Comments on: Do You Own Your Name?

By: (Cette semaine)> du 24/10 au 26/10 + les identités numériques

(Cette semaine)> du 24/10 au 26/10 + les identités numériques — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:33:26 +0000

[...] Do you own your name ?, se demande Cathy Stucker. [...]

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:25:02 +0000

Good article, Cathy (or Kathy). Coincedentally I received an “just for fun” email about a new website where you can look up just how many in the US there are of you (your name). site http://www.howmanyofme.com/

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:29:43 +0000

Charissa, they may be promoting that URL, or they may be getting type-in traffic (where people enter a word or name followed by .com). In that case, they will probably not give it up any time soon.

You can contact them and ask if they would be willing to sell it, but they would probably want more than you would be willing to pay, if they are interested in selling at all.

Some domain registrars will allow you to try to claim the domain if the current owner allows it to expire. You pay a fee and if the domain becomes available they try to grab it for you.

Good luck!

By: Charissa C.

Charissa C. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:47:01 +0000

Great article! I tried to get my domain name, Charissa.com, but a real estate agency owns it. Apparently it is the name of a city in Boston. But, the link redirects to homesinboston.com. How can I find out when they will no longer use my name as a redirect? And when I can then buy it?

Thanks!

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:45:19 +0000

Laura, I have heard that some people now choose their children’s names based on what domains are available, and register the URL before the child is born. That seems a little extreme to me, but the child may appreciate it later!

By: Laura Jo Richins

Laura Jo Richins — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:35:43 +0000

I bought my name, my husband’s name, and my 5 children’s names a few years ago. Seemed like a smart thing to do. I’m glad I did, especially as my oldest is getting ready to start his own business and will use his name domlain.

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:12:55 +0000

Smart move, Sandra! As you say, even if you are not using it now, you own it and no one else can take it from under you.

Another tip: Set up your domain registrations to automatically renew. I know people who lost important domains because when they came up for renewal, the owners were overwhelmed with other issues and forgot about them.

I register all my domains at http://www.GreatDomainsHQ.com/. I get notices when they are about to expire, but they also automatically renew them for me.

By: Sandra Fernandez

Sandra Fernandez — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:53:08 +0000

I bought my name several years ago and have never done anything with it. I know I will someday, so I’m glad to continue to keep it. Especially since my name is very common. I can never secure it as an account name in any web-based email system or social network, someone has already beaten me to it.

Good post.