registered business name, is actually going to be totally unique - in all the world! Wow! In all the world! No one else will ever have the same domain name as me! Chances of duplicate business names in the world are very high - and it's allowed so long as the businesses are operating far enough from each other to avoid confusion. But a domain name - now that gets registered in one place together with every other domain name in the world. There cannot be a duplicate!
After much debate as to how to solve the domain name dilemma, I ended up having to select a domain name that still described my business but wasn't my business name, and used a dot.local domain name extension rather than my first choice dot.com domain name extension.
Had I been quicker off the mark - I'd possibly have got the domain name I'd wanted. Perhaps 'they' are right - forward thinking businesses will get to the front of the queue, no matter how 'relevant' the hype of the day is. (Hope my potential new clients aren't all being taken by the other company with MY domain name! )
