{!date dayname+0}, {!date long+0} Dear {!firstname_fix} As you read this I am probably mid-way through my talk on "The Future of Speaking". Today I am speaking at the Professional Speaking Association meeting in London, where I've been asked to run a 90-minute session looking at the future of the speaking industry. I spend half my working life speaking and I have witnessed several changes in the 25 years or more that I have been doing this. But never have I seen such significant and rapid changes as are happening now. A combination of technology, economics and social changes are all joining forces to change the speaking profession radically. But those three elements are all colliding for several industries, yours too quite probably. It is highly likely that many knowledge based industries - most of what we do in the UK - will see major and dramatic change in the next year or two. The question is, are we all prepared for the explosive impact of technology, economics and social upheaval on our businesses?
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: What's in a domain name? The other day I was talking to someone who was concerned that the domain name they wanted had already "gone". Someone, it seemed, had already registered the dot com version and the .co.uk was in use too. "Why not get the .biz?" I asked. That then led to a conversation about the relative value of all the various domain "extensions" such as .com, .co.uk, .net, .biz and so on. Each of the extensions has a meaning and the system is supposed to be "policed" so that only relevant people get the right domain extensions. For instance, .net is supposedly for websites solely related to the internet. The .biz extension is intended only for businesses. Similarly, .org.uk is meant to be for non-profits in the UK. However, people use these domain name extensions without any real checking. The only ones that really get checked - and which you cannot get on the open market are things like .gov, .ac.uk and .edu. However, most people try and get .com whenever they can. That's for several reasons. Firstly, it trips off the tongue more readily. Secondly, if you type the first part of the domain name in, without the extension, most browser applications will assume it is .com anyway. Plus there are various urban myths that Google prefers .coms (untrue by the way - but that doesn't stop the "advice" being available online...!). The important words to focus on are those which appear after the www. and before the extension - whatever that is. Your domain should be based on your keywords and should "say what it does on the tin". So if your website is about "finding a holiday cottage in wales" then a domain name like "findingaholidaycottageinwales.com" would be great. And the chances of that address having been claimed already is slim. It is better to have words without hyphens. People can type more quickly without hyphens and remember the names more easily, so they can pass it on by word of mouth. In the past you needed hyphens to tell search engines where one word ended and the next started, but they are much more sophisticated now and can split the words appropriately. So, don't worry about hyphens, nor about the extension. Instead focus your attention on the bit in the middle - the main part of the domain name which describes what your website does. That will give the search engines more to go on, leading to higher rankings. Plus it tells human beings what your website is about too. A double whammy. If you want to find domain name easily, and manage them once you have bought them, I'd suggest Domain Monster (I have nearly all my domains with them). If you want an exhaustive worldwide search of domain names than look at Domain Search. Remember, you can always ask your question and get it answered in this newsletter by going to: http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/questions
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK: It pays to be human This week my good friend, "Mr Negotiator" Derek Arden, invited me to be his guest at a dinner at the Houses of Parliament. The after-dinner speaker there was Lord (Norman) Lamont, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was a charming man who spoke eloquently and then gave detailed answers to the economic questions he received afterwards. Some of the questions were very complex (well I didn't understand them...!) but Lord Lamont answered them well, showing a clear degree of understanding. But what was also apparent was his willingness to accept that when he was in Government they didn't get everything right. He also seemed unphased by the media attacks he received, still solid in his resolve that he was right and the media were merely doing their job. As he chatted about his time in The Treasury, and joked about his first day in the office, it was clear he was just a relatively ordinary chap, doing "a job". He had no pretensions or arrogance about his work. It showed a side of a politician you don't always see - someone who was prepared to be "one of us". Maybe he actually isn't like this; maybe he is a "toff". But he endeared himself to his audience very well indeed, a skill which many of us could learn from. No matter what he really thinks, he clearly thought about his audience that night and spoke from their perspective; a class act. No wonder he achieved high office. If you want to check out what else I've been doing for the past week, you can always look at: http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/week
THIS WEEK'S "MUST BUY": The best "clicker" by far...! Every time I use my presentation "clicker" people tell me it is fantastic. Only the other day I was using it during a workshop and one of the other presenters needed to borrow it. He said "where do I point it?" I replied "anywhere" - it is radio-based so as long as you are within 30m of your laptop it will work, no matter where you point it. Plus it has easy to use forward and back buttons for your slides, a timer which vibrates to let you know you have 5 minutes left, 1 minute left and then "get off"...! But the vibration is noiseless, so only you feel it in your hand - it does not annoy your audience. This little device from Logitech fits snugly in the palm of your hand and runs on ordinary batteries. It also has a bright green laser, which is easier to see than the usual red ones. I've used several clickers over the years, but none as good as this one. To find out more about the Logitech R400 visit: http://GJurl.com/clicker So, that's it for this week - see you in seven days...! Kind Regards
Graham Jones Web: grahamjones.co.uk Tel: +44 118 336 9710 If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter than you can delete your name from the mailing list by clicking this link: {!remove_web} Affiliate Links: Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links providing me with a small commission when you purchase the item. However, I only use affiliate links for products which I personally value. |
