How to Avoid the Five Pitfalls of Domain Registration

When deciding to establish yourself online, the first thing you need to do is come up with a good domain name and find a service to register it.  While this all sounds like an easy task, choosing a good one can be quite difficult.  If you succumb to the pitfalls of domain registration, it can actually turn out to be a disaster.  This article will help you avoid five of the most common mistakes made when picking a domain name.

1. Settling for Less - There are numerous extensions that can be used with your domain name.  Some of the most popular variations include .biz, .net., and .info among others.  All make viable alternatives but none offer the chance for visibility like .com.  If your desired domain name is not available in .com, you may want to consider picking a different name altogether rather than settling for lesser known alternatives.

2.  Not Securing Brand - If you need a domain name for online business purposes, it is a good rule of thumb to not only secure the original name, but different variations as well.  This includes plural and hyphenated versions that potential customers may type into their browser bar.  If you do n0t, there is a great chance that the competition will, thus allowing them to capitalize on the popularity of your domain and steal some of your visitors.  Domain names are very inexpensive so this is something you definitely want to consider.

3. Registering a Name that is Difficult to Spell or Remember - A good domain is one that is both easy to spell and remember.  When you tell it to someone, it should resonate with them so they can find your site with no problems.

4. Not using Keywords - If you want to leverage quality traffic from the search engines, using your primary keyword as a part of your domain name is essential.  There are a number of keyword tools that will help you come up with a term that works best for your domain.

5. Lacking Ownership - Even if you pay an annual fee for your domain name, there still might be a chance that you don’t have full rights to it.  For example, if you sign up with a web hosting company that provides a domain with their service, there may be contractual stipulations that prevent you from taking the name to another host.  This is why many suggest purchasing a domain from a standalone registrar instead of a hosting company.

Because a domain name is so vital to your web presence, choosing one should consist of a well thought out process.  Try to come up wit a long list of names that suit your initiatives and narrow your choices from there.  This shouldn’t take long but there is no need to rush either.  If you have to, take a break, get some ideas from others and then add to the list.  Most importantly, make sure you are aware of all the pitfalls and how to avoid them.  After finding the perfect domain name, you will agree that the time and effort invested was well worth it.

Share this article:

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

May 01, 2009 : Domain Names No responses yet

Choosing a Domain Name for Your Business

If you plan to start a business online, you will need a website to help promote it.  There is a lot that goes into creating a successful website but it all begins with a domain name.  This simple name acts as the identity for both you and your business on the web.  Because the internet offers world wide reach, this is how you will be represented across the globe.  All of your business prospects and transactions will be associated with this name.  For this reason, the first crucial step in starting an online business is securing yourself a good domain name.

The Rules of Domain Name Registration

There are a few rules that must be applied when choosing a domain name for your business website.  First and foremost, you want to pick something that is simple and short as possible.  This will make it easier for visitors to recall.  It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to know that a domain that resonates is likely to get more visitors than one that doesn’t.

If you really want to capitalize on quality traffic, you need to make yourself aware of all the terms associated with your business website and ideal domain name.  This will help you determine what keywords your niche audiences is most likely to use.  It is vital to account for all you can because once the name is purchased, you are stuck with it for the duration of the registration period.  Furthermore, changing domain names every year isn’t a good look for someone trying to do business online.

Finding the Name

After deciding on a domain name, it’s time to check the availability and find out whether or not you need to go back to the drawing board.  To do this, you need to visit a registrar like GoDaddy or Yahoo to see if your name is still on the market.  We say this because good domain names are scarce, many of them already registered by people looking to turn a quick flip for a profit as well as aspiring business owners who share your line of thinking.

If the domain name you want isn’t available in that exact variation, get innovative rather than discouraged.  Thus, if you cannot find your name as a .com, consider other alternatives such as .net and .biz.  Additionally, you can try several different variations of the name and see if it is available via this route.  Sometimes all it takes is a few extra letters to get a domain name that isn’t too far off from what you wanted originally.

Registering a domain name isn’t much a hassle but finding one that perfectly suits you business can be.  You need to put a lot of thought into the selection process and may have to start from scratch after striking out a few times at the registrar.  However, most find that a domain name acts as the initial building block for starting their business.  Once you secure a good one, everything from your website design to marketing campaign will will fall in place much easier.

Share this article:

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Mar 18, 2009 : Domain Names No responses yet

Designing Your Site for E-commerce

The internet has become such an integral part of today’s business economy that many feel their organization cannot truly thrive without a website.  Although one may be able to survive, you will need a website if you want to compete in the global market powered by the internet.   Getting yourself some web space isn’t difficult, but success starts with designing your site in a manner that brings in visitors and most importantly, strengthens your bottom line.

Establishing a credible online presence begins with hosting, which can be as low as $5.00 a month.  The actual price depends on the requirements of your business.  A domain name registration is about $10 per year with website design ranging up to $500.  Even when factoring in these additional costs, getting your e-commerce site online is still relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to setting up a physical store out in the real world.   Whether you hire an expert or plan to handle things yourself, it is important to know how to create a website that enables your business to succeed.

Don’t Go Overboard

Despite the importance, far too many small to medium sized businesses do not put a lot of thought into building their web presence.  Sure, having a website shows that you have a corporate initiative, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into more visitors and increased sales.  Some business owners go for the home run by creating sites clustered with flashy content.  They saturate their web pages with bright colors, dynamic graphics and enough bells and whistles to light up the Vegas strip.  What many of them don’t realize is that these elements often make it difficult for visitors to navigate to the content they actually need.  If this is something you have in mind, you could be in for a rude awakening once visitors leave out just as fast they came in.

