Domains Articles:
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Domain Tips
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!
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
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