Domain names are the web version of real estate. Controlling the right domain will directly impact the overall traffic to your site. As in the real estate market; the key here is location, location, location. With enough brand recognition, it is true that people will find you no matter what you name your site. But if you are searching for new business through print marketing and organic web search, securing that right name will be a key to your success.
Selecting the right domain name will require both external research and internal reflection. If your business name is well established, you will ideally register a version of that name for your domain. Most domain registration services will provide you with a complimentary availability check. You will need to determine both the availability of your name, as well as other similar names that have already been registered. For example, if you are starting a website for Joe the Plumber, you may look into "". If that were not available (its not), you may have to consider alternatives (i.e. ", ", etc). If you are concerned about competition for a similar name, consider registering ANY names near or relevant to what you are targeting. It will be an added expense, but could prevent costly competition and reduce the risk of your customers finding the wrong site.
Choosing the right wording for your domain name is also vital. Search engines use organic search parameters to steer customers to the links that closely match their search criteria. Having a major key word included in your domain name will ensure a more favorable placement in search results. If my restaurant was named Steve's, would not indicate that it is a food service business. A stronger domain name would be . Better still would be , or . Any specific keyword will exponentially increase the visibility of your site in search results.
You may also consider using a domain name that is not your actual business name, but instead is descriptive of the service you provide. An energy consulting firm recently registered the domain . Sites like , or signify the product or action. It allows for more relevant positioning in search results, and also helps viewers mentally associate your business with the action or result they desire.
Contrarily, some domain names have nothing to do with the business at hand. is an online retailer, but if not for the enormous brand recognition, you might think it were a South American travel service!
A word of warning from our legal eagles. While any unregistered domain name is available for purchase, some domains may still violate specific copyright laws if they are too close a resemblance to a legally registered business name or trademark. In most cases, major companies have already bought any relevant domains to their business, but it is advised to check thoroughly to avoid litigation.
Owning a domain name can also prove a valuable bargaining chip. Conversely, acquiring a domain name from a current owner could result in a costly expense, since there is no true market value to such a commodity. One interesting example involves a high school student and a major software company. A man named Mike Rowe (not the TV actor), unwittingly used his name to his advantage. He registered a domain named . Shortly after this registration, he received notice of legal action by the software giant who bears a similar name (guess who!). In the end, he settled and granted use of the site to the company, in exchange for free products and training. It was a landmark settlement, which set a standard in the previously untamed world of cybersquatting.
Selecting the right domain name will require both external research and internal reflection. If your business name is well established, you will ideally register a version of that name for your domain. Most domain registration services will provide you with a complimentary availability check. You will need to determine both the availability of your name, as well as other similar names that have already been registered. For example, if you are starting a website for Joe the Plumber, you may look into "". If that were not available (its not), you may have to consider alternatives (i.e. ", ", etc). If you are concerned about competition for a similar name, consider registering ANY names near or relevant to what you are targeting. It will be an added expense, but could prevent costly competition and reduce the risk of your customers finding the wrong site.
Choosing the right wording for your domain name is also vital. Search engines use organic search parameters to steer customers to the links that closely match their search criteria. Having a major key word included in your domain name will ensure a more favorable placement in search results. If my restaurant was named Steve's, would not indicate that it is a food service business. A stronger domain name would be . Better still would be , or . Any specific keyword will exponentially increase the visibility of your site in search results.
You may also consider using a domain name that is not your actual business name, but instead is descriptive of the service you provide. An energy consulting firm recently registered the domain . Sites like , or signify the product or action. It allows for more relevant positioning in search results, and also helps viewers mentally associate your business with the action or result they desire.
Contrarily, some domain names have nothing to do with the business at hand. is an online retailer, but if not for the enormous brand recognition, you might think it were a South American travel service!
A word of warning from our legal eagles. While any unregistered domain name is available for purchase, some domains may still violate specific copyright laws if they are too close a resemblance to a legally registered business name or trademark. In most cases, major companies have already bought any relevant domains to their business, but it is advised to check thoroughly to avoid litigation.
Owning a domain name can also prove a valuable bargaining chip. Conversely, acquiring a domain name from a current owner could result in a costly expense, since there is no true market value to such a commodity. One interesting example involves a high school student and a major software company. A man named Mike Rowe (not the TV actor), unwittingly used his name to his advantage. He registered a domain named . Shortly after this registration, he received notice of legal action by the software giant who bears a similar name (guess who!). In the end, he settled and granted use of the site to the company, in exchange for free products and training. It was a landmark settlement, which set a standard in the previously untamed world of cybersquatting.