Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tips to Buy a Web Domain Name

By Thomas Crown

If you are thinking about establishing yourself on the internet then you will need to have a domain name that will reflect your business and what your business is all about. Finding the right domain name is very important.

The web domain name that you choose will have the most impact on your website throughout its existence. Its the name that your customers will known you by, the address they will use each time they want to visit you and in a smaller degree the first impression they will have about what you do. If your web name is too long or has nothing to do with your business you may find yourself with the best website no one every visits.

Because of that, you should exercise the same type of care when you buy a web domain name that you used when you first named your business. Be sure to research the domain name thoroughly so that you can reasonably anticipate how your customers will react to the name you choose.

Of course, no domain registration site will allow you to by a web domain that shares the exact same name with any other site, so you have little to worry about on that front. There are, however, a variety of reasons to be cognizant of other sites whose names may be similar to the one you want for your domain. Similarly named sites that promote hate, pornography, or extremism of any form, could easily confuse your potential customers if they stumbled upon those sites while looking for yours.

Also avoid the idea of trying to get a leg up on your competitors by buying a name that is similar to the one that they are using. Not only is this tacky and in bad taste but in some jurisdictions could be perceived as an attempt at infringement. It will also be confusing to the customers in the end. Pick a name that is unique and says something about you. Also do not choose a name that can be construed as being derogatory to your competitors as they may choose to pursue action claiming that the name is defamatory to their business.

When your company's name is available for use as a web domain name, you can seldom go wrong by using it. For those times, however, when that just is not possible, think of it as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Some of the most creative domain names on the internet were born out of similar circumstances.

The actual purchasing of the name is one that is very simple and not nearly as expensive as one would think. Most of the companies online who deal with domain name registrations have an excellent array of services to not only help you locate a name which is best for you but can help walk you through the process of getting everything setup. These companies offer packages for the purchase of the name usually on an annual basis and generally offer discounts for paying in a lump sum and for buying for several years at a time. When its all said and done you can usually get your name for a couple of dollars a month.

Even after you buy a web domain, you will still want to give some thought to how your website will be hosted. With the rise of virtual hosting, you now have a multitude of hosting options from which to choose - ranging from hosting the site yourself to allowing it to be hosted on a server hundreds or thousands of miles away.

In closing before you go and jump into the world of online business then you will have to look into several ways that you can get your name and message out there. A domain name is your tool that will make you have a much better image.

About the Author:

No comments: