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Choosing the Right Domain Name
February 1, 2007
The first step to creating an online business is choosing the right domain name. Millions already have web sites so that means there are fewer choices of domain names that will set you apart while being of benefit to your company. Before getting your site off the ground, consider the following.
- Keep it simple. Shorter domain names are easier to remember and spell than complex ones. You want to choose a name that is easy to recognize, recall, and relay to friends. In addition, it is best to avoid anything that has to be further explained…odd spellings, abbreviations, symbols, dashes, and special characters.
- Stick with dot.com. Be sure to choose a name with .com at the end of your URL. It indicates a degree of professionalism unlike .us or .info. Ultimately, if you can’t find an appealing .com version of your desired domain name then consider one of the top-level domains such as .net, .org, or .biz.
- Be consistent. Use your business name, that is, of course, if it’s available. Most customers will assume that your business name is your URL with the extension .com. Consistency will also improve your brand recognition by incorporating it into mailers, television spots, business cards, and letterhead. The more you use it, the more people will remember it and visit your site. If your company’s name isn’t available as a domain, or if it’s too long, look for a domain name that describes what you do or what you sell.
- Play the spelling game. Don’t lose customers to your competition by not purchasing common misspellings of your domain name and different extensions of your URL. Most registrars will forward secondary domains to your main URL for free.
- Remember to renew. Don’t be forced to buy back your domain at a higher price because you failed to re-register your domain name on time. Most registrars such as Go Daddy will send you alerts and allow a 45-day leeway period after the expiration of your domain name before the URL can go back on the market.
Posted by Shanu Singh Guliani on February 1, 2007 | Comments (0)
