- David Cooper
If you're just starting out on the Internet, choosing a domain
name is one of the first major decisions you will have to
make. I won't say that choosing a name for your site will
determine the overall success or failure of your online
business. It will, however, affect almost every aspect of your
business. Finding a good domain name requires extensive
planning.
I would like to offer some tips for successfully choosing a domain
name:
1) Use the .COM extension. This is still the number one
choice for the majority of online businesses. While, .NET,.ORG,.INFO,.BIZ,
and .US are viable alternatives they are not as widely
recognized as .COM. The .COM extension will immediately give you
and your business more credibility. Also, because we are
creatures of habit many people automatically include .COM when
typing in almost any web address, so why not capitalize on human
nature?
2) Keep it Short. Whenever possible your domain name
should not be longer than 13-15 characters, numbers, or hyphens.
It is much more difficult for the average person to remember
longer variations of a web address.
3) Make it Sticky. You want your domain name to be
easy to remember. Make it stick out in people's minds. Be
creative. Be Unique.
4) Minimize Confusion. You should never lose a prospective
customer because they misspelled your domain name, or
they used the wrong extension. If you can afford it, register
other variations of your domain name and have them
redirect to your main site.
5) Include Keywords in Your Domain Name. Try to
include at least 1 and if possible 2 keywords in your domain
name. Many of the experts believe this can help with the way
some of the search engines index and rank your site.
6) Be Descriptive. Your domain name should have
something to do with your business. Make it descriptive of your
site, your product offerings, or your service.
7) Search for Deleted Domain Names. Domain names
that were once registered but have expired turn up every day.
With some research you might be able to find one of these names
that would be a good fit for your business. You can search for
deleted domains at http://www.deleteddomains.com
8) Check for Trademarks. You should do this before
registering your domain name. Search as many existing
trademarks as possible and look for possible conflicts.
Obviously you want to choose a name that is unlikely to cause
you any legal problems. Trademark research can be done at the
following sites:
U.S Patent and Trademark Office -
http://www.uspto.gov
Thomas Register - http://www.thomasregister.com
The Trademark Association - http://www.inta.org
Nameprotect - http://www.nameprotect.com
If you need help with researching your domain names
try the following websites:
1)Nameboy - http://www.nameboy.com
2) GoDaddy - http://www.godaddy.com
Both Nameboy and GoDaddy are well-known registrars and will
allow you to search for and register domain names.
You can register a domain name today for less than it
costs for a nice lunch. There is really no reason not to put
forth the effort and money to register a domain name that
you can begin building your online presence with.
Your domain name is your first chance to build
credibility with your visitors. Keep in mind that you never get
a second chance to make a great first impression.
Remember, choosing your domain name is one of the most
important first steps you will take in building your online
presence. Make it a step forward. Happy Hunting!
About The Author
David Cooper is the editor of the 1Source-WebMarketing
Newsletter. David specializes in helping people with their
internet marketing efforts by offering real world tips and
strategies. Subscribe to his FREE newsletter at:
http://www.1source-webmarketing.com
More
Articles
