What is a Domain Name

Web Domains ~ What will yours be!

The first step in creating your site on the Internet is purchasing a domain name. This is in the form of www.yoursite.com, and will be the address by which the world can find and view your site on the Internet. A desirable domain name may not always be available, so you will have to search for it to make sure you can use it.

A domain name can also vary in price depending on whether it is a .com, .net, .org, .co.uk etc...so if you cannot afford www.yoursite.com, you may be able to afford www.yoursite.net among others.

Tips for Choosing a Domain Name

Choosing a proper domain name depends on the type of site you want to make. Personal sites such as blogs can be a bit more lax in the wording or style, but more serious websites, such as those for small businesses require a bit more care. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Avoid long domain names,which can be hard to remember or awkward to market/advertise. Long domain names are also easier to misspell, which can lead to lost traffic. However it is important to make sure your domain name does not sacrifice clarity too much in favor of being short, for obscure domain names will again be easy to misspell and difficult to remember.
• Your domain name and your website name should match. This is a bit of a no-brainer, people who go to www.yourwebsite.com expect the title of your site to be “yourwebsite”, or something close. For small businesses this is essential, as customers need to be able to associate your website with your company, and both having the same name would make that much much easier.
• Avoid brand names. Choosing a domain name that is a variation of a well known brand can get you in trouble, or at the very least undermine your credibility significantly. Stick to original domain names.
• When in doubt, go for .com. This is the most common website suffix, therefore www.yourwebsite.com can expect more traffic and even credibility than www.yourwebsite.net. Try to register your domain name quickly to make sure you get your desired name with the desired suffix.
• Domain names are not case sensitive, and spaces are not allowed. Keep this in mind when you are searching for one. Try and avoid using hyphens or expletives in your domain name, as they can again undermine your credibility or get you in trouble.

Good luck with finding your choice of domain name.