Keeping it all together

At the last count, I had 14 profiles on different web sites. I'm not talking about the type that just say "tell us about yourself"; I mean full blown profiles where you describe your experience, what you do, and basically express your personal brand.

I've thought for a long thime that what the world of online personal branding needs is a service that lets you feed all those from a single source. In the days of XML and RSS and all those other TLAs that mean something about passing information between sites you, you'd think it would be easy.

The matter has been brought into even clearer focus this week, because I'm moving offices. So I nowface the prospect of going into every one of those profiles to see which ones have my office address, and updating it. Wouldn't it be great to have a single dashboard where I could log in, make the change, press the button, and *abracadabra* all my profiles changed at once.

When I heard about new startup Nombay.com I thought my prayers might be answered.

The promise is enicingly simple: "Enter your name into the Nombray search engine and register the various available combinations of vanity URL available. (For example, a search for my name returns GinaTrapani.name, GinaTrapani.us, GTrapani.com, etc.) Then, register the URLs of your choice for $20 apiece, and use Nombray’s simple web page designer and hosting service to link to the various social networks and profiles you’ve set up across the web." So I took a look.

First problem: I already own my name domain, RobCuesta.com, so why would I want to buy another one? Strike one.

Next: as far as I can see, all they do is create a page with tabs for each of the profiles you have online. It's a shop window only. There's no way, as far as I could see from the limited access I had, to update the profiles from Nombray. Strike three.

Finally: both of the above are pure conjecture. You see the only way to log into the Nombray system is to buy a domain name through them. And, like I said, I already own my own domain, so why would I buy another one and start confusing my brand? Strike three. You're out!

So, as you've probably guessed, I'm not impressed. As far as I can see, all the system does is let you buy a named domain and then set up links to all the profiles you have online. I'm sure Nombray would say that then you only need to give people one domain and they can find out everything about you. I already do that: I say "Google me" :)

If you dont' already have a domain then I guess it's a good way to start. My worry is what happens later, when you decide you'd like to have a proper website at johndoe.com instead of a bunch of profiles. Can you buy the domain back from Nombray? How much will it cost? And how easy will it be to get control back? If I was looking at Nombray I'd want those questions answered before I handed over my money.

Comments

[N2GrowthStaff]

I completely agree with you. I recently checked this for myself and I too have several personal profiles on multiple sites. I think one of the best possible advancements in personal branding would be to have all of these profiles originate from a single location on the web. Hopefully this will happen soon!

[Rob Cuesta]

Thanks Chris. I'm sure my dream of being able to manage content from one place is probably much harder work than it appears. And of course the problem is you have to get everyone to agree on standards and conventions (well, not you personally, but the industry *smiles*).

It's early days for social networking. I think what companies like Nombray show - by highlighting the growing need to consolidate all these many sites into one place - is that the social networking sphere is headed for the same shakedown that eventually hits every new industry.

Every week I get an invitation to some new 'LinkedIn wannabe' and it'll be interesting to see where they all go. In the meantime sites like Nombray at least make it easier to navigate the maze of social networking sites.

[Chris Lunt]

Thanks for taking a look at Nombray, Rob. We do allow you to use Nombray without buying a new domain name, if you already own one. You can do so here: https://www.nombray.com/payments/new_with_existing_domain

You're right at this point, we only frame your experience on other sites. We have long term plans to help you manage the content on your individual sites, but that effort is still some ways off, and will ultimately require the participation of the underlying profile sites.

If you purchase a domain through us, you own it--we're just stewards. You're welcome to transfer the domain to another registrar.

Our goal is to help people to make the most of their web presence, and in the longer term, get into a position where you really can own your own data, rather than having it owned by the social networks. I talk more about the formation of the company at http://blog.nombray.com/

Another good way to be introduced to the service is through our video intro: http://www.nombray.com/video