When getting started with a new online business one of the first things you
need to do is choose a domain name. This step is much more important than
you might realize. An appropriate and effective domain could decide your
website's fate.
Unfortunately many people will be so involved in the design and set-up of
the website they will overlook the importance of selecting the proper domain
name. Your domain name will be your website's identity and it will also be
the doorway for people to purchase your products and/or services.
The following checklist will guide you and help you keep in mind some of the
things you need to consider when choosing your domain.
1. Keep It Short and Simple — Keeping your domain name short, simple and
easy to remember will make it easier for people to get to your site. Choose
a domain that is easy to spell and type. Don't use big fancy words or
commonly misspelled words such as believe, amateur or collectible. You can
find lists of the most commonly misspelled words and, if they are in your
domain, consider using a thesaurus to find an alternative.
2. Use Your Name — In my opinion, it is a good choice to use your name in
your domain. This will be a binding agent for your website your business
and you. If your last name is long and hard to spell, consider using your
first name. This way if people do not remember your entire URL, they will
be likely to remember your name and can still find you. I have had many
people who did not remember my specific URL search for me by using my name.
3. Don't Try to Be Cute and Clever — Cutesy and fun work with some things
but it is not appropriate for your domain. Don't use puns or a "clever"
play on words. For example: Flickr. Using this trendy name probably
sounded like a good idea at the time but it finally had to purchase the
correct spelling domain flicker.com Doing this will just make your domain
hard to remember and/or it will more than likely get typed incorrectly and
you lose the traffic.
4. Hyphens and Numbers — There are actually a couple of advantages to using
hyphens but, in my opinion, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Hyphens actually make it easier for the search engines to distinguish your
keywords. Hyphens could also make it possible for you to get the domain you
want if the regular version is already taken. But, hyphens will more than
likely cause you to lose traffic because people will not always realize your
URL contains hyphens. If your domain is beautiful-jewelry.com and you tell
people to check out your site, Beautiful Jewelry, you will lose traffic. It
is easy to lose the hyphen when spreading the word about your site. And it
will make it more complicated for people to remember. It's the same with
numbers. BeautifulJewelry1.com will be much less remembered and found then
BeautifulJewelry.com
5. Make It Keyword Rich — Do some keyword research and choose one or two of
the most relevant keywords for your site. Using relevant keywords will help
with the search engines but, more importantly, it will be much easier for
people to find your site.
6. Stay Away from Slang — Using slang words for your domain is not a good
idea for much the same reasons as using a trendy play on words. It is just
too easy for people to forget or misspell your domain and end up somewhere
else.
7. Match Your Domain to Your Website Name — If your website name is All Auto
Parts and you choose the domain carparts.com you may lose traffic to
whomever owns allautoparts.com. If your website name and domain match,
people will be more likely to remember both.
8. Beware of Copyrights — Never use a domain if part of it is already in
use. Always check your choice at whois.net to see if anyone is using that
domain and with copyright.gov to be sure you are not infringing on someone
else's copyright.
9. Don't Use Word Strings – These types of domains are extremely hard to
remember and making a mistake while typing them can be very easy. Don't try
to put everything you sell in your domain. For example:
chairstablesbedssofasandmore.com I have seen domains like this and it is
nearly impossible to remember everything so it just gets lost and forgotten.
Something much more appropriate would be AllFurniture.com
10. Use .Com — Although there are many domain extensions available, it is
always best to go with .com if possible. Most people will assume you have a
.com URL so unless you stress your .net or .org extension at all times, it
is best to use .com. This is the choice people will make when typing in
your domain.
Remember that your domain is not just where your site "lives." It is a
crucial step in becoming an online business owner. Take the time to really
think it through, do the research and choose a domain that will help bring
you success.
my motto is "Keep it simple" and "don't leave anything for tomorrow that can
be done today."
Regards Gerald Crawford
Stellenbosch South Africa
Cell: +27-0720390184 (mobile)
E-mail: gerald@webcraft.ws
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need to do is choose a domain name. This step is much more important than
you might realize. An appropriate and effective domain could decide your
website's fate.
