StopDaddy: GoDaddy Alternative
My clients and I successfully registered dozens of domain names, including my own, through GoDaddy. This domain registrar is affordable, provides great customer service, and has become the go-to source to register a domain.
Unfortunately, GoDaddy’s navigation and site usability is a nightmare. And I grow tired of the constant ‘would-you-like-fries-with-that’ sales approach. Plus, I’m not a big fan of corporations with politically conservative leanings.
In 2009, the Go Daddy Group spent $538,000 on lobbying. In 2008, the Group contributed $37,200 to the Republican Party (vs. $250 to the Democratic Party). Source: OpenSecrets.org.
While I’m all for individuals making their own political choices, I do not like paying vendors to use my money to further their personal agendas.
I’ll keep looking for a truly neutral domain registrar (where’s the Working Assets progressive registrar that donates to nonprofits?). Meanwhile, clients can register new domain names at my Registry Rocket account (a service of eNom, based locally in Bellevue, Washington).
I recommend purchasing/renewing domains for two years to help with search engine optimization.
The Digital Eve listserv recently compiled some other recommended domain registrars – including: Dotster and Hover.
For information about GoDaddy’s poor customer service, visit nodaddy.com.
Groundbreaking Public Relations: Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club (BBTC)
BBTC needed help promoting its ground breaking ceremony for I-5 Colonnade park in Seattle. With less than one week to prepare, media efforts garnered coverage in 710 Newsradio KIRO, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, C89.5, Dirt Rag Magazine, DirtWorld.com, Fox Q13, KING 5 TV, KOMO AM, KUOW 94.9, Mountain Bike Action, The News Tribune, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and more.
Groundbreaking Public Relations: Sandbox Sports
Co-owners Willie Moneda and Dan Billharz needed help publicizing the opening of their indoor sand volleyball facility at Arena Sports in Magnuson Park, Within 48 hours of their first meeting, publicity efforts delivered Fox Q13, KOMO 4 TV, KING 5 TV, NW CableNews, and the Seattle Times to their door. Volleyball Magazine also covers the new gym.