How do I follow up yesterday's post when I did nothing all day Thursday?
I know!! I need suggestions for name for my personal website.
The obvious -- melanieavila.com -- is taken, but I'd like something close to that. I plan to use the site for both writing and graphic design, so I don't really want to include the word "writer" in there. I toyed with the idea of coming up with a business name for myself, or basing it off my username melaniehoo, but "they" say you should have something that's close to your name so "fans" can find you.
Yes, yes, I'm getting ahead of myself. I know. But I'd really rather not do this twice, so I'm sticking with my name for now.
I also have several middle initials I could use -- A, W, or H. Yes, Wahoo has been discussed. :P
So, any thoughts?
A little about me
I "roughed it" in Zihuatanejo, Mexico for three years with my (now ex) husband while we waited for his US visa. Well, we didn't really rough it -- we had running water & glass in the windows, but it was really hot.
He was denied in September 2009 & I returned to Michigan in February 2010, and while our story ended there, mine continues at Hoosblog and my dog, Owen, is documenting his life on Instagram.
I'm no longer posting to this blog, but I'm leaving it online so you can read about our journey. Check out the links under Posts That Explain Things to get the basics, or the tags at the bottom for specific categories.
He was denied in September 2009 & I returned to Michigan in February 2010, and while our story ended there, mine continues at Hoosblog and my dog, Owen, is documenting his life on Instagram.
I'm no longer posting to this blog, but I'm leaving it online so you can read about our journey. Check out the links under Posts That Explain Things to get the basics, or the tags at the bottom for specific categories.
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41 comments:
I like using a middle initial, or using two web addresses but making them look part of the same webite. (melanieavilabooks or authormelanieavila and melanieaviladesign or designermelanie avila.)
Or just using MelanieAvila with a middle initial. Or melanieavilacreations.
How about MelaniesDrunkenNakedMexicanTripPictures.com?
It is a little long, but I think it would generate traffic.
And I'll bet no one has claimed that name yet.
Spy, I like the idea of having two sites. I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking it'd be easiest if it was all in one place, but there's no reason I can't just link them together. Hmm... that also solves the problem of mixing freelancing stuff with potential book stuff. Good idea.
I've actually considered melanieavilacreations. :).
*tips hat to Allen*
I've worked at getting RID of that image!!
I love Spy's suggestion!
melaniehoo.com works. Short. Good ID. Conversation starter. Or, melaniespages.com, or, of course, HoingaBoinga.com
Can you use melanieavila.net? That's a popular domain too.
You could try melanieavilaonline -- easy to remember.
I used my name so that one day (crosses fingers) it could be my author site -- but I'm also in the process of starting a second blog that will have another name and another focus - you can "attach" them all (you know that).
Let us know!
I'm with Spy, use two different ones.
If you were talking copywriting and graphic design then sure go with one site because they are both services but books and graphic design are different--more like goods vs. services--so definitely two different sites.
Get melanieavila.com.
They are cyber-squatting on your name.
If you follow the web site you will find that it is not a site but a fake setup to look like a site so they don't look blatant cyber-squatters.
However they are still squatting and it can be proven.
Go get your name girl. Don't let someone profit from your success when they didn't do any work, just snag your name.
When I tried www.melanieavila.com, it came up on one of those sites that auctions off domain names. You still might be able to get it. Did you check out:
http://www.namejet.com/Pages/Auctions/BackorderDetails.aspx?domainname=melanieavila.com
I'm with Penguin. Stake your claim!
Pink, me too. :)
OMG, it took me a minute to figure out who you were, Mr. Waterboys. :P I was like, who knows about Hoinga Boinga? ...
I do like melaniehoo, we'll see. That's what I was throwing around yesterday.
Amy, my mom suggested that but I have an issue with the whole .net thing. I don't know why. Adding "online" is an idea...
Spoke with hubby about your domain. He said that you can pay the $ for your name. It would be good to do it now, before you are famous. :D
Jenna, good point, and the more I think about it, I really like the idea of doing two sites. I don't feel like I need an author site right now (although getting the domain name would be good), but I DO need a freelancing site that includes both design and writing.
