What are you waiting for? An invitation?

If you haven’t registered your name with ICANN as a domain for your Author’s Website, then you better get a move on. I have a unique name, and there are still several people in the United States with the same name. Lucky for me, I’m tech-savvy and I registered my name, and my husband’s name, many years ago. That pretty young starlet can deal with the disappointment of not having www.RobinVanAuken.com.

Your name is your BRAND, and if you haven’t claimed it as a domain name, or some variation of it (I also have www.RobinVanAukenBooks.com), then you should register it today. The cost of a domain is cheap, compared to other fees for building your brand, so don’t let that be the barrier.

If you’re considering GoDaddy’s offer of 99 cents, be aware that the company considers that a “Trip Wire” — a ridiculously low fee that you can’t resist, and which usually results in your purchasing other options. Consider the Trip Wires that surround you every day, and you’ll understand what I mean.

For example, Mcdonald’s has a $1 menu because it knows it can make a huge markup on the soda and fries you buy with the $1 burger. So, it sells you the burger at cost, because it’s worth it to acquire the customer.

I often use Bluehost for websites and for registering domains. I like the support I get from the company, and the control panel is easy to navigate. Bluehost also offers a free domain when you signup for website hosting, so it’s a good deal. I purchase the multi-year hosting plan because it lowers the cost and I don’t have to worry about whether or not my site will expire.

And speaking about expirations, it’s such a disappointment to lose your domain. I keep my domains on AUTO RENEW, and I keep an eye on my emails when a notification comes through. Just to be safe, I’ll log in after I get a notice and renew it myself, rather than wait for the AUTO RENEW.

The reason it’s a bummer to lose your domain is twofold — it can go into “remediation,” which means you have to pay around $80 to get it back, or it can lapse and someone else can grab it. As I sit here writing this post, I am watching as an acquaintance of mine lets her domain name lapse, and it’s a shame, because she’s running for Mayor soon. For the fee of $18, she can renew her domain name and tuck it away if she’s not interested in using it now, but she’s going to lose it, instead. I’ve sent her and a mutual friend several emails, warning her about the pending action, but I haven’t heard a word.

So, don’t make the same mistake. If you have your domain name secured, then keep it on AUTO RENEW. If you don’t have a domain name, then consider registering one today.

Ready for a Challenge?

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Add WEST WIND to your library!

If you love a good mystery, a romantic whodunit that will surprise you, then WEST WIND is a great addition to your ebook library.

West Wind is my third novel as an author of Contemporary Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, and Romance.  It’s FREE too, when you join my exclusive Readers Group. Join today and download your free book, and as a special thank you, you’ll receive a SECOND FREE BOOK tomorrow! The giving goes on and on when you become my fan.

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