THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
This political season has been one of the most unusual ones in recent memory here in the United States. And before you click delete, this is not going to be a political rant or endorsement.
Instead, it's a lesson for us all, being given to us publically by people who should know better.
Twice now in this political season, we’ve seen what happens when candidates fail to own the one thing they should when the start their very public campaigns.
Their domain.
We first saw this in action with Jeb Bush’s campaign when someone and I can only blame Jeb in this case, failed to renew the domain jebbush.com
Until Jeb dropped out of the race, what should have been his site forever, was redirecting to Donald Trump’s website.
Now that Jeb has dropped out, the site sits there but Jeb doesn’t own it.
Strategically, this was a baller move by the Trump camp but it was more of a colossal mistake by Jeb Bush.
You would think others would have paid attention to this. Of course, if you thought that, you would be wrong.
Just this week, the day after Ted Cruz announced Carly Fiorina as his running mate, Matt Mackowiak, a political strategist here in the States, purchased cruzfiorina.com.
CruzFiorina.com redirects to Matt’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the year donation website. Genius.
As if that’s not bad enough, Ted Cruz, like Jeb Bush, doesn’t own his domain either.
Whoever bought it, again, baller move. Go ahead and check it out, I’ll wait.Tedcruz.com
Buy Your FIRST NAME LAST NAME .COM
So what does this have to do with you? A lot more than you think. I’ve said it several times before on the podcast, you need to own your domain.
Specifically, you need to own your FIRST NAME LAST NAME .COM for the following reasons.
1 – To protect your brand.
Owning your FIRST NAME LAST NAME .COM will keep others from using your name in a way that does not align with your brand.
Think TedCruz.com here.
2 – To be found in search results.
When people search for you, and they do, what will they find? Does your online profile tell the story YOU want to be told?
Before you dismiss this idea of being found in a search, Jobvite, an applicant tracking software company, discovered in a survey it conducted, that 94% of recruiters search for candidates online BEFORE they decide to pick up the phone and call you.
94%. Can you afford to not be found in a search?
3 – To build your brand.
As a business professional, you have a personal/career brand. You have knowledge, experiences, and expertise. It’s the combination of these three that make you a desirable and marketable candidate.
How will they know this about you if you don;t have an online presence?
CONTROL YOUR BRAND
As we approach the END of Jobs, as Taylor Pearson and I discussed on the podcast, having a presence on the web to demonstrate your knowledge and showcase your portfolio of work experiences, is becoming more and more critical.
Not having a presence you control online can and does cost you opportunities. This will only increase in the coming years.
If you doubt this, think about the last time you met someone in person for the first time. Did you look them up online before your meeting?
Chances are good you did. Guess what other people are doing before they meet you?
If you’re ready to own your domain, here are two resources I recommend.
1 – NameCheap.
If you just want to buy your domain and not yet create a website.
Once you decide you want to create a website, there will be additional steps required to make this happen if you go this route.
2 – Bluehost.
For those of you who are ready to start your own website and begin the process of building your brand online. Bluehost is different than Namecheap in that it is a package deal.
When you purchase from them, you are actually paying for your hosting and your domain all at once.
No matter which way you decide to go, take the time to own your domain. Because if you don’t, someone else out there might and if they don’t, Google definitely will.
In today’s day and age, you are the equivalent of your Google search results. If you don’t believe this, ask a recruiter the next time they call you.
Assuming, of course, they even call you at all.
Own your domain my friends, it’s that important.
