Domain Name Registration And Hosting

Domain Name Registration And Hosting

By Keith Thompson

Domain name registration is a necessary, easy, and strategically important first step in establishing an online presence, whether for business or otherwise. A well-chosen domain name registration can set you up for success with your new site in so many ways, the most prominent of these being increased search engine traffic. Here's some vital elements to consider when executing your domain name registration.

A good domain name registration, particularly for an online business, (which is the main focus of this article) is easily done, but at the same time requires choices that will impact your site's effectiveness. So here, in no particular order, are some things to bear in mind when doing a domain name registration.

The extension - Will it be a .com, .net, .org, .info etc. Any of these will get spidered and indexed by the search engines, but if you can get a .com for your chosen name you'd be better off,as this extension is more common and carries an air of legitimacy with it.

Try not to have you domain name registration with your web host.The reason being that should you decide to part ways with your host, (and this isn't uncommon!) it's potentially a massive headache to move your domain as well. Split them up: you'll beglad you did!

Your domain name registration, purchased from a reputable company should run you somewhere between $1-10, depending on the extension and the amount of time you sign up for.

Probably the most important aspect of your domain name registration is the choice of keywords to use in your domain name. Try to use the main keyword or phrase you'd like to optimize the whole site for, and see if you can craft a domain name around it. The search engines seem to favor keyword-richdomain names. Nuff said.

Keep it short if possible. A shorter name is easier to remember than a long one.

Don't use your company name unless it has your keywords in it.There's no point in ranking high for your name if no one is looking for it yet.

Try to keep your domain name registration topically relevant. As search engines get smarter and smarter, sites that display total relevance will rank higher than catch all sites.

Lastly, be sure to avoid other companies trademarks and copyrights in your domain name. For example, let's say you're an affiliate of The Sharper Image. It's tempting to use some version of that name to promote your affiliate site, but don't do it, unless of course you'd like to meet their lawyers!

To sum up, your domain name registration is easy to do, but important to do well. It can make the difference in whether you get found or not!

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Domain Name Registration - What NOT to Choose as a Domain Name for Your Business

Domain Name Registration - What NOT to Choose as a Domain Name for Your Business

Choosing a domain name for your business can be one of the most important decisions you make. You want something that relates to your business, is catchy and is easy to remember. Just keep in mind what you don't want.

Top 3 Types of Domain Names to Avoid:

* Names that don't apply to your business or industry: Sounds obvious, I know, but with the millions of domain names that are taken, choosing an obscure name can be a tempting trap to fall into. However, the likelihood of customers finding you gets that much more difficult with a vague name. Also, prominent display on major search engines is harder to acquire.

* Names that are very long: The longer the name, the easier it is for people to forget it altogether or remember it incorrectly. So keep it as short and simple as possible. However, if your business name is long and you're well established in your industry, your best bet may just be sticking with your current name.

* Names that are owned by someone else: It's not possible to secure the exact same domain name as someone else but it is possible to be infringing upon another's trademark or common-law rights with a confusingly similar name. Mistakenly, many times a new company will assume its trade name is legally clear merely because it was able to purchase a dot com or other domain extended name. Prior to securing your domain name, be sure to have comprehensive research conducted on the domain name.

Be creative in choosing your domain name – just remember what to avoid!

Shannon Moore is the General Manager, East Coast for TradeMark Express. Since 1992, TradeMark Express has met the needs of their clients with comprehensive research, application preparation, attorney referrals and trademark consultation. For further details, please visit us on the web at http://www.tmexpress.com or call Shannon directly at 800.340.2010.

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