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One reason to register common permutations of a domain is to prevent them from being hijacked and used in ways you would not like. The domain registrar process originally created for the Internet has dramatically changed in the last few years. Originally, if you were in the UK with a UK IP address, you could only register via the official UK registrar. But that is all gone now and anyone can register anywhere they want. So, its easy for instance to register an originally Tuvalu-based domain name (.tv) for a UK-based server. This change opened the door for new companies like GoDaddy.com to offer much cheaper domain names. But, the downside is that many, many entrepreneurs (Cayman Islands is a common address for them) have entered this new open field and licensed themselves as registrars and then proceeded to "lock down" thousands and thousands of domain names using computer algorithms, web searches, etc. These thousands of domains are free to them because they have basically paid one low license fee to be able to create unlimited domains but they then squat on them and wait to negotiate for ransom. As well, to avoid being accused of squatting which is now allowed, they have created systems that automatically turn these thousands of domains into functioning websites with tabs, search and hyperlinks. (Try www.smithsonian.info or www.smithsonian.net but watch out for the popups. The Smithsonian Institution has no association with these but is powerless except to click on the "contact the registrar" link which appears on almost all these sites and then negotiate a fee.) And therein lies the peril for a cultural institution - that hijacked website with the institution's name on it might link to things you wouldn't want your institution associated with. And you are powerless to stop it without paying a "ransom". So, registering the permutations of a name (.org, .com, .net, .info being the most common) and just leaving them "under construction" may be preferrable to leaving them open to hijackers. Chuck Chuck Miller Vice President, IT Missouri Botanical Garden Saint Louis, MO 63110 USA -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Ellis Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 9:53 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: In my 'umble view, web-names ARE all-important .... Align all brand-names. RE: The use of .com domain for UK museums I couldn't agree more about buying all possible permutations of your domain name, but it's vital to only use one - consistently - in any of your marketing. Keeping domain names short and memorable is also a good thing, and helps reinforce brand identity, but I'd argue that Google findability is way more crucial and will ultimately get your site more traffic... Cheers Mike ________________________________ Mike Ellis Solutions Architect Eduserv [log in to unmask] tel: 01225 474300 fax: 01225 474301 www.eduserv.org.uk -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Bibby Sent: 27 November 2007 15:45 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: In my 'umble view, web-names ARE all-important .... Align all brand-names. RE: The use of .com domain for UK museums My 'umble view is that web-names are all-important. It is important to align your web-name with your brand name. e.g. if you are Xtown museums then stick to this - or if you use something more snazzy e.g. Xmus.com, then make sure you also register the other names that people might use. The costs of registering domain names is very small - about 5p per day. So I would keep all possible aliases (including earlier URLs) and provide automatic links to the correct URL (giving automatic reminders asking users to update). Should you book .com ? I would say definitely YES - even if it is not your main site. If you do not, somebody else (one of your competitors?) might use it. What would you give for M&S.com ? My kids Matthew and Shirley hope to get there before you! :) JOHN BIBBY -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Comiskey Sent: 27 November 2007 14:40 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: The use of .com domain for UK museums Hi Mike I don't have anything to do with this. I was informed of the decision today by our ICT Manager who presented it as something he had been told to implement. I'm not sure it is a good idea myself, but it is out of my hands. Michael > -----Original Message----- > From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On > Behalf Of Mike Ellis > Sent: 27 Novembr 2007 14:25 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: The use of .com domain for UK museums > > Hi Michael > > I don't think there's any difference at all between .com and > .org.uk, and certainly not in wider public perception (which > is the important thing...). You'll probably hear some noise > around the fact that .com is considered US or commerce based, > but I think that's legacy noise rather than anything with any > real bearing to where we are today. The "uk" bit of your > domain may still be considered important, though, but again > that's really personal preference rather than anything else. > As someone who does this stuff all day I do have a tendency > to look at a domain and say "ooh, a UK based company" but to > be honest 1) having that domain doesn't mean it's true and 2) > Most people won't even look at the address bar - they'll just > go for the first result in Google... > > At the end of the day, the SEO and findability of your site > is way, way more important than the domain name, and that's > where your question raises some danger flags. Moving a domain > name is a dangerous business if you've already established a > good page rank and SEO. At the end of the day if the only > thing you're changing is the TLD (the .com / .org.uk bit of > your domain) then the question really is - if it