How To Select the Perfect Domain Name

Step Number One – How to Select the Perfect Domain Name.

It’s easy to get the impression that all of the great domain names are already taken.  While there’s an awful lot of truth to that statement, there are still good names available for small business owners.  Here are a couple of strategies to nab that perfect domain.

The most inexpensive way to find a domain name is by searching through available domain names.  The cost to hand register a domain name ranges from $8.99 to $14.99 on average.  GoDaddy is easily the most recognizable name in the industry. Part of their popularity stems from their aggressive marketing techniques including the constant injection of discount coupons into the market. Here’s a link for a $6.89 .com coupon. $6.89 .com at GoDaddy

As a side note, it is a good rule of thumb to keep your domain registrar and hosting provider separate.  Do not get hosting from the same place you get your domain name – even if the hosting company allows for a free domain name!  How to choose a great hosting company will be featured next in this blog.

The consensus is that registering a .com extension is generally the best.  For the most part this is true.  However, there are many successful .net, .org, and .us websites on the net.  I would suggest taking a .net only if the .com is not already developed.  No reason the send type-in traffic to your .com neighbor.  Plus, most of your customers will have an easier time remembering your .com extension.  If the dot com name is taken but not developed, then a dot net is an acceptable option.  If you envision some day acquiring the dot com version once you become established, please realize a developed and successful .net site will more than likely run up the value of a .com.

When choosing the domain name, consider how easy the name is to recall, how natural the domain sounds in conversation, and how easy it would be for the would-be customer to type the domain name in without any errors.  One other consideration is keyword usage.  Keywords within the domain name often help search engines like Google pick up on your site.  One example is using an industry keyword in your domain name like ‘books’ in ValleyBooks.

One of the resources I like to use when searching for a domain name is domaintools.com.  Domain Tools has a suggestion area to check for similar names in the event the name you want is already taken.  Once you find a name you can live with, then it is time to register the domain name with one of the aforementioned registrars.

The next way to find a great name is one that is at auction.  NameJet.com is a great site to pick up expired domain names, names that the owners failed to renew.  There are a lot of choice domain names at this site.  However, the cost can skyrocket in a hurry with just a few interested bidders.

GoDaddy has an auction site, TDNAM.com.  This site requires a small membership fee of $4.95.  TDNAM also specializes in dropped/expired domain names with a separate market of people actively selling their domain names.

The bottom line for the domain name: make sure the domain is relatively short.  Two words (maybe three words) is optimum.  Make sure the domain sounds natural and is easily remembered.  Try and get a .com.  Leave dashes and numbers out of the domain name.  These are all generalizations, and there are definitely exceptions to this rule, but, by and large, you will position yourself to more success with a decent domain name.