Do you include your middle name's initial when you buy a domain as your name (branding purposes)?

by Banned 18 replies
22
If I were to buy a domain as my name (for branding purposes only), do you recommend including my middle name's initial?

Option 1: SarahJohannes.com
Option 2: SarahMJohannes.com

I gathered that IM coaches brand themselves by setting up a domain as their name.


For those who have domains similar to the format of Option 1, why did you prefer not to include your middle name's initial?

For those who set up their domains similar to Option 2, why did you believe that including your middle name's initial is a must?

I'm not sure if I'm just being obsessive-compulsive on what I'm thinking of. How would I know that there's a logical and valid explanation to what I'm thinking without asking, right?

Thanks in advance for your responses.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #branding #buy #domain #include #initial #middle #purposes
  • You are.

    Either way is fine. Some will argue including your middle initial makes you seem more 'professional'. Some will argue including the initial makes you seem too 'old-fashioned' and you won't attract the younger crowds.

    It's all a matter of personal preference. At the end of the day, the content you provide will matter a million times more than your domain name.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Banned
    On the content part, yes, of course, as a content provider, I agree to that.
    I just threw that question out of curiosity though.
  • I would just go firstnamelastname.com if possible.
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      Seems like I'm getting convinced that firstnamelastname.com is a preferred format.

      • [1] reply
  • Banned
    That makes sense to me. People will get confused if the middle initial is part of the first name or last name.

  • with enough money or a quality product any name can be branded. That is highly unlikely to be the reason you succeed or fail in your venture.

    The name won't make you or break you. Many people around here think "david keith" knows a fair bit about marketing. It is pretty irrelevant to most people at this point whether thats even my real name or a pen name. (it is my name btw).

    But I could have just as easily decided to signup for WF as "keith david" and as long as my knowledge was good no one would have even thought twice about what my name was.
  • Make it simple and easy for people to read and remember..so I'll say go for option 1.

    Cheers,
    Amanda
  • Leave out the middle name unless you have a really common first and last name
    • [1] reply
    • Is the middle initial part of your branding? If so, include it. If not, leave it out.

      That applies to "real" names or pen names...
  • firstname last name sounds alot better, remember brand names should be short and powerful, you do not want to make things harder on your consumer.
  • Nope. I'm in school and doing a web design project for a local business owner (assignment), and my domain name is: randall-magwood .com. I think the middle initial is totally irrelevant... unless you're trying to make money off of somebody's famous name.
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      I think I forgot that I can also use a hyphen on my domain name. Thanks for the reminder, Randall.

  • In my case my firstnamelastname.com happens to be a professional trumpet player, and adding a middle initial didn't seem like a good option.

    Does anyone see using a .net, .co, etc. as a viable option? I did pick up a .im though. Not sure how much I really want to use it.
  • What happens if you don't have a middle name?
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      I once heard that there are countries that do not follow or use middle names on their birth certificates. If you don't have a middle name, then your only option is firstnamelastname.com format.

  • From a branding perspective, the first name last name is better than the one with the middle initial because it's easier for the people to remember. It is definitely OK to be obsessive compulsive about your domain name because tens of thousands of people will be looking at it, remembering it and typing it in. So, it certainly is worth obsessing over it at least a few dozen times to find something that works, rather than rashly going with a quick decision which could potentially cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in revenue.
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      Indeed, the firstnamelastname.com format wins here. I'll buy in to that. Thanks fellow Warriors. Sometimes, you really know the answer but you need somebody else's push to support your idea.


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