The “Queen of QVC” Lori Greiner Joins Panel of Judges for the #InternetOfficial Contest

• By • Getting Online

Lori GreinerWe’re honored to announce that star investor, inventor and entrepreneur Lori Greiner is one of our celebrity judges on the #InternetOfficial contest judging panel! She is ready to judge your .com domain name in celebration of 30 years of .com. But, before we get into the details, have you registered your .com domain and entered our #InternetOfficial contest yet?

We can’t wait to hear Lori’s perspective on the entries and .com ideas you submit. Lori truly embodies the spirit of this contest. She was able to cultivate her great business idea—an innovative earring organizer—into what is now a multi-million dollar international brand with hundreds of new products which she sells on QVC, QVC.com and at other retailers. Additionally, Lori has her own show on QVC called Clever & Unique Creations. Her successful journey demonstrates how one idea can create opportunities for you, so make it #InternetOfficial: Register your .com and start your business journey today.

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Meet our #InternetOfficial Contest Judge and Naming Expert Steve Manning

• By • Getting Online

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of .com in 2015, we are excited to partner with a stellar group of industry experts, who will serve as judges and help us select up to five monthly winners (for a total of 15) and the final, grand prize winner of our #InternetOfficial .com domain name contest.

Our panel would not have been complete without Steve Manning, naming expert and CEO of naming firm Igor. Steve is a prominent naming and branding authority and has spent the last 17 years leading naming projects for some of the most popular brands, including the Aria resort in Las Vegas, the “Cutthroat Kitchen” TV show, Gogo inflight Wi-Fi and TruTV. His clients also include some of the world’s most iconic brands, from Nike and Intel to Bank of America and one of Steve Wynn’s signature hotels, the Wynn Las Vegas.

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Get to Know #InternetOfficial Contest Judge and SMB Expert Anita Campbell

• By • Getting Online

It’s time to celebrate the Internet’s most recognized domain name – .com – and its 30th anniversary! Verisign recently launched the #InternetOfficial contest, where contestants can enter by registering an original, memorable and keyword-rich .com name through a participating registrar and then visiting either VerisignInternetOfficial.com to complete and submit the contest entry form for that newly registered .com domain name, all during the contest entry period.* Then, a panel of top industry influencers and celebrity judges, including Founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends Anita Campbell, will help determine the five best .com domain names entered into the contest each month during the contest’s three-month entry period, as well as the winner of the $30,000 grand prize.

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Meet our #InternetOfficial Contest Judge and Domain Expert Michael Berkens

• By • Getting Online

We kicked off the #InternetOfficial contest on Monday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of .com and fuel up to 15 lucky entrepreneurs’ dreams to start their own business on a .com domain name. Now that you are well aware of how to enter the contest, we wanted to introduce you to the panel of judges who will be helping to choose up to five monthly winners (for a total of 15) and the final, grand prize winner over the course of the contest.

Meet domain expert Michael H. Berkens! Michael is one of the most well-known and prominent investors and bloggers in the domain industry. He was awarded Domainer of the Year in 2009 and is a member of the Domain Hall of Fame. Michael has been quoted on the domain industry in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and Bloomberg, TheRegister.co.uk as well as many other technology, domain and legal publications. His evaluation and development expertise has also been tapped in several of the highest profile domain sales and auction events in recent years.

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Taking the First Steps Online: It All Starts With a Name

• By • Getting Online

Guest Post from Richard Stevenson, 1&1 Internet

For many small businesses and start-ups, the first steps to creating an online presence can be a daunting prospect. With so much information out there, knowing exactly what is best for your business can be a challenge. Richard Stevenson of 1&1 Internet, Europe’s largest domain name registrar, outlines the first steps for business owners interested in getting online.

From choosing a hosting provider to creating a website, we know that creating a digital shop front can seem like it demands many steps with important decisions every step of the way, and that this can at first appear overwhelming.

In truth it’s a great deal easier than many assume, but in order to make the process easier, why not focus on just the first step? Once you have that first incredible idea for a company or product, what follows is picking a name that will help you stand out. The digital world is no different, so begin by imagining what your website name would be.

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Why the Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestick Maker are Now Online

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Guest Post from Emma Jones, founder of UK-based Enterprise Nation

Traditional independent businesses that don’t regard themselves as having relevance in the digital world are finding growth by getting online.

In the UK, an astonishing 50% of small firms are still not online. Enterprise Nation’s Go and Grow Online campaign, supported by Verisign, Microsoft and BT Business, has launched a 12-month programme of nationwide events to help the smallest firms get the skills and confidence to get their digital ducks in a row. Of course, small businesses can survive without a website, a Facebook page and a Twitter account – but how much could they grow if they took the plunge into cyberspace?

We’ve taken a look at three very British trades made famous by an ancient nursery rhyme – “Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub” – that are increasing their trade and geographical reach simply via getting online, in addition to the traditional presence at a market stall or retail shop. And who do you think they are? A butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker…

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Make Your Idea Internet Official: Your .com Is Waiting

• By • Getting Online

As you think about bringing your business online, look no further than .com, one of the most universally recognized domains on the internet. While .com is highly desirable for the businesses and individuals around the globe, did you know there are still millions upon millions of great .com domain names available for registration? Let’s take a look at the latest facts around .com availability, based on an analysis of .com domain name registrations as of July 2014:

  • 23 million times a day, a .com domain name availability check is successful [1]
  • Over 95 percent of five-character .com combinations are available
  • More than 99 percent of six-character .com combinations are available
Even though there is an abundance of .com domain names available for registration, many experts recommend registering descriptive and keyword-rich names because they attract higher click-through rates on search engine results pages.

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Why the UK needs a Go and Grow Online campaign

• By • Getting Online

Guest Post from Emma Jones, founder of UK-based Enterprise Nation

With almost 50% of small businesses said to be without a website and, of those that are online, only a few taking the opportunity to trade, Emma Jones of London-based small business network, Enterprise Nation, outlines the need for a campaign to help British businesses make the most of the web.

When I founded Enterprise Nation in 2005 it was to help people turn their good ideas into great businesses. Now, by offering expert advice, events, networking and inspiring books, we have more than 60,000 members in the UK who are all looking to create thriving small businesses.

When Enterprise Nation first started, Facebook was still in its infancy and Twitter hadn’t even been founded, which shows just how quickly the online world has changed! With over 2 billion people now online across the globe, the digital world represents a big opportunity for small businesses. Having a website to showcase your products and services is like having a shop window that the world can see into, at any time of the day (or night!). It’s never been so easy to launch online with template website providers, blogging platforms and social media. So why is it that so many businesses are yet to embrace the web and reap the rewards?

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