8
Tips for Choosing a Domain
Name
by: 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
dave@1source-webmarketing.com
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