December 31, 2008
Help Me Name My Blog
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For 2009, I’m planning to launch a second blog. This blog, jangro.com (you know the one you’re reading) has a pretty well set purpose. At least in my mind it does. I frequently find myself wanting to write more personal stuff, about gadgets and tech, and other random things that deviate strongly from the core purpose of this blog, which is Internet marketing.
I realize that I could just say screw it and write about whatever I want here.
But knowing my audience here that just feels like a strange thing to do. I have done it many times, and whenever I do, it affects my writing and what I do write.
So, I want to create a parallel blog to this one. I’ll have a link back and forth in the header, and perhaps even show a list of recent posts here in the sidebar.
But what domain do I put this on? What do I call it?
- Jangro variation domain: I’ve got several “jangro” domains in addition to jangro.com. scottjangro.com, jangro.us, jangro.org, sorryjangro.com (oh, wait, I don’t own that one) none of which are doing anything useful right now.
- Subdomain on jangro.com: I could also create a subdomain on jangro.com, like scott.jangro.com. I do like the idea of keeping it on jangro.com. It seems more tight that way, and I’m leaning in this direction, though it is a bit boring.
- New domain: I could also just go with a non-jangro domain entirely. For example, I own jangy.com. It’s a nickname that I have with some friends. It was an available 5 letter domain, so I grabbed it. Though that’s still “jangro-ish”. I could just come up with something completely different, like problogger.com, copyblogger.com, etc.
I’ve asked a few of my smart friends this question and here are their responses:
Jim Kukral says,
If it was me I’d do scottjangro.com. Personally, it’s better from a branding perspective to have people repeating your name over and over. Your full name. It’s also less confusing. Some people don’t get subdomains. But if you don’t care about that, just do your plan which is fine. I’m just saying, I’d go for easy.
Shawn Collins says,
I’d say scott.jangro.com and point scottjangro.com to it to account for people not getting the subdomain and failing to include the dot. I think it’s valuable to keep everyting at the same TLD and I regret that I’ve spread things around
Sam Harrelson says,
“Personal branding” is the new “web2.0″ buzzword of ‘09. Don’t fall for their Fool’s Gold.
Go nuts and pick a domain that has nothing to do with your name but more to do with what you want to express.
I follow all of your blogs and not sure why you have this question. Clearly, you want to do something a little different… so do it. Break away from the “Jangro” brand and create something new that is still reflective of you and personal, but also creative and different. A non-Jangro name will express that. I think.
Great, three people, no consensus.
So here I put this question out to my other smart friends…
Friends, what should I do?
Don't listen to Sam. I can't even remember if there are two L's or two S's in his name half the time.
I have my own domain and love it. Of course, we're all personal branders. I'm just pointing out that as people continue to pimp the idea of "personal branding's power," it will become a limp buzzword like "web2.0" is now.
That doesn't mean we stop using GMail or Flickr, it means we start using them for the tools they are rather than focusing on how "powerfully revolutionary" they are. And when "personal branding" as a term jumps the shark because of all the "personal branding experts" out there, it doesn't mean that we'll all give up our name domains. We'll just use them as the tools they are.
Absolutely would go with scottjangro.com, if the focus is going to be on more personal/eclectic postings. It creates some separation with the current domain, but an easy tie-in as well.
I think you should definitely avoid going with something abstract. I have noticed that Sam lost a great degree of brand equity when he began running http://www.InternetGeekGuy.comconcurrently with the domain in his name.
douchebag.
wait until my lawyer calls you next week.
Sam, I've got a great IP/trademark attorney. And he's on twitter, @erikjheels
scott.jangro.com because its pretty snazzy
So, I guess SorryJangro.com is out of the running
'fraid so Missy.
You could buy a .me domain name for personal postings and still follow through on your overall jangro brand. I expect .me blogs to be random and informal.
