Susan Boyle is currently enjoying unexpected Global success following her recent appearance on “Britains Got Talent”, with the subsequent media hype help making her into a household name, but NOT on the internet.  Why? – because all of the susanboyle internet domains names were snapped up by cybersquatters, the moment they realised the value in her name (with the exception of the .com – which was already owned by a artist in Texas – I wonder if her spam has increased?).

Many of the sites which were registered in the days following her appearance on the show are branded “fan sites”, but call me cynical – I’m sure they’ll also be fully aware of the potential value such a high profile celebrity name brings with it.  With YouTube now at over 50 MILLION views for the Susan Boyle Clip, it’s easy to see how getting just a small percentage of the current Google searches to your site could bring in some financial gain, not to mention the possibility of Susan herself wanting to buy it from them.

On the 17th April, I emailed Talkback Thames (the production company responsible for Susan’s current fame), and explained:

“…surely you have a responsibility to Susan, to help protect her best interests, and with the knowledge that she was likely to become the subject of media interest (given the show is pre-recorded), I find it difficult to understand why you (acting on her behalf) did not takle measures to ensure the relevant domain names were secured in advance of such public exposure, and therefore protecting her online identity for the future.”
 
I did received a response, claiming that they “already have domain names secured for them (they are just not active yet)”, however I’ve still to find the domains they are referring to, and in a news article released just 1 week after this, Susan herself is reported to have confirmed she doesn’t actually have an official website.

The issue of celebrity cybersquatting is nothing new, and I use Susan Boyle as a very current example, however, I could easily substitute any “reality TV star” from Britain’s got Talent, or X Factor etc.  The same thing happens every year with Big Brother – the contestant’s names are registered as domain names often within minutes of them being announced on the first live show.  We know – we’ve seen the orders!

So whether you’re destined to be the next overnight global success or not, make sure that you understand the value in your own name, and take steps to protect it online by registering your domain name(s),  or risk exploitation by all your adoring “fans”.

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“Homecoming Scotland” – a spectacular calendar of events throughout 2009 that Scots and those who “love Scotland” will flock to – but at who’s benefit?

Dressed up in Tartan, Haggis and Whiskey (no stereotypes here then), the Homecoming campaign is being heavily advertised on TV, through it’s dedicated website , and via the many events carrying the campaign logo.  Interestingly the TV advert was originally planned to only screen in Scotland, but after widespread astonishment has also just recently been released on an American audience.

The message is fairly straightforward – “come to Scotland, attend our events, and spend money”.  On the face of it, the concept is a good one, and one that Golf loving, whiskey drinking Americans might actually fall for.  Start looking a little deeper however, and you could be excused for seeing this as a very clever push from Mr Salmond and some popular celebrity Nationalists to promote all things Scottishness ahead of next years Independence referendum. 

Whatever your political view, Alex Salmond recently promised the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce that the Homecoming will be critical to helping businesses survive  through the economic recession,  claiming returns of over £40 million from the 100,000 increase of expected tourists.  But will the average Scottish small business actually see any of this, or will it simply increase the profits of the likes of Turnberry Golf Course (owned by an American company)  and other “stereotypically Scottish” attractions. 

More importantly – what about the massive £1.25 million budget (already thought to be overspent) agreed by the Scottish Government to market the Homecoming or the £200,000 spent in producing the TV advert (most of which I assume went to Sean Connery and singing lessons)?  Would this have been better spent elsewhere?  I’m sure if you ask any small business owner the answer will be a resounding yes – on issues such as employment, redundancies, lending, grants, simplified public sector tendering, shorter payment terms,  tax breaks, VAT changes (the move to a 15% rate actually cost us money), and many more ‘immediate’ concerns that are directly impacting the small business sector. 

I’d argue against spending the large sums mentioned in promoting a false “shiny happy Scotland” and all things Scottishness,  when in fact things are far from rosy for small businesses (the FSB have just confirmed a 214% increase to the FSB small business help-line) – often the heart of local economies and communities, and crucial to the country as a whole.  The general idea of Homecoming is not a bad one, but to quote The Bard – “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an ‘men  Gang aft agley”.

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