Free Website Content - Choose A Domain
Choose a Domain
Choosing a domain is one of the first steps
in establishing an online presence. Changing a domain after-the-fact
can be time consuming, and can be harmful to search engine
ranking, so it is best to get it right the first time around.
Follow these simple steps to select a domain name that will
represent your online brand...
1. Nice Neighborhood
Stick with .com or .net domains for businesses,
.edu for schools, and .org for non-profit organizations.
Some search experts say that any other extensions will have
a more difficult time ranking well in the search engines.
2. Easy To Verbalize And Understand
Domain names should be easy to verbalize.
Often in conversations, similar sounds are difficult to
discern. Select a domain name that is clear and easy to
understand without having to repeat it.
3. Easy To Spell
Select a domain that is easy to spell. Certain
words can be spelled in a variety of ways, and this can
cause confusion and result in people being unable to easily
locate your website. Use a domain name that is intuitive
and easy to spell.
4. Keep It Brief
Shorter domains are easy to remember, so if
possible, avoid selecting a domain name that is excessively
long. The domain name can not exceed 63 characters, and
may consist of letters, numbers, and hyphens. If you decide
on a hyphenated domain name, be sure to articulate it so
that it is easily understood.
5. More Than One
Domains are reasonably inexpensive, so register
multiple domain names that relate to your primary domain
name. The additional domains can be permanently redirected
to the main domain. Also, purchase domains that use common
misspellings, plurals, or that alleviate any confusion.
This way you will be sure to capture all of your traffic.
6. Extend It
Protect your brand by purchasing common extensions
for your domain (ie. .net, .org, etc). And consider purchasing
country extensions if you sell globally (ie. .uk, .au, .fr,
etc).
7. Written Form
The written form of the domain should be
clear and not cause unnecessary confusion. If the domain
contains multiple words, make sure that the written form
cannot be misinterpreted.
8. Make It Memorable.
Select a domain name that is easy for people to remember.
9. Related And Relevant
The domain name should relate to your core
business. Building a brand does not end offline; brand continuity
should encompass all aspects of your business, both online
and offline. A related relevant domain should reinforce
your brand and corporate identity.
10. Check Trademarks
As with any name, be sure to check carefully
for trademark infringements. Do not take chances by infringing
on another company's brand. The extra effort might save
you from a court case or hours of expensive legal maneuvering.
Search the USPTO website at http://www.uspto.gov for any
existing trademarks.
11. Brand vs Keywords
Many webmasters struggle with the decision
to use a brand as their domain, or to incorporate keywords
into their domain name in an effort to rank better in the
search engines. The decision does not need to be absolute.
Domains are inexpensive, and redirects are easy to set up,
so there is no reason you can not purchase both brand and
keyword domain names.
12. Location Specific
Unless you only serve a specific region, avoid
using the location in the domain name. A geo-specific domain
will limit a company's ability to expand into other regions
as it grows.
And before doing anything, use the database
at Network Solutions to determine whether a desired domain
name is actually available or not.
NetSol - http://www.networksolutions.com
Selecting a domain name is an important step
in establishing a web business. Take your time and think
carefully about selecting a domain, as it will be the hallmark
of your online presence.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and
podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll
http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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