help/guidance with business name(sorry long read)

I'm in the process of rebuilding my website, I don't have many, if any followers yet just because I haven't pushed it and this will be a new chapter so to speak. My web address is currently listed in my signature, but I'm wondering if it's ok. I've been thinking a few other options. I have spent the last couple weeks looking at lots of other pages and peoples first name last name(jonsmith.com) seems to very popular, but I can't do that the address is already taken(has a under construction sign and no contact info to try to contact and purchase, i've been checking for the last 3 years and nothing has changed). I do own michaelmurtaugh.net but not sure how the .net effects things from the business perspective. So listed below are a few I've been thinking about.

michaelmurtaughphotogr​aphy.com
mikemurtaughphotograph​y.com
michaelmurtaughinc.com
mikemurtaughinc.com
mikemurtaugh.com


I really like the idea of using my name because it's easy to remember, and it almost seems to be the standard among well know professionals. I figure if I'm going to change things up I better do it know in the beginning instead of waiting. Once this is done I am going to really push to get my webpage going, some business going, facebook, blog,twitter, and whatever else I can think of to get my name out to as many people as possible. In case you wondering I plan on going down the photojournalism/journa​lism route concentrating mostly on sports and military(I"m currently active duty so can have access to lots of good stories/happenings, most of which will be practice).

This is not going to be an income source at first, I currently have 16 months left on my enlistment then will be going air force reserve. In the next 16 months I plan on completing as much school towards journalism(taking photojournalism photography classes as my journalism electives, along with a business class or two).

So do any of you think that michaelmurtaugh.net would be fine to build my future career on or go with something else.

If you read all the way through I apologize for the long read but your input if given is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

First, I don't think the .net portion really effects anything... I've been operating with a .net address for many years. In your case, have you tried to contact the person with the .com site that you mentioned has been "under construction"?

That said, I will say that your current domain name is not simple or easy enough for me to remember... and I have a habit of memorizing URLs so I don't have to first visit Google to search for a website - it simply saves me time to memorize the URLs. It's like memorizing frequently dialed phone numbers... it's usually quicker than having to search through your contacts. So, I'd have to say, if I couldn't remember what your URL was tomorrow, I doubt anyone else will... and I probably won't remember it an hour from now

A quick search... I think mmphotography.com is available. It says it's parked with GoDaddy...

drvnbysound wrote in post #15825250
First, I don't think the .net portion really effects anything... I've been operating with a .net address for many years. In your case, have you tried to contact the person with the .com site that you mentioned has been "under construction"?

That said, I will say that your current domain name is not simple or easy enough for me to remember... and I have a habit of memorizing URLs so I don't have to first visit Google to search for a website - it simply saves me time to memorize the URLs. It's like memorizing frequently dialed phone numbers... it's usually quicker than having to search through your contacts. So, I'd have to say, if I couldn't remember what your URL was tomorrow, I doubt anyone else will... and I probably won't remember it an hour from now

for the first part, I have spent a lot of searching time looking for the owner of michaelmurtaugh.com with little results. I do know it's hosted through yahoo. When I do a search at godaddy.com they say for a small fee they will contact the person and see if they are interested in selling. I don't think the guy is going to do anything with the site because I've been checking on it about once a month for the last couple years with the some out come every time. There isn't a link to contact the person on the site, even did a google search for how to find people who own a site that isn't listed, went through a couple site suggestions and came up short. I thought about just paying godaddy.com but really don't want to spend a lot when I already own michaelmurtaugh.net. I did notice something funny and not sure if it means anything but when I type the address michaelmurtaugh.com in the address bar(and this doesn't matter what my browser is) it shows up michaeWmurtaugh.com, not really sure why it puts the w or even if it means anything.

For the second part I couldn't agree more, that is one of the main reasons I wanted michaelmurtaugh.com cause all you have to do is remember a name versus a name and business name. So this is probably while I'll just stick with michaelmurtaugh.net just for the simplicity factor. Then if michaelmurtaugh.com ever becomes available I'll get it and just set it up to forward to michaelmurtaugh.net seems simple enough.

In the end my main goal is to get my name out there, for people to remember who I am and start following me. I'd like to be able to get a few local gigs to make some extra cash on the side. But most importantly I want to gain experience with not only photography but the journalism/writing side of things.

Maybe this helps: http://www.whois.com/w​hois/michaelmurtaugh.c​om

If nothing else, you could write him an email... or call him

I guess the difficult thing for me would be remembering how to spell your last name...

drvnbysound wrote in post #15825336
Maybe this helps: http://www.whois.com/w​hois/michaelmurtaugh.c​om

If nothing else, you could write him an email... or call him

I guess the difficult thing for me would be remembering how to spell your last name...

