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Quick Tips To Choose Your Domain

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1. Keep it short
Although some places allow you to register a name with up to 63 characters, you have to keep in mind that people need to be able to remember it, and easily type it into their browser. Try to register the shortest name that your customers and visitors will associate with your Website. The general rule of thumb is, keep it under seven characters if possible. (Not including the suffix.)

2. Dot What?
There are many different extensions available right now. For businesses, we recommend a .com suffix. It is the first extension that most people try when searching for a Website. Also, since it is one of the oldest extensions, .com shows that your business has been around for a while and that you have a well-established presence on the Web.

3. Avoid Trademarked Names
There are two really good reasons for this. First, it’s not very nice. We have all heard the stories about the zany guy who thought ahead and bought "some-huge-multi-million-dollar-company.com" and sold it to the company for enough money to retire on. But, remember that those companies, like yours, have spent lots of time and money creating their brand, and what goes around comes around. Also, companies are no longer opening their pocketbooks to get their names back. They are calling their lawyers.

4. Register Your Domain NOW
Domain names are being snatched up faster than candy at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. You must register soon unless you want to get stuck with "the-domain-name-that-no-one-wanted.net". You do not have to have a Webmaster or an ecommerce department or a Web design consultant or... Heck, you don’t even need a Web page. Just get out there and register before you loose the opportunity to get the name you really want.

5. One May Not Be Enough
Sometimes, it isn’t a bad idea to register several similar domain names. If you have "yourname.com", register "yourname.net" so no one else takes it. You can register your full company name and a shorter, easier to remember version. Some people even register common misspellings of their company’s name. (You don’t need a separate Web page for each. Several domains can point to the same Website.)

6. Character Types
Just a reminder. Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and dashes. Spaces and symbols are not allowed. Also, domain names are not case sensitive.

7. Ask Around
When you have settled on several available name choices, see what your friends and clients have to say. A name that may make perfect sense to you may be too hard for other people to remember. Is your domain easy to say? Is it hard to spell? Do you have to explain why you chose the name?

8. Don’t Shell Out Large Amounts of $$$
At one time, companies were able to get away with charging reservation fees plus a "mandatory" $70 InterNIC fee. Recently, it was decided that other companies should be able to compete to sell domain names. This has lowered prices dramatically.

And remember, if you think that if you have found the right domain name, but you're not quite sure if it's the one... register it anyway before someone else does!

If you find these tips useful, please add me some reputation.THANKS!
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
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Nice post. It applies very well to those looking to buy a name for their business. For those who are just domaining, however, I'd take issue with a couple points, however.

slaydragon said:
2. Dot What?
There are many different extensions available right now. For businesses, we recommend a .com suffix.

I'd say .com 99.999% of the time. Then only reg .net, .org, .us, .info if it's an amazing dictionary word or keyword, or if you plan to develop a great site.


slaydragon said:
5. One May Not Be Enough
Sometimes, it isn’t a bad idea to register several similar domain names. If you have "yourname.com", register "yourname.net" so no one else takes it. You can register your full company name and a shorter, easier to remember version. Some people even register common misspellings of their company’s name. (You don’t need a separate Web page for each. Several domains can point to the same Website.)

If you're domain is for a business, sure. If not, don't waste time or resources on the other extensions if you have the .com. It will get 99.999% of the traffic anyway.

slaydragon said:
6. Character Types
Just a reminder. Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and dashes. Spaces and symbols are not allowed. Also, domain names are not case sensitive.

Hyphens can be the kiss of death to your domains value. Interestingly, hyphens can also double as a minus sign. That's what it does to your domain.


slaydragon said:
And remember, if you think that if you have found the right domain name, but you're not quite sure if it's the one... register it anyway before someone else does!

Visit one of the drop-catching services out there and see how many names are being let go because they are worthless. I've seen more name portfolios full of junk than I can shake a stick at (I even have my own junk closet!).

REP added
 
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slaydragon said:
7. Ask Around
When you have settled on several available name choices, see what your friends and clients have to say. A name that may make perfect sense to you may be too hard for other people to remember. Is your domain easy to say? Is it hard to spell? Do you have to explain why you chose the name?

So, If I do this and a few minutes after the domain is taken, who am I suppose to be angry at? :hehe:


Rep added, nice article.
 
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Phronesis said:
Hyphens can be the kiss of death to your domains value. Interestingly, hyphens can also double as a minus sign. That's what it does to your domain.






REP added

From a development SEO point of view the hyphen can be very useful.
 
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thanks for all your views...i will improve in it..
 
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Realli Nice! It is really a helpful article :)
 
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DOMiNIC said:
From a development SEO point of view the hyphen can be very useful.
Whether a hyphen can still be useful from a development SEO point of view is unclear. It used to be a few years ago. I think nowadays the hyphen doesn't make any difference from the SEO point of view.
 
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nice post..rep added!
 
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