Is This The Most Expensive Mistake We Could Ever Make?...

9 replies
Hey everyone.

Recent events in the Internet business world have got me thinking and I'd like to know what you think.

This isn't talked about much in the internet marketing world (...and if it is I've been missing the conversations...) but I want to talk about your business, especially it's name.

Now there are so many people that have named they're blogs, which I believe is a major part of anyone's business (...your voice to the people or your public face...), www.yourname.com

But is this a mistake? (...don't worry I've named my blog that to...)

What no one talks about is where the real big paydays come in the business world, and that's selling your business!

Now I know that having your domain as your name is branding yourself online, as you are your business, and it also enables people to know like and trust you...

"Oh, that's the guy that I get all that good info from on www.yourname.com..."

But doesn't naming any part of your business after yourself make it nearly impossible to sell it on, hopefully for a vast some of money, as your business brand is actually you!

A marketer that I really respect, Lee McIntyre, has just changed his main business blog to www.getmoremomentum.com, whereas Jeff Walker has just gone from www.sixinseven.com to www.JeffWalker.com (...but he did give his reasons for that and I totally understand them...)

Anyone in here ever sold their business?

Anyone had trouble selling their business because it was based too much around them?


Or just what do you think on this matter?


There are a lot of clever people in here and I just wanted to get people point of view and what your final exit strategies are.

Thanks for your time and sorry for the length of the post (...if that's not being too nosey...)

Reach new heights,

Nathan
#expensive #make #mistake
  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    It is good to have your name as a domain in case you get famous. Hopefully, if you get big enough you can spin off part of your business in some way. But for me, I prefer to keep things mostly white label. I don't have a problem with people knowing who I am, but if I wanted to sell a site, I don't want my name all over it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lilach
    Well I can proudly say that I have sold a business with my name in it. asklilach Limited. Although, they have since changed the company name!

    Whilst I think it's important when setting up a business to think long term, i.e. do you eventually want to sell it and if so, naming a company after you is a risk. But it was a risk that worked very well for me. It maybe because my name is quite unique, so that could have also been a factor but it was also how I postioned myself in my marketplace.

    Naming a company after yourself can be a risk, but if you do it correctly it can be well worth the risk.

    Lilach
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      I don't think the name is the big risk here. Look at how many offline businesses sport the name of the original founder even though the business may have changed hands several times.

      More important, if someday selling out is your goal, is to keep the business something someone else could pick up. If the biggest asset of the business is your personality, your face, your unique knowledge and ability, then selling it on will be problematic.

      There's a difference between building a business with your name on it and building a "star shop" where you ARE the business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Antonio Gavrila
    Personally I didn't sold the business that has my name. Setting up your name as your business can be a very important step in the long term but if you are not doing it the good way you can risk a lot.

    Remember that your name is unique and before you name your business after you REAL name you should try Pen names

    Regards,
    Tony Shui
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    • Profile picture of the author Thinker1
      Originally Posted by Tony Shui View Post

      Personally I didn't sold the business that has my name. Setting up your name as your business can be a very important step in the long term but if you are not doing it the good way you can risk a lot.

      Remember that your name is unique and before you name your business after you REAL name you should try Pen names

      Regards,
      Tony Shui
      interesting.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarah Harvey
    Not every business has the intention to sell. You will be completely wrong in that assumption. If someone decides to brand themselves, then they are in it for the long haul. It would be nice to know that I could get a domain with my name in it, but it's sadly taken but on the plus side... I have branded myself in an entirely different way on gaming sites, forums, blogs, manga and anime sites. I have a unique name and own the domain to it as well which makes it 100% valuable. There is no way that I would ever consider selling it on.

    If I am tired one day of the domain, then I will just let it expire... but pride and arrogance won't allow me to let it expire unless some drastic change in my life would make me think it is not valuable anymore.

    You have to consider what is right for you. A guru can only be a guru if he brands him/herself. However, a guru can also brand a specific website and connect him/herself to it.

    If you had limited resources and can only afford one domain, then I would say to stick with a generic sounding name that can be used in different ways. If you can afford more than one domain, then have your sites and try brand yourself if you are going down that route. It is well worth it.
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  • Profile picture of the author enterpryzman
    I own a few offline business ventures that are my real name and involve having physical property ( locations ) to operate from. These are very well respected and traditional service businesses and for that reason, I create my Internet life without including my name in an effort to not impact my offline credibility.

    I have been troubled by this for some time now as I feel good about what I do online and sometimes wish my name was involved more directly.

    The jury is still out for me, I just wanted to share thoughts on why I do not use my name on my sites and blogs very often.


    Enterpryzman
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  • Profile picture of the author howinfo
    Originally Posted by Nathan Rufus View Post


    But is this a mistake? (...don't worry I've named my blog that to...)


    Nathan
    You got a great name, it sounds well and is very memorable, don't think it is mistake at all.
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  • Profile picture of the author dndoseller
    Bro you are right on but many business are named after people. Jackson Hewitt, Bloomberg, Stew Leonards, on and on. The real thing is to build the business so it does not rely on you.
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