WOW I didn't know about this one, after all my searching I feel really silly now I didn't stumble across this one. I will defiantly have try and get in touch with him.

I get that a lot about my last name, but not much I can do about that.

murtaugh wrote in post #15825359
WOW I didn't know about this one, after all my searching I feel really silly now I didn't stumble across this one. I will defiantly have try and get in touch with him.

I get that a lot about my last name, but not much I can do about that.

Heh, yeah, it only took me a couple of seconds to find. Jack of all trades... I know a bit about these Interwebz

Realize that you can choose to have this information (e.g. home address, phone number) blocked - I think it's about $10/yr. It should be an option with the purchase of any domain name... having it blocked obviously makes it harder for random people to find out where you live.

About your last name: No, there isn't much you can do about it, but it doesn't mean that you have to use it as part of your domain, which people would have to remember

in my opinion... no offence to your last name but i find it extremely hard to remember, not to mention spell. and honestly i probably wouldn't use it..... for example, i have now read every post in this thread.. where it said your name repeatedly.. and i'll to a little experiment here, i will try to type down your name to see how close i get..

micheal murt........ honestly, thats as much as i could remember without having to cheat and read the above post again lol

just my thoughts

I find Michael Murtaugh easy to remember, but apparently that's just me. I don't understand the problem with spelling it as that's the common spelling of the name.

I do have a problem with www.michaelmurtaugh.ne​t though. That problem is that rarely do we go anywhere using ".net." I think most instinctively use ".com." when typing in a web address which would, of course, not go to your site.

I like www.michaelmurtaughpho​tography.com or www.mikemurtaughphotog​raphy.com.

The michaelWmurtaugh.com is a domain/subdomain type thing. He owns both, and when you type in michaelmurtaugh.com, the domain name server connects you to micaelwmurtaugh.com.

Good luck.

MedicinSC wrote in post #15825666
I find Michael Murtaugh easy to remember, but apparently that's just me. I don't understand the problem with spelling it as that's the common spelling of the name.

I do have a problem with www.michaelmurtaugh.ne​t though. That problem is that rarely do we go anywhere using ".net." I think most instinctively use ".com." when typing in a web address which would, of course, not go to your site.

I like www.michaelmurtaughpho​tography.com or www.mikemurtaughphotog​raphy.com.

The michaelWmurtaugh.com is a domain/subdomain type thing. He owns both, and when you type in michaelmurtaugh.com, the domain name server connects you to micaelwmurtaugh.com.

Good luck.

I suppose it may be the common spelling of it... but I've never met any Murtaugh's so it was the first time I'd ever seen it... which is probably why I had a hard time remembering it (which I didn't).

Additionally, it may be because my habit of domain memory which many other's may not have... but I use ImageShack to host most images that I post on the many forums that I visit... I have no trouble remembering that it's: imageshack.us

I also don't have a difficult time remembering that this is: photography-on-the.net

Ironically, the one I never remember is Canon's consumer site for photography... because Canon.com is their main page for ALL Canon products. Rather than go to Canon.com and navigate through each time (which opens additional windows for each level you dig into), I finally created a shortcut directly to their photography gear (http://www.usa.canon.c​om …consumer/produc​ts/cameras)

It took me several times (I can be slow with some stuff) to stop trying to go to photography-on-the-net.com. I think it was on my fourth or one hundredth time pulling it up on google before I really looked at the address.

I also didn't realize that only three people (not including the OP) have responded to this thread. A lot of times I read the posts, in succession, without really looking at who posted what. I apologize if you thought I was singling you out about the spelling thing. It was late, I wasn't paying attention to who posted what, and in my small tired mind, I was thinking that more than two people were talking about the difficulty of the last name. LOL. I do have the advantage of having known a few with that name, as both first and surname.

I agree about the 'difficult' surname. I don't know anyone with that surname and it would take some remembering. If someone verbally told it me, then I'd probably ask them to spell it then I'd probably forget it..

dancook wrote in post #15826202
I agree about the 'difficult' surname. I don't know anyone with that surname and it would take some remembering. If someone verbally told it me, then I'd probably ask them to spell it then I'd probably forget it..

Heh, but Dan Cook is easy to remember... if that were my name, I'd surely use it

drvnbysound wrote in post #15826314
Heh, but Dan Cook is easy to remember... if that were my name, I'd surely use it

www.danielcook.com i've only put a basic wordpress site on there atm....

Tried these?
http://www.MichaelM_ph​otography.com = Server Not Found.
http://www.MichaelM_ph​oto.com = Server Not Found.