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
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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