discuss Your Personal Brand as a Domainer

One thing that stands out to me -

"Welcome those with any budget. Yes, really!"

Good luck with that. It might sound great in theory, but it is not in practice.

You could look at many of my offers, or offers via things like GoDaddy Buy Service and see the type of domains many people expect for $100 or less.

Unless you want to do a lot of fruitless education, you need clients with realistic expectations.

Brad

bmugford said:

One thing that stands out to me -

"Welcome those with any budget. Yes, really!"

Good luck with that. It might sound great in theory, but it is not in practice.

You could look at many of my offers, or offers via things like GoDaddy Buy Service and see the type of domains many people expect for $100 or less.

Unless you want to do a lot of fruitless education, you need clients with realistic expectations.

Brad

Click to expand...

You make a good point, there are some things that you know you might do to help someone, but don't put it on your website.

Because you could genuinely get a lot of people who contact you and say I got $50 to spend, can you help me? You said any budget.

I think what ever you choose now, just go with your heart when it comes to xpressing your brand, telling your story etc. You'll find adjustments and fine-tuning along the way generally go hand-in-hand with your current "head state" or "business place". Experience in sales or dealing with people will also contribute to your message.

My opinion....

Use less words and just make a logo

MapleDots said:

Use less words and just make a logo

Click to expand...

You know me and love of words though it's part of my brand!

Yes any budget is probably over stated. Thank you for pointing that out @bmugford and @equity78, and I will take your caution to heart. I don't truly mean any budget really, and certainly not any budget for any domain. I am genuinely open to investing time for potentially small rewards. I exchanged in huge detail with an academic over a domain which he liked but was not sure he wanted any domain. In end he did not buy but that is the type of interaction I welcome as ultimately I would rather sell a $150 domain name that gets used for a noble purpose than a $850 one that never gets used.

You raise a good point re these things evolving over time, @HotKey. I also like your line about following your heart. A lot!! If I watch DreanBig at the IMAX again (I've seen it like 8 times) I will probably be giving away domains to any young people who ask!

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Bob

Overall I like and believe I understand the premise and approach of your brand image.

Per request I'll toss out a few well meaning and first impression comments.

IMO - the two fonts could work better together;

Font 1 is soft and inviting and I believe appropriate for the message there per se and sets a nice tone for that message whereas -

Font 2 is too abrupt of a change to a less personal and less inviting font tone - visual and verbal.

Also IMO - the color background could be just a bit richer or more defined and would not take away from or distract from your brand messaging.

Re non-profits, the image message did not read nor appear to be heavily skewered towards non-profits.

Overall I sensed a personalized type of message designed to appeal to perhaps a first time domain buyer - individual or company - who would prefer to deal with a company with a personal " hands on " customer centered approach to the domain business.

Experienced advice from Mugford and Equity, explicitly offering an acceptance of "any budget" will definitely attract lowballers. I can attest to this, as I have something like it on my site (excerpt from intro):

Want to make one yours? Reach out to Genuine Domains today to explore exciting new possibilities for your internet presence. These domains enjoy a happy home here, but a moving interest is welcome anytime. Just ask!

Click to expand...

Bolded the offending statement. The mere suggestion of "just ask" has encouraged ridiculously low offers. But- I will not remove it as I truly consider a genuine offer and welcome them, and will not discourage those with a limited budget. Keeping in mind that many names in the portfolio may fit that limited budget as well.

So, free your heart, and your mind will follow! In other words, keep true to your MO, while developing a sensible business acumen. It's a balance.

WatchDogue said:

Re non-profits, the image message did not read nor appear to be heavily skewered towards non-profits.

Overall I sensed a personalized type of message designed to appeal to perhaps a first time domain buyer - individual or company - who would prefer to deal with a company with a personal " hands on " customer centered approach to the domain business.

Click to expand...

Agreed, did not get that sense either; skewered toward non-profit. And yup, I think many may prefer hands-on, in fact we need more of it!

OK I have done a refresh, taking into account the suggestions made above (thank you so much everyone!).

Your comments re font mismatch were right on @WatchDogue. I really appreciate your clear detailed suggestions. I have now used for second part a font that is more 'friendly' than the Helvetica had been, while still clearly differentiated from the first font. I decided, after considering your image comments to go with a new image (not blurred and toned down), that had different brightness levels in top and bottom and that allowed me to use different font colours. I will return to it in the morning to see how I like it, but for now I think I like it much better than before.

To partially follow comments from several re the part about any budget, I changed wording somewhat and in particular made the statement about budget a bit less boldly stated. I did want to keep the message that I do indeed want to serve those one person companies and tiny organizations so used the word modest budget without defining precisely what that means.

