VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

billelder · Guest

In 2000, I also wanted my name as a domain. The first thing I did was to type it in my browser to see what came up. I expected it would be owned by the Mad Magazine artist of the same name. To my surprise, no site came up at all. Someone was sitting on it! A quick "whois" search showed that it was owned by a man who was not named Bill Elder. Apparently, he had bought the domain to protect his preacher, Bill Elder.

I contacted the gentleman to ask if I could buy it from him...we'll call him Bob. I assured him...Bob...I was of good repute. That's when he..Bob...started asking me questions about my faith. My first mistake was being honest. LOL I told him my denomination and that axed the deal right there.

Every month I checked the availability. In March of 2004 it was actually available. I jumped on it faster than the gnat line moved from Americus to Macon.

The moral is that I'm leaving enough money in my will to keep the domain for another 50 years after I die.

mcm · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 5:33 am Post subject:

Well, you convinced me. marymckitrick.com is expiring in 2 weeks and I was thinking about letting it drop since it isn't really part of my brand (it redirects to mcmvoices.com). But today I renewed so that Bob won't get it Inoccent

Mike · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:56 am Post subject:

Back in 1997 I registered creativeaudio.com as that was the name I was working under for music production and sound design. After taking up VO full time I stopped using it, but kept the domain figuring I would one day sell it to one of the many companies of that name. Last year someone started using it to send out spam email. As a result I was getting hundreds of returned mails. To stop this I turned off the mail redirect. No problem right? I'm not using the name so whose going to email me?

Well, the registrar for one to remind me to renew.

When I checked, I found it had been bought by a domain reseller. I wouldn't have minded if it had been someone who actually used the name.

Oh well, I can't complain. I picked up voicedemo.com after somebody let it lapse.

It's still possible to pick up pretty good names with a bit of creative thinking. I bought corporatevoiceovers.com just a couple of months ago, and lipnoise.com the other week for a project.

Maiku.
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mcm · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:08 am Post subject:

It's a jungle out there. There are some names I've been trying to get too, but they're being squatted upon.

Maiku, your avatar made me look up a few names - charlesdarwin.com is occupied by a squatter; charlesdarwin.org is a creationist site, and charlesdarwin.net is part of some kind of celebrity website ring.

bobsouer · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:30 am Post subject:

CWToo · Guest

Every couple of years somebody wants to buy chriswhite.com (Chris White is an extremely common name... take a look in the phone book). But the domain name isn't cool enough to actually buy for any kind of usable money.

Do make sure your domain name is locked. Great protection if the registration runs out. Mine did during a move and it took ten days before the web site and email were working again... but it was protected so no one could steal it out from under me.

Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

I always get reminders from my domain registration company, usually about a month in advance of renewal time. I usually debate for a bit whether to renew a couple of them, then I realize that for less than $10 each, it's worth having them.

Mike · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:33 am Post subject:

Deirdre · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:15 am Post subject:

Ho Ho Ho.

I can't get DBCooper.com from the guy who bought it for his nephew.
The kid's name is "Cooper".

I used to have DBCooper.net but I let it lapse because I believe people just don't think "dot-net" when looking for someone.

I wonder if that was a mistake. Someone in the Grand Cayman islands has it now.

Oh, well.
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Bruce · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:01 am Post subject:

I've got a few I registered a while back and keep debating if I'm going to use them:

politicalvo.com
vostudios.com

and my favorite:

vorocks.com

I keep hoping some whisky company will offer me millions for the last one, but it ain't happened so far.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Bailey · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: do NOT let your domain expire

audio'connell · Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject:

I have peterkoconnell.com but I tried for simply peteroconnell.com (all in addition to the audioconnell.com/.net et al brands).

Well the guy has it parked but his name IS Peter O'Connell so at least he's got THAT going for him, which is nice.

I spoke with him, he's a nice guy.
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audioconnell Voice Over Talent
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anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

Frank F · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:15 am Post subject:

Despite (Ries & Ries') "11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding" You should be looking for what sells YOU. Personally I call them Lovenotes (see: LoveNotes - Brand/Imaging for VoiceOver Artists due on bookshelves in January).

The "rules" involving branding and the internet were and are made to be broken. And quite often are.

When creating YOUR brand, hypen or not, find what it takes to to arouse devotion beyound boundries - Lovenotes. With the right set of Lovenotes you will find your earning potential increasing as you are positioned as one of the "movers and shakers" in your area of expertise; you will find that targeting specific clients is within your reach as you will have the right brand or image to best attract their attention, you will also find that your competition (in time) will begin to sell your brand/image as they try to craft their own trademark.

The internet is a tool which if used properly to identify your brand/image will create an unfair advantage between you and your competition.

It is how many qualified clients view your website that makes the difference - not how many 'hits' you get from browsers that counts. Positioning yourself with Lovenotes promises more qualified clients, which translates to more money if your website contains the information, quality, and respect the clients are looking for. Hyphen or not.

Toodles

Frank F
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

bobsouer · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:49 am Post subject:

Frank,

Thank you for this thoughtful, insightful post. I love it. Smile

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