ain't broke, > why fix it? > > If instead the change is universal - as your email suggests - > and you're actually renaming the whole brand, then my vote is > that it doesn't make any difference at all - go with > something short and memorable before the TLD and whichever > your preference after it. Make sure you have a sensible > procedure for managing the change, though - redirects, > communicating the change, only marketing one url, etc etc... > > Cheers > > Mike > > Ps. It'll cost you a little more each year for .com. May or > may not be a consideration :-) > > > ________________________________ > > Mike Ellis > Solutions Architect > > Eduserv > [log in to unmask] > tel: 01225 474300 > fax: 01225 474301 > www.eduserv.org.uk > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of > Michael Comiskey > Sent: 27 November 2007 14:15 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: The use of .com domain for UK museums > > Hi all > > I have an enquiry about how .com addresses are regarded by museum > professionals and the general public. > > I have heard that my organisation is moving to the use of a > .com suffix > (away from org.uk)as part of an overall name change. > > Are there any UK museums using .com as part of their main > organisational > web address or for email addresses (as opposed to trading companies or > shops)? > > If so, why was a .com chosen? > > Michael > > ************************************************************** > ********** > > > National Museums Northern Ireland comprises the Ulster Museum, Ulster > Folk and Transport Museum, Ulster American Folk Park, Armagh County > Museum and W5. > > The Ulster Museum is currently closed for major > redevelopment. Details > of the museum's programme of outreach activities during closure can be > found at www.ulstermuseum.org.uk. > > All our other sites are open as normal. > > > Any views expressed by the sender of this message are not necessarily > those of the National Museums Northern Ireland. This email > and any files > transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the > individual or > entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in > error please notify the sender immediately by using the reply facility > in your email software. > > All emails are swept for the presence of viruses. > > ************************************************************** > ********** > > ************************************************** > For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit > the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk > ************************************************** > > > > Unless otherwise agreed expressly in writing by a senior manager of > Eduserv, this communication is to be treated as confidential and the > information in it may not be used or disclosed except for the purpose > for which it has been sent. > If you have reason to believe that you are not the intended recipient > of this communication, please contact the sender immediately. > No employee or agent is authorised to enter into any binding agreement > or contract on behalf of Eduserv or Eduserv Technologies Ltd., unless > that agreement is subsequently confirmed by the conclusion of > a written > contract or the issue of a purchase order. > Eduserv (Limited by Guarantee) - company number 3763109 - and > Eduserv Technologies Ltd - company number - 4256630 - are both > companies incorporated in England and Wales and have their registered > offices at Queen Anne House, 11 Charlotte Street, Bath, BA1 2NE. > > > ************************************************** > For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the > list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk > ************************************************** > ************************************************************************ National Museums Northern Ireland comprises the Ulster Museum, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Ulster American Folk Park, Armagh County Museum and W5. The Ulster Museum is currently closed for major redevelopment. Details of the museum's programme of outreach activities during closure can be found at www.ulstermuseum.org.uk. All our other sites are open as normal. Any views expressed by the sender of this message are not necessarily those of the National Museums Northern Ireland. This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender immediately by using the reply facility in your email software. All emails are swept for the presence of viruses. ************************************************************************ ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk ************************************************** ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk ************************************************** Unless otherwise agreed expressly in writing by a senior manager of Eduserv, this communication is to be treated as confidential and the information in it may not be used or disclosed except for the purpose for which it has been sent. If you have reason to believe that you are not the intended recipient of this communication, please contact the sender immediately. No employee or agent is authorised to enter into any binding agreement or contract on behalf of Eduserv or Eduserv Technologies Ltd., unless that agreement is subsequently confirmed by the conclusion of a written contract or the issue of a purchase order. Eduserv (Limited by Guarantee) - company number 3763109 - and Eduserv Technologies Ltd - company number - 4256630 - are both companies incorporated in England and Wales and have their registered offices at Queen Anne House, 11 Charlotte Street, Bath, BA1 2NE. ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk ************************************************** ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk **************************************************