Hi guys,

I'm currently redesigning my website and business and am in need of a new URL.

I've read various tips on the internet but I'm curious as to what advice magicians and entertainers use here.

My situation is:

- I want to promote a single character (The Mamazing Flymo)
- I would like it to be short, memorable and reflect what I do (entertain children)
- I want to appeal mostly to people having birthday parties but also attract corporate clients
- I want to maximise my Google potential.
- I would like to show up on Google searches despite the fact that most searches of Flymo reveal lawn mowers.

A few options I have are:

http://www.flymo.net.au (are .nets bad?)
http://www.weneedflymo.com.au (he is a superhero after all)
saveusflymo(can assume .com.au on the rest)
flymoentertains
flymoentertainment
flymomagicparties
flymoflymo

I'm not looking for a magic answer from anyone here. Opinions on any of these names would be great but I'm more interested in creating some discussion on URL's.

Ready? Go!

I like to communicate value my whenever possible so I chose my URL for this purpose while also positioning myself as a specialist in corporate entertainment. Thus http://www.AmazingCompanyEvents.com

However, I admit, this doesn't do much for search engines or for branding my name specifically.

IMO, you're wanting to do too much. It's difficult do it all effectively while keeping it reasonably short.

Brainstorming out loud - how about:
FlymoFun.com
Seems to have a good rhythm to it and generic enough to appeal to multiple kids show clients. SEO benefits are limited however (like I said, hard to do it all).

Should say "I like to communicate my value whenever possible".

Let me give you a quick word of warning!

I had a really good name for a show. I went to godaddy.com to check it out to see if it was available. And much to my suprise - it was available! I was so happy. I slept on the name for a day. Went back the next day, and the name was taken. I am sure there is a name for what happened to me. But basically, Godaddy (or someone affiliated with them) snatched the name up, and now if I wanted it, I would have to begin the negotiation process to get it. I was ****ed.

I ended up adding the word "the" to name I wanted.

Moral of the story..... When you start looking at the names you want, be prepared to move on one if it is available.

-scott

Good stuff from both the 'Scotts'! Hehehehe!

YES, there are ‘domain squatters’ who wait and search for names “BEING SEARCHED”. Yes, you read that right… URL’s being looked for (even before they are bought!) So when you search MAKE Sure you are ready to BUY NOW, cuz it may happen that they see the site you are ‘researching’ and snatch it up either to try and sell it back to you or cuz it’s a good name and they want it to use or sell to the highest bidder.

Sad, but true.

On the name:
I totally concur with Scott (Burton) and have been soap-boxing this ideal for many years now…

That said, there are TWO completely different issues at stake here:
=1) Drawing in business, marketing, attention, sales, money…
=2) Personal & Business Branding (which does little to none of that… More on that in a minute.)

=1) More business & profits:
REMEMBER: our buyers likely don’t know “us” (by name and often by industry) when they go looking for the ‘solution’ and outcome they want. To often they even go looking for more ‘general’ terms like “ENTETAINMENT” cuz they simple don’t understand what they even want… get the idea?

Sidebar:
[The Good news is; THAT is a fixable. Effective marketing can help to narrow the target bulls eye for amore direct HIT… another day and post.]

Back to the point:
What our buyers REALLY WANT, are looking for and deserve, is the “RESULT, Solution and Desired Outcome” they are searching for… ie: “The Best Birthday Party & Event Ever!” (and everything that means to them!) “Hassle Free Events”, “Events That Make You the Company Hero!” - - Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. (You get the idea…)

They want the RESULT… The Benefit… ‘Their’ Desired Outcome… etc, and LESS about wanting, let-alone LOOKING FOR ‘Mr. Magic Trick Guy’!

Oh sure there are some that know exactly what (occasionally even WHO) they want, but the internet is a huuuuuge, ever expansive knowledge base so you gotta’ know how to make that work for you and your business success! Which means you need to know and aply more to the “MARKETING” process and less to the “BRANDING” process if more money and business is what you are looking for.

That is NOT to say ‘A Congruent Personal and/or Professional Business Brand’ isn’t important… It can be VERY important, it is just not going to book you that many show all by itself.

Sure, branding can “HELP” once they find you and even get to know you, but branding will not help people FIND YOU in the first place as much as the rest f the over-all marketing mix.

So, to THAT End and you question as I understand it; I would recommend you do BOTH!

* Yes, get the best BRAND URL you can…
AND
* Grab yourself a KILLER (or more than one… they’re cheap man!) “Benefit Oriented; Result, Promise, Outcome, Solution based URL that will help advance BOTH your Business (the profit making part) and your Brand (the identity making part.)

Just some insights, experiences and thoughts… hope that helps!

I am at your service and in HIS Service,
Deano (Loves The ‘FlyMo’ Concept!) in Reno
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No fancy advice here, I just tend to look for domain names that describe my act.

For my vent web site, I managed to get:
http://www.ComedyVentriloquist.com

Described what I do perfectly.

I've grabbed some market specific URLs too. Some point to my original site, others point to niche market content.

A good SEO strategy will create visibility on the search engines. While domain names help, they aren't as important as the content. The key for a good domain name is getting people to remember it.

I just wrote a routine that has my duck telling me he purchased a domain and pointed it to our Facebook Fan page. He gets the audience repeating it. I'll be curious to see if it draws people to the fan page. BTW - that URL is:
http://www.IdiotWithADuck.com

Which also describes me perfectly!

Hi, did not read through all the post.

You should get several URL's...

Get your stage name
get your act name
and then get a promo name
For example http://www.LosAngelesmagicians.info which is a landing page for my stage name http://www.CurtisLovell.com

This helps in searches...

Hi,
Something easy to remember... and spell !
flymofun.com is good as there is no real ambiguity. Although here in the UK a flymo is a type of lawn mower grass cutter!
Ade

Just remembered we did a one page superhero site: http://www.balloonhero.co.uk
Ade

I have several sites, and some just forward to my main site. Domain names are cheap nowadays. I've experimented and found what works best for me

Great advice guys! Scott, I think you have really put into words the frustrating experience I've been having trying to choose a URL; trying to do too much!

Deano, I think you are right. Leaning towards getting two URLs as I think this solves the problem.

sb, that is very annoying to have happen! If anyone out there wants to snatch up a bunch of Flymo names and ransom them back to me; be my guests! I don't think I could bring myself to pay a cent more than the original value out of principle.

Ade, yes I think I am going to have a bit of a Google marketing battle on my hands with Flymo lawn mowers as they appear all over Google searches.

Cheers guys; always love the well though out responses posted on the forum.