I appreciate your and everyone else's input!
Penguin, um... how do I do that?
Lurker, so I can get it through that site? I'm willing to try but I have no clue where to begin!
Turkey, does he know how much that typically costs?
Ans excellent point about my upcoming fame, lol.
Oooh! I like melanieavilacreations!
Hoingaboinga made me giggle.
I highly recommend trying to get melanieavila.com. I myself changed my last name when I got married - and was dismayed to learn that there were more of me with my new last name - but only one me with my maiden name. (Too bad I dislike my maiden name.) So, long story short, I was so excited to discover that no one had yet claimed the website for my new name. Happy day!
I would fight for it if I were you!
In lieu of that, however, I do like some of the other suggestions here, such as melanieavilacreations.com, melanieavilaonline.com, or two different (linked) sites for your writing and graphic design work.
Of course, you could always take www.themelanieavila.com - it's available - though it might sound a little pretentious... ;-)
I'm really liking hoingaboinga the more I think about it...
Laura, I followed the links and the minimum bid is $69, or something like that, and I don't know if I can justify that expense right now.
It's funny you mentioned "the" because I was just thinking "msmelanieavila" could work too.
aviliadesigns
aviliastudio
I think the two separate sites is a good idea. I wouldn't go with more than two words. Its best to keep your address shorter.
Just write them a really nice letter explaining to them that you are Melanie Avila and that you would be willing to pay the cost of registering the domain name. Not the price they would like to hose you over.
If they try to hose you over, you simply point out to them that you are the person the domain names and unless they can show it has been in use(not the lame page they have) or they are also in name they cannot squat it.
Most likely will be an open and shut case.
Turkey, that's a good point about keeping it short. I keep resisting associating myself with my last name (I've been Avila less than three years) but that does make sense.
I do like including design, creations, or studio.
Penguin, I suppose that's worth a try. :)
I don't like to be hosed.
I really like MelanieAvila creations, as well as Melaniehoo, as well as hoingaboinga.
I know, I'm not much help *takes my indecisive self away*
Just a thought, what about melaniehavila.com? Put that middle initial of H in there for your maiden name.
I like the idea of two websites as well. Looks like you're on the right track. I agree. Go after your own name!
Nadine, my Yahoo name is melaniehoovila, which reminds me of Dr. Seuss, lol. I'm leary of picking a middle initial now because I'm not sure if I'll use one IF I ever get published. I feel like I'm overthinking this and shouldn't consider that, but it's stupid not too.
Thanks Erica. :)
You could always see who has the name you want and see about acquiring it from them.
Travis, that seems to be the consensus. I've never done anything like that before -- I'm afraid to seem too interested and have them jack up the price. I don't know. I've lost my energy this afternoon.
Saw your piece Shipwrecked in Flashquake. Nice.
Thanks!
What about killing the person with your name as their website, and taking it back as the rightful owner? It's like somebody stole your soul. I say it's creepy, and just cause for murder.
Wow. I'm really tired and had way too much sake. Note to self - don't read friends' blogs after drinking sake.
*gives Robin a hug, steals some of her sake*
I dunno if you've made up your mind yet, Mel, but what about trying melanie_avila.com? Then you still have your name, but without having to pay some jacked up rate because someone else snagged it just to make some money off of it and can I just say for the record how sleazy I find that practice to be? *deep breath*
Anyways. Yeah, maybe a hyphen or an underscore between your first and last names might do the trick. :D
Ooh, Jen, that's a great idea. I'll look into that for sure!
Good luck with the name finding, Melanie! I was lucky nobody had my maiden name, so my buddy Joe snatched up the domain name for me right away. I created the website after I sold my first book to an e-pub, and it'll come in handy when I get a traditional publisher, too.
I don't know if it helps, but he used GoDaddy.com for the domain stuff. It's over my head though.
Thanks Sandra! I have used GoDaddy for a client and it seemed to go well. I even transferred it to another hosting site without any problems. It only costs $10 if you don't buy any of their services, so definitely worth it.
I should get on this, but I do have a lawyer looking into purchasing my name for me.
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