I loved your line about domains happy here but like to see them move and just ask @HotKey. Liked it so much, was tempted to put something similar , but did not (for now ). The primary goal of this brand expression exercise is to encourage those who are currently just hand regging some random name to get in touch, tell me how much they really could spend and I can help them find the best options in that price range.

I really appreciate the constructive, clear comments provided so quickly from so many. Thank you. NPs can be such a helpful and supportive place!

Have a great weekend everyone, and I REALLY appreciate the help!

Bob
(ps if you click on the image it goes to slightly better resolution)

Good idea @Bob Hawkes to express Your Personal Brand as a Domainer, not sure about doing that visually...but hey...

I'm currently working on a new project, combining domaining/web development, coin collecting & fitness.

Cheers
Corey

I much admire the personal and friendly approach and the originality too. It’s always a good idea to focus on excellent customer service.

Here are two suggestions:

1. While rules can be broken, a paragraph should only contain one “theme” (and a sentence should generally only contain one “idea”).

Hence I find that the last line in the first paragraph “May I help you find the right domain name?” actually belongs at the end of the second paragraph. It’s out of place and belongs as the conclusion to paragraph two. It’s part of the theme of how Bob can help his customers, not the first purely aspirational theme.

So the first paragraph sets up the “Call to Action” and creates visitor engagement, while the second describes how Bob will strive to empower the customer’s dreams. Two distinct themes that shouldn’t overlap.

2. The background photo is a bit melancholy. A picture with a bright blue sky and a green valley for example would be more positive and productive.

I have bought many photo licenses from istockphoto (part of Getty Images) and prices range from around $10 to $30. Or you could look at Shutterstock (or Adobe has a stock library as well which I’ve been meaning to investigate).

Free photos are OK to use on page seven, but you want the absolute best on your home page.

But if you stick with that photo, the letters in the second paragraph might be better in white and I would move the text a little below the horizon line.

@Bob Hawkes - I think this is a great idea for you. To follow up on @BrandableDomain 's comment, I would advise using photos that don't require you to use license attribution ... trying to sell thousand dollar domains with a photo background that says "Free-Photos" doesn't help. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. Re the photo, I have decided to go through my large seascape / landscape photo collection and use one I have taken. For a personal statement, I think it makes sense to use a personal image. So it will change. I had liked the symbolism of the hot air balloon, but especially in low resolution i agree it looks dark and could be interpreted as sombre. And as @Kpett stresses wrong message.

A good point about the mismatch of the call to action with the first 'paragraph' @BrandableDomain. I think moving it to the second set of bullets is also a mismatch though, so I am currently thinking of making it a box of its own, not in either group. Re white text I actually had tried that and it seemed glaring to me, but now that I am changing to a more abstract and lighter image of my own, it will not be the same issue. Thank you so much for your insightful suggestions!

Whether they are just a few statements on your site or LinkedIn, or presented in some other form, I would love to see some examples of personal brand statements. I have appreciated all the constructive suggestions, but when I started this thread I really did not mean for it to all be about me!

Have a great day everyone!

Bob

Bob Hawkes said:

Whether they are just a few statements on your site or LinkedIn, or presented in some other form, I would love to see some examples of personal brand statements. I have appreciated all the constructive suggestions, but when I started this thread I really did not mean for it to all be about me!

Click to expand...

I remembered that some of the top brokers have good “about” pages that are like “personal brand” pages. So NameCorp.com and Evergreen.com for example both have “about” sections, one featuring a compelling and exciting photo, and one with a compelling and exciting graphic to capture your initial interest.

Both sites also feature photos of the brokers, which leads to the suggestion that a portrait could be attached to Bob’s good new idea of placing the line “May I help you find the right domain name?” in a new separate box.

(I think I would prefer to avoid a question for that sentence e.g. “I’d like to help you find the right domain name.”)

Hi

I don't get it

why do think you need a brand?

why can't your name, be your brand,
and let your experience, if any, be your "about you".


as is, you use too many words, to say nothing specifically.

Bob Hawkes said:

The primary goal of this brand expression exercise is to encourage those who are currently just hand regging some random name to get in touch, tell me how much they really could spend and I can help them find the best options in that price range.

Click to expand...

if above is the goal, then say that,
and validate your qualifications for offering the service, by illustrating past experience.

otherwise, you can be seen as just another nobody, wanting to be somebody, while trying to come-up off the people you hope to be helping.

hope that doesn't sound too harsh as expressed, but you know...

imo...

I believe it is very important for serious domainers to think like a real business.

Creating a good mission statement and a sales site that makes a great first impression will go a long way to increasing business opportunities.

If we are in the business of selling names/brands, we have to create a good name/brand for ourselves to be taken seriously.

biggie said:

why do think you need a brand?

Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts @biggie. Perhaps (well more than perhaps ) it's because I am part way through a branding book that I think a personal brand is important, but two things became increasingly clear to me of late.

1. Why am I in domaining? What do I hope to accomplish? I find writing helps me clarify ideas. Knowing what my 'brand' is will make it more clear what I should, and should not, follow in future directions. So a personal brand is helpful to me personally as a guide.
2. But it is also important to make our brand clear to others. As a consumer, I relate to some companies and not to others. I doubt that is just me. I think it is important to share with potential clients an idea of who I am, and who I am not. Especially in domaining, where it is not like a brick mortar shop you go by each day, I think that it is a more work to make your 'brand' known, to attract clients who are a good match.

I realize many feel that a personal brand is not important, and I respect that. Others might agree that a brand or at least some elements of one, are important, but are best left unwritten. I see virtue in written statements.

biggie said:

offering the service, by illustrating past experience.

Click to expand...

That is a good suggestion which I want to think about more. In many careers that is the normal way - list your degrees, leadership positions, articles, employment milestones, awards, client testimonials, etc. I do list for example on a rolling 12 month basis a list of (partly redacted) sales but I doubt that is important to potential clients, and I do currently have links to 4 of the articles I wrote and to give a taste of some of my domain activities. I could do a much better job on that, but I think I already have way too many words. If I had some high profile past clients who sent glowing testimonials, I would probably use those in some way to explain the relationships that worked well and I am proud of.

biggie said:

otherwise, you can be seen as just another nobody, wanting to be somebody, while trying to come-up off the people you hope to be helping.

Click to expand...

OK that does sound a little harsh, and to be honest I have no clue what the last phrase (come-up off..) even means. But as you always say JMO so I take it in that light !

Thanks for your input to the discussion, and have a nice day.

Bob
(AKA Just Another Nobody )

BrandableDomain said:

some of the top brokers have good “about” pages that are like “personal brand” pages. So NameCorp.com and Evergreen.com for example both have “about” sections, one featuring a compelling and exciting photo, and one with a compelling and exciting graphic to capture your initial interest

Click to expand...

Thanks for great suggestions.

As part of a brand I see that Evergreen has a nice tagline they use:
It is pretty generic but comes with super graphics on their site.

Name.corp do an impressive job in stating their experience, I guess along the lines of what @biggie suggests as the way to go if you are going to say anything at all.

As I would expect, @Kate Buckley has a great writeup about her background and experience eloquently and effectively presented. You can read it at https://www.buckleymedia.com/about.html

I also look at HugeDomains but really they just deal with technical things like how many domains, transfer, etc. as far as I could see. I hope to look at a number of other sites in the next day or two.

Of the ones I looked at I like Kate's best, since by reading it I feel that I could come to know her a bit, and decide if that was the type of person I wanted to work with.

Other good sites people can recommend?

Bob

Bob Hawkes said:

Other good sites people can recommend?

Bob

Click to expand...

MortgageBrands.com

DNAdvisor.com

BrandableNames.com

888Domains.com

Afrinames.co.az

Those marketplaces are owned by long-time domaining pros and have about us pages with some great take-away’s (and are powered by DMP).

Including your real name, a phone number, and even a photo, will help increase buyer confidence knowing who they are dealing with. It is not uncommon for buyers to want to speak to you on the phone before making a large payment.

I didn't care for the blue on blue. Not enough contrast. white or chrome yellow might be better for the text. I also think the text should be the same size for both paragraphs. Because of this I didn't/couldn't read the 2nd paragraph.

@Bob Hawkes

your site isn't responsive and mobile friendly:

..i could not manage to read the text on the image on my mobile

And I would venture to say that at least 50% of your visitors have to read this on mobiles too... or better say can't read it on their mobiles


PS. Please stop using those Comic Sans -like fonts.
Choose something clearer, more readable and post-1996
e.g. from Google Fonts

imho

go with it bro

TL;DR

...hence a motivational, shorter, easier on the eyes version:

Looking good, I went for a visit. Very you! Love the business-card style contact box. Overall a positive, comfortable vibe.

If to suggest, something to toy with:
As 4pm suggested, some of the fonts are super-tiny. In particular, the "How Transactions Work" and "How Fast" boxes, are squeezed in almost as an afterthought. Perhaps give them a dedicated, separated page linked from your main page?

Whatever you do, it's great having your own site to tailor as you wish- no rules! And best of luck with it!

@Bob Hawkes When I noticed your name change, my gut feeling was that you were branding yourself.

Wondering if your "brand" is really a personal mission statement? Or a "about me" page

Always been impressed with your gift of content..AKA "spider bait"