Unfortunately many people will be so involved in the design and set-up of
the website they will overlook the importance of selecting the proper domain
name. Your domain name will be your website's identity and it will also be
the doorway for people to purchase your products and/or services.
The following checklist will guide you and help you keep in mind some of the
things you need to consider when choosing your domain.
1. Keep It Short and Simple — Keeping your domain name short, simple and
easy to remember will make it easier for people to get to your site. Choose
a domain that is easy to spell and type. Don't use big fancy words or
commonly misspelled words such as believe, amateur or collectible. You can
find lists of the most commonly misspelled words and, if they are in your
domain, consider using a thesaurus to find an alternative.
2. Use Your Name — In my opinion, it is a good choice to use your name in
your domain. This will be a binding agent for your website your business
and you. If your last name is long and hard to spell, consider using your
first name. This way if people do not remember your entire URL, they will
be likely to remember your name and can still find you. I have had many
people who did not remember my specific URL search for me by using my name.
3. Don't Try to Be Cute and Clever — Cutesy and fun work with some things
but it is not appropriate for your domain. Don't use puns or a "clever"
play on words. For example: Flickr. Using this trendy name probably
sounded like a good idea at the time but it finally had to purchase the
correct spelling domain flicker.com Doing this will just make your domain
hard to remember and/or it will more than likely get typed incorrectly and
you lose the traffic.
4. Hyphens and Numbers — There are actually a couple of advantages to using
hyphens but, in my opinion, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Hyphens actually make it easier for the search engines to distinguish your
keywords. Hyphens could also make it possible for you to get the domain you
want if the regular version is already taken. But, hyphens will more than
likely cause you to lose traffic because people will not always realize your
URL contains hyphens. If your domain is beautiful-jewelry.com and you tell
people to check out your site, Beautiful Jewelry, you will lose traffic. It
is easy to lose the hyphen when spreading the word about your site. And it
will make it more complicated for people to remember. It's the same with
numbers. BeautifulJewelry1.com will be much less remembered and found then
BeautifulJewelry.com
5. Make It Keyword Rich — Do some keyword research and choose one or two of
the most relevant keywords for your site. Using relevant keywords will help
with the search engines but, more importantly, it will be much easier for
people to find your site.
6. Stay Away from Slang — Using slang words for your domain is not a good
idea for much the same reasons as using a trendy play on words. It is just
too easy for people to forget or misspell your domain and end up somewhere
else.
7. Match Your Domain to Your Website Name — If your website name is All Auto
Parts and you choose the domain carparts.com you may lose traffic to
whomever owns allautoparts.com. If your website name and domain match,
people will be more likely to remember both.
8. Beware of Copyrights — Never use a domain if part of it is already in
use. Always check your choice at whois.net to see if anyone is using that
domain and with copyright.gov to be sure you are not infringing on someone
else's copyright.
9. Don't Use Word Strings – These types of domains are extremely hard to
remember and making a mistake while typing them can be very easy. Don't try
to put everything you sell in your domain. For example:
chairstablesbedssofasandmore.com I have seen domains like this and it is
nearly impossible to remember everything so it just gets lost and forgotten.
Something much more appropriate would be AllFurniture.com
10. Use .Com — Although there are many domain extensions available, it is
always best to go with .com if possible. Most people will assume you have a
.com URL so unless you stress your .net or .org extension at all times, it
is best to use .com. This is the choice people will make when typing in
your domain.
Remember that your domain is not just where your site "lives." It is a
crucial step in becoming an online business owner. Take the time to really
think it through, do the research and choose a domain that will help bring
you success.
my motto is "Keep it simple" and "don't leave anything for tomorrow that can
be done today."
Regards Gerald Crawford
Stellenbosch South Africa
Cell: +27-0720390184 (mobile)
E-mail: gerald@webcraft.ws
---
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http://www.avast.com
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