Rethinking My Own Name Domain and Vanity URLs
I recently took another look at my personal Vanity URL domain (or Own Name Domain, as I call it), JohnSaddington.com, and decided to go with a simple XHTML/CSS version instead of using Wordpress (like the last version).
I had been thinking about changing it up for sometime but hadn’t found the time to actually sit down and do anything about it until I had nothing else better to do thanks to pneumonia. I’m expected to make a full recovery, by the way, just in case you were hoping otherwise… … … it’ll take a few more weeks to get back to 100%.
Still coughing, hacking, and making weird noises.
Anyways, I had a few hours to spare in my loneliness and solitary confinement so I through something together. This version is a little more polished.
Here are a few of my thoughts on personal branding, name domains, Vanity URLs, whatever:
- A Vanity URL should be about you. Naturally. Picture, front and “center” (ok, fine… left.).
- Make it a good picture, sheesh.
- Short and to the point. Give them the good stuff without boring them.
- Make links pretty obvious.
- Be you, in copy and content displayed.
- What are you doing? Display it creatively somehow. This is oftentimes called a “portfolio.” I call it “time bandits.”
- Make it easy to connect with Social Networking links, etc.
- Make it easy to contact me without showing email address. I get a lot of spam. I hate it. I no longer want to make it so easy to know my email address.
- Mobile-device friendly. If possible, make it mobile-device enabled so people can contact you easily. I don’t have an alternative look for mobile-devices on my site but it doesn’t break and you can use that contact form as is. Neato.
- Give it some flare. Accordion via jQuery.
- Have fun.
What do you think?
Oh, and BTW… that site gives a few hints as to what’s coming down the pipe for 2010.
Too ironic. I was just looking over your site this morning in prep for our discussion on Thursday. Then you post this. I've been pretty active on your blogS lately huh? Kinda stalkerish. Anyway, I reached out to the folks over at http://mattharrell.com. Apparently that Matt just signed a new racing contract and has a bright future….i.e. the domain is NOT for sale. What's a Matt Harrell todo?
Ah, you'll have to think of something clever.
and yes. spooky… …
You with pneumonia, working… did it ever occur to you to R-E-S-T?
Love the look!
My recent post Tiger Woods Mans Up
ooh.. what is this post about tiger woods…
I'm catching a theme on your blog names…I'm a quick one.
yeah. i'm a one trick pony.
Interesting. I do like the new look. Nicely done!
My recent post It’s Only Weather!
I really like how the projects sidebar looks. Especially when you open up one of those tabs and the other disappears.
That is pretty cool.
My recent post MUST READ Monday-12/14/09
So tight, good stuff sir.
The 8Bit Network is about as enigmatic as it gets.
I vote the tagline is: "One Byte at a time"
My recent post Winner – Free Wordpress blog design
that's a good one. stay tuned…
I feel like I need something like this since I have two sites of my own, two that I contribute to regularly, plus social media. Alas, I also feel like I would need to go back to school to figure out how to create it. Ugh. Any good super simple resources for non-tech savvy folks like me?
P.S. I did catch that is says "Books: TBA". Nice… I hope that is one of the 2010 hints you're referring to
My recent post Babylegs for Kids
thanks! we'll see what happens…
Great post John. I’ve been struggling with the concept of personal branding. If it’s “not about me”, should I use a handle like “dentmaker” (trying to make a dent) and point people to others… Or does this confuse folks (I.e. If you aren’t willing to post your real name, why would I follow you?). You seem to do both… Posting in your real name & human3rror… Any lessons learned from that approach? Would you co-brand again if you did it over again?
Honestly, i have enjoyed leveraging my \”handle\” more than my real name. it can explain a lot of who i am without being explicit.
in addition, it provides me flexibility in my branding approach.
Cool man. Thanks for the thoughts. Don’t forget your influence (and who gave it to you
). Hope you start feeling better soon!
oh, yeah. the jesus man.
I like it, keeps as much as possible on one page with the option to expand.
I guess that you have an update plan for screen shots – dynamic like?
obviously
and you're not allowed to answer with a smiley –
b.t.w. looking forward to you plans for 2010 – sounds awesome
My recent post Christmas : Wanting and Giving
ok. fine. yeah. i have to update manually… boo.. not wordpress, but it is what it is!
cool man.
Glad u r getting better dude.
My recent post She will be a Daughter
Big fan of your new theme. I liked the last one fine, but this one really seems to hit all the high notes between who you are and what you do.
Just finished revamping my "own name domain" this week and launched it last night. Got a few things here and there I need to adjust but, for the most part, it's done.
breaks in google chrome…?
word up!
Yeah, I noticed that after it went live last night – was like 11pm and I get up before 6am so I was decided to wait. Something's up with some of the styles for for webkit. Planning to fix it tonight.
webkit.
Yeah, I like it as well. It's easier to get to the information people want. Though visually the other one was much more impressive.
thanks!