Companies spend a significant amount of time and money creating incentives to attract new customers.  This is an age-old tactic that continues to be used because it works.  These incentives range from free services, percentages off their contracts or some other perk or tchotchke.  Regardless of their success, I have always wondered depending upon the value of the incentive, how current and long-term customers perceived these tactics…especially if they are not eligible.

Recently I came across a request on Twitter for an effective means to update the .htaccess file to redirect all pages to a new domain without having to update for all subdirectories.  Here are a couple choices which can be easily placed in the root .htaccess file.

OPTION 1 (this does not need the RewriteEngine module)

• Redirect permanent / http://YourNewDomainAddressHere.com/

Option 2 (this requires the use of the RewriteEngine module)

• Options +FollowSymLinks
  RewriteEngine On
  RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^oldwebsiteaddress.com$ [OR]
  RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.oldwebsiteaddress.com$
  RewriteRule (.*)$ http://www.YourNewDomainAddressHere.com/$1 [R=301,L]

With the recent announcement from ICANN of the release of potentially new domain extensions beyond the existing (com, net, org, edu, etc.) we have to wonder what is the value to businesses to obtain them?  Many of our clients have significant investments in their domain names and at first glance, this new “opportunity” from ICANN appears to have created a financial windfall throughout the registration process with the significant registration fees.  Beyond that, what is the value for businesses and corporations to apply for, obtain and long-term support their personalized domain extension?

We’ve all heard it before and those of us who are blessed with children, nieces and nephews have perhaps even told them once or twice; you can do anything and accomplish anything if you just put your mind to it and work hard.  Somewhere along the way as adults have we forgotten this or just perhaps settled to that which is comfortably within our grasp?