A domain name can last a lifetime
Once you’ve got the domain name you want, you probably won’t want to let it go. And holding on to it’s even more important if you’re running a website or business – or simply rely on it for your email. Our domain name – 123-reg.co.uk – is 11 years old at the end of May. That’s nothing in the scheme of things, but it did get us thinking about the different ways you could use a domain name during your lifetime. Buy it at the start, and it’ll last till the end… At birth, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to buy a domain for yourself. But assuming someone does manage to register it for you, they’ll be able to embarrass you by putting baby photos online, writing a blog of your progress – and setting up an email address for good wishes. By the time you get to your teens, you’ll probably enter a rebellious stage. A website is the perfect way to express yourself. Get creative, or set up a private messageboard to keep in touch with your mates, away from prying eyes. After all, don’t teenagers understand the internet better than most adults? At university, you’ll discover a whole range of new interests. Maybe you’ll be setting up a website for a club or society, or trying to impress potential employers with an online portfolio or project. You certainly won’t struggle for ways to use your domain name. In your 20s and 30s? Isn’t that marriage and kids time? Replace wedding invites with a website. Include your seating plan, gift list and show people who else is coming. Or document every moment of your pregnancy and birth. (Ok, not every moment.) Kids growing up, more time on your hands? Spare evenings are a great time to pursue a hobby or passion online. Maybe you could start a website – or even an online business. Plenty of ‘five to niners’ make money by running an online company outside of normal office hours. If you’ve hit retirement, you may be what they call a ‘silver surfer’. That’s surely another good excuse to spend more time online. At 123-reg ,we do believe a domain name can last an entire lifetime. Like your mobile phone number, once you have one you like, you won’t want to change it. So don’t! Register a domain, and you’ll be able to keep it for as long as you need it. Got a domain you’re not using? Choose domain name parking as a potential way you could make money from these domains. ver Surfers’ Day was started in 2002 by Digital Unite, one of the UK’s main providers of digital skills learning. The aim was to introduce older people to the world of technology
Friday Fun: It’s just not cricket
Proof that when choosing your domain name and social media names you should consider all definitions worldwide affecting your choice: An American woman has made global headlines after complaining about cricket messages sent to her Twitter account, which is named @theashes. Despite saying she knows nothing about cricket she has received hundreds of tweets about the Ashes cricket contest between Australia and England. Ashley Kerekes, from Massachusetts, started last week with 300 followers, but after tweets like “this is not the account of the cricket match. Check profiles before you send mentions, it’s incredibly annoying and rude”, several cricket fans saw it as chance for mischief. This week her followers stand in excess 11,000. 22-year-old Kereks has told media interviewers that her boyfriend first gave her the nickname “the ashes” ages ago but neither of them can remember why, it’s just stuck, so she chose it for her Twitter account name. Something of a Twitter celebrity now, one of her tweets “I am not a freaking cricket match”, has even resulted in a series of souvenir t-shirts becoming available. She has been quickly educated about cricket too by some of the more helpful tweets she has received. That’s important, as a combination of airlines and event sponsors will now be flying her out to Australia later in the series to see #theashes for herself as part of her new found fame. The Ashes series being played in Australia – effectively through the night in the UK – has seen the internet come alive with various cricketing sites and social media as fans clamber to keep up to date with the action while trying to stay awake. Twitter too has been important with fans swapping thoughts and opinions under hash tags like #theashes and #ashes and #cricket. Meanwhile, ex-players and cricket pundits have taken to the medium en-masse too. The second test of a five match series began last night. After the disappointment of England’s football World Cup bid, maybe cricket is the answer? If you are looking to keep up to date with The Ashes you might want to check these sites out: BBC Cricket They might not have the television coverage but for stats and facts the BBC lead the way on Ashes coverage thanks to their learned Test Match Special pundits and journalists. There is ball-by-ball text updates, a buzzing forum and some incisive blogs. Sky Sports The Ashes Tour 2010-11 With live TV coverage Sky have plenty of resources to present a comprehensive and busy site. Previews, opinions and coverage. Through Ashes Anywhere they are also offering live online action via Sky Player and Sky Sports Mobile TV for subscribers to their Sky Sports 1&2 TV packages. Test Match Sofa Offering alternative cricket commentary for those staying up through the night, Test Match Sofa draws upon the success of fans commentating on the match that has proven popular with football fans in recent years. From a sofa in Tooting, South London, the team aim to abandon the cliché of commentary, bring in a few celebrity names they’ve picked up via Twitter and basically create a feeling of a few mates sitting in front room watching the game (so beware – there can be some swearing). Barmy Army Ashes A Scotsman among England’s infamous Barmy Army supporters is blogging, tweeting and producing some podcasts after every day’s play. It’s all about the sights and sounds of being a fan at The Ashes and with some interesting celebrity and non-celebrity pundits appearing too, it’s a very different read and listen from the usual match coverage.