Think Simple and Professional

The best way to build your business website is with a professional, yet simple design.  Implementing complex graphics and media-rich features could possibly slow down visitors with older computers and annoy those get tired of waiting all day for your web pages to load.  The key to online business is providing your potential customers with instant access to the content they need rather than trying to wow them with flash.  Only when your business grows and demands more functionality should you consider incorporating such dynamic features.  If you sell products, let people know.  If you provide a particular service, make it known to your audience.  The last thing you want to do is give off an impression that has people thinking your business is something it is not.   Be truthful, straightforward and your visitors are more likely to reward you with business.

A poorly designed website is the easiest way to keep your business from ever getting off the ground.   Although you may not be able to operate like a huge corporation, you can function like a smart business.  Make the information on your site easily accessible, pick up the phones when interested parties call and respond promptly when potential clients have concerns.  Succeeding with your website is all about connecting with the audience and building a level of trust that keeps them coming back.

Share this article:

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Mar 16, 2009 : Ecommerce No responses yet

The Importance of Domain Names

In the early days of the internet, acquiring a domain was a relatively ease process.  While they were more expensive, good names were widely available.  However, as people discovered the benefits of the internet, more online businesses were created and good domains started to become scarce.  Because of this, finding the one you truly want may be difficult if not impossible.  This article will briefly touch on why the domain name is so important.

What’s in a Domain Name?

So, what makes a domain name so special?   Well first of all, it represents both you and your website online.  It also plays a major role in generating traffic to your site as visitors will either type the URL into their browser bar or access it through a hyperlink.  When choosing a good domain name, visitors will be able to find you with ease and also associate the name with your business.  While sub-domains serve a purpose, nothing shows ownership and credibility like your very own domain name.

Just like fingerprints, no two domain names are the same.  There is no one else in the world that can have the same as you, making your email address or website completely unique.  After registering a domain name, you have essentially secured your home on the web.  It can help you become popular with the search engines and put your products or services in easy reach of those who need them.   Most importantly, it lets people know that you can be trusted and taken seriously.  If you intend to establish a reputable presence online, having your own domain name is a must.

Securing a Domain

Domain names are being purchased by the thousands everyday.  Some are used immediately for websites or email while some are used for other purposes.  It is quite common for people to buy domains for a business or website they plan to launch in the future.

Some people buy domains with the sole purpose of selling them for a profit, and others purchase them to leach off link popularity and traffic.  Whatever the reason, it all means that the domain you are after may not be available.  This is why it is a good idea to register a good name before someone else does, especially if you have aspirations of starting a business online.  It is a small investment that could pay off big in the long run.  As of now, you can easily purchase a domain name for under $10 a year.  If a savvy domain shark beats you to it, you could end up paying hundreds to thousands of dollars for it.  In a worst case scenario, you won’t be able to purchase the domain at all.

In Closing

When it comes to online business, a domain name is often the difference between converting visitors into customers or losing them altogether.  While the good ones are vanishing fast, there are still more than enough to go around.  This should give you all the ammunition needed to secure your future online.  After all, if you don’t take your image seriously, who will?

Share this article:

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Mar 12, 2009 : Domain Names No responses yet

Multiple Domain Hosting : What You Should Know

Multiple domain hosting is a major draw on the web hosting market.  As the name implies, this type of web hosting allows you to host more than one domain on a single account.  Such an arrangement is particularly beneficial for someone with a need to run numerous websites.  Multiple domain hosting offers cost efficiency as you can easily manage all of your sites from a single interface while paying a fixed monthly cost for one account.  Although the advantages are obvious, the disadvantages may cause you to think twice about multiple domain hosting.

How it Works

Multiple domain hosting is a relatively simple process.  For the most part, you are simply adding on domains to your original account.  In this type of scenario, the additional domains are tied in with your primary domain despite having their own domain names and URLs.  From the web hosting control panel, you can individually manage all of your domains and have the ability to create email accounts, upload files and install software specific to those websites.

Disadvantages

The greatest disadvantage of multiple domain hosting all boils down to one thing - performance.  For instance, if you are hosting five domains and they all become popular and experience a lot of traffic, you may find that your websites run sluggishly.  You also run the risks of exceeding your monthly bandwidth as the traffic for each site will feed off a single allotment.  If this occurs, visitors will have limited access to your site, leaving you with no choice but to purchase extra bandwidth at additional costs.  This is a significant drawback that outweighs all the money you will save with multiple domain hosting. You can avoid this problem by investing in a more robust hosting solution.  With VPS and dedicated hosting, you receive guaranteed resources and can generally host multiple domains without too many enduring performance issues.

Finding Multiple Domain Hosting

While there are a number of companies that offer multiple domain hosting, some only allow you to purchase one domain per account.  If want to run additional websites, you will be required to pay extra for each account.  A true multiple domain host will you allow to host several domains for one low price.  Some will let you host a certain number of domains while others offer unlimited domain hosting.  Keep in mind that even though you may have signed up for unlimited domain hosting, it is not practical to host too many websites at once, especially if you are operating on a shared server.  This will ultimately lead to the issues of bandwidth and performance mentioned above.

Conclusion

Despite the drawbacks, multiple domain hosting offers a great way to operate numerous websites and save money at the same time.  The key is finding a web that offers enough disk space and bandwidth to effectively host multiple websites.  Although it isn’t recommended to host too many sites on a single server, a reliable platform gives you a better chance of doing so without suffering from performance issues.

Share this article:

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Feb 13, 2009 : Multiple Domain Hosting No responses yet