I'm not that smart, but I think it depends on the type of writing you're talking about. If it doesn't fit here, is it because it's not straight talk affiliate or business related? Are you leaning toward humor or outrageous opinion? That "voice" decision matters more than "branding". This blog is your brand. If you want something off the wall, go for what Sam said - a name that's more about your topic. If you just want to seriously discuss other topics and see where that goes, maybe the ScottJangro is the answer.
Just my .02
don't sell yourself short Judi.
Nothing outrageous of off-the-wall I don't think. But it could go that way. This blog is my brand and I feel odd posting non-professional or non-internet marketing stuff here.
My primary goal is to get a place to post everything else.
Thanks!
Jangy,
I 100% vote for jangy.com.
That is all.
I knew you would, Don.
I like jangy.com, though tech.scottjangro.com will remind readers who they're reading. I think there's a "first impression" thing to keep in mind too. At a show or a party, you can say "visit tech.scottjangro.com", or "visit scottjangro.com". It'll be easy for people to remember (jangy will be remembered, but the tie-in back to you may be harder for people).
yeah, I agree with this Rick. Using something like jangy.com would be a major branding effort, one that I'm not terribly interested in undertaking. That's why I think leveraging the jangro.com domain is most appealing to me.
How about carolyntang.com
that and jingojangro.com. you're just full of great ideas carolyn. Keep em coming!
jangy.com or scottjangro.com. You are crazy, i can't believe you want another blog!
jangrofett.com
love it. I may need to buy that one.
yeah, I don't so much want another blog. I want to be able to write more.
Going the completely new domain name route is a whole new blog and the branding work that comes with it. Hanging a variation of jangro.com like scottjangro.com or scott.jangro.com is just an extension.
The other solution you have is to keep jangro.com as most people who know you already know your blog and just go down the route others like Jeremy Shoemaker and John Chow have taken: talk about everything and anything that matters to you, not only social marketing. Your readers will most likely want to ready about any topic you want to share anyway. I know i would.
i meant to say social and internet marketing.
Always the voice of reason, Damien. Damn you and your clarity of vision.
If it's not going to be "affiliate" type stuff I would go with ScottJangroEtc.com or ScottJangroMisc.com or some variation of one of those. I wouldn't lose what you've built up with ScottJangro.
I like ScottJangro.com. Got middle initial? I am ErikJHeels.com.
[...] previous post: Help Me Name My Blog 933Commentshttp://www.jangro.com/a/2008/12/31/the-emperors-new-blog/The+Emperor%27s+New+Blog2008-12-31+19%3A40%3A26Scott+Jangrocomments Written By: Scott Jangro December 31, 2008 [...]
iamjangro.com
(tibute to i am legend movie. conveys the personal-ness too)
jangrola.com
or jangrila.com
(sure, looks like gorilla somehow, but it's a spin off of Shangri-La. see wiki entry here to see if it fits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangri-La
i think it does)
jangorilla.com (jangro goes bananas)
jancsgrotto.com (grotto = your own personal cave, "janc's grotto" is an anagram of scott jangro)
jangrolicious.com (get the juicy inside jangro stuff)
jangrito.com (like a burrito, but spicier)
jangruska.com
You might as well have some fun with it and get a new domain. JangroNation.com?
omg, if I ever refer to you guys as "JangroNation" or "Team Jangro", please shoot me!
Google likes keyword domains try getting some thing with tech in it like techreviewblog.com this would help you getting listed for tech reviews
Responding to Sam's comment about "personal branding" and buzzwords:
http://agitationist.com/101-web-business-cliches-...
jungy or jungo works the best for you
I am currently working on setting up a free blogging community. I have a few things to iron out yet. Getting there. Can't say for sure when I am going live, but if you think you might be interested when I do, I will be happy to reserve your name. Main site will be what.ismyblogs.name of course you can have any name in front of .ismyblogs.name shoot me an email if you think you might want a spot.
Keyword domains. Because Google likes anchor text.
Hello !!!
I am Piter Kokoniz. Just want to tell, that I’v found your blog very interesting
And want to ask you: what was the reasson for you to start this blog?
Sorry for my bad english:)
Tnx!
Your Piter Kokoniz, from Latvia