Domain name

[Randi Gordon]

@Lisa-Clark I don’t think it’s strange at all. Plenty of illustrators I know use the word studio in their name. I was astonished when I applied for my domain name and it was actually available, because it was already taken on Instagram, so for IG I resorted to the annoyingly dumb “_artist” after my name. How absolute dare someone else have my name!

[Lisa Clark]

@Randi-Gordon Well I guess I need to reconsider studio then. I feel so insecure about everything! I'm sure that will get better with time and practice! Thank you for responding. It is so helpful to hear from other people on the forum!

[Alzamon]

If the advice works: if you can get both .com and other TLD of your choice for domain (use one for your site and another for redirection) all the better. For instance I own alzamon.com AND alzamon.art because the .com still is heavily ingrained in pop culture and for SEO purposes although that's kind of starting to pass, and the .art domain works fine with the other social media handles I manage which are mostly "alzamonart". In fact my site uses the .art domain and the .com is used for redirection.

This said, a shorter domain in an alternate TLD is much better these days than somelongishhardtoremembername.com.

[Lisa Clark]

@Alzamon Thank you for telling me that. I always have more to learn and I appreciate it!

[Alzamon]

@Lisa-Clark Even better, if you want to keep the "studio" moniker there's a .studio TLD for that. So you can have a name that goes with your social media handles - good for recognition

I use Namecheap for all my domains. Just did this search and this is available. FYI.

[jimsz]

why not buy LisaClark.art?

[BradAYoo]

@jimsz said in Domain name:

why not buy LisaClark.art?

If you don't mind the ~$20 a year I would second the LisaClark.art

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@Lisa-Clark lisaclarkart.com?

[Lisa Clark]

@Nyrryl-Cadiz unfortunately that is taken by a Lisa Clark in the UK. That is what prompted the confusion!

[Lisa Clark]

@jimsz @BradAYoo I do like lisa clark.art. I don't know if I can talk my husband into it quite yet. It may have more to do with him being really busy at work more than anything. I want to make this decision because it seems to be a big step to having all of the platform names the same.

Many thank yous for your input!!!

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@Lisa-Clark ah... I see

[burvantill]

Just a thought from someone with a longish last name. I have to type burvantillustration.com a lot and it gets real old having to type all those letters. Lol. I would go as short as you can.

[Lisa Clark]

@Nyrryl-Cadiz he's an engineer. It's hard to get him out of his head when he's stressed.

@burvantill thank you! Illustration is a long word on its own. Definitely will keep that in mind!! Would you ever change it?

[burvantill]

@Lisa-Clark I have definitely thought about it. Even though I don't have a big following I have had it for a LONG time. I am going to switch up my website hosting this month so if I do change it, it's going to be real soon. I will most likely just suck it up and own it. It's a tough decision.

[Lisa Clark]

@burvantill Best of luck!! It's definitely a hard decision but you can do it! If you remember, post back here when you're done. I want to see it!

[Melissa_Bailey]

@burvantill & @Lisa-Clark — just adding to this little portion of the conversation. I had the same experience as you did! When I started out, my website was melissabaileyillustrates.com — and it was LONG and a lot to ask people to remember.

And there is also a Melissa Bailey in the UK who is also an illustrator, and her website is MelissaBaileyillustration.com — too close.

After years of melissabaileyillustrates being my domain name, I decided it was time to change, because of those reasons above, and I’m glad I did. It was time to simplify. It’s been a year, and I’ve only had one complaint that my website and branding changed, which was from a friend who doesn’t like change.

Now, my domain is mbaileyart.com — much easier to remember and easier to type! Even started using a new email connected to that website to look even that much more professional.

So after rambling on, my recommendation is to go with a domain name that is as simple as possible, easy to remember, professional-sounding, and related to art/illustration. Hope this little two cents was helpful!

[burvantill]

Well I did it. I turned off the renew on my domain and website burvantillustration.com.
I had a conversation with my husband yesterday, and told him about this conversation and the dilemma of having a long website name. I put the question to him, should I change the website name to match my social media handles, burvantill. He said what do the pro's do? Sometimes he just gets right to the heart of it, genius. So, I went online and researched known illustrators and what they use for their websites. Of course, we know what the SVS Holy Trinity do. Lee's site name is a little long because he, too, added "illustration" to his name, but Jake's and Will's sites are easy. mrjakeparker.com and willterry.com. I searched for about 20 different illustrators and the majority just had their names, like Will. The rest, about 4, I couldn't find a normal website for them. So, I've decided I'm going to change mine to just my name. Makes me feel special, like a rock star . Now the tough decision of choosing the new website publisher and host. I've been looking at Wordpress, but am a little gun shy about taking on that project. I wonder if @Geoffrey-Gordon has finished his tutorial for that yet. Geoffrey? =)x

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@burvantill go for it!

[Geoffrey Gordon]

Hi @burvantill

Covid happened on my side and the flood gates opened, so while I was working on it. I had to put everything on hold. I have had so much work since march last year that I have had little time to do anything else, even practicing my drawing .....

But things are starting to even out so it should be on the cards again soon.

[burvantill]

@Geoffrey-Gordon No worries! I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties. I hope things calm down soon for you so you can work on your art again. Good luck. =)x