SevenStrakes

Author: Primoz Borovnik

My first piece of advice is not to choose a domain too quickly; make sure you have taken the time to fully plan your website or product before searching for available names.

Here are three questions to ask yourself BEFORE choosing a domain name:

What you will be offering?
Who you will be targeting?
What will your ‘keywords’

will be? (There’s more on ‘keywords’ a little later on.)

If you can’t answer these questions, have another think or you might have to buy another domain if you change your idea at a later date. If you do have to change it, don’t just forget about the domain and let it expire, try and sell it at www.sedo.com or www.sitepoint.com for a profit; or at least to break even on the cost of the original purchase.

Try hard to think of a name that people will remember and do your best to make it catchy! Even though some of the most successful online businesses, such as ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo’ have names that in no way relate to their services, their names are very easy to remember and as a result they can be successfully promoted as a brand. However, trying to find a good unregistered 5 or 6 letter .com domain is almost impossible. You could buy one but it will probably cost you in excess of $10,000 so only take this risk if you are 100% sure your idea is going to quickly turn a profit.

Finding a free .com extension:

Trying to find any name that hasn’t already been taken can be surprisingly difficult let alone finding a good ‘.com’. The vast majority of quality .com extensions were taken long-ago so you might have to look at a few other options. Here’s a list of some other extensions you can use but having said that, try your utmost to get a .com if you possibly can:

.org – Non-profit organizations.
.biz – For business and Corporations.
.pro – For Professionals such as lawyers.
.info – For information based websites.
.us – United States.
.co.uk – United Kingdom/England.
.tv – Vanity domain from the island of Tuvalu in the south pacific.
.net – General internet usage.

You will also need to make sure that your domain extension relates to both your website genre and your location. For example, if you’re creating a website for selling beds in Washington DC, you obviously don’t want to use a .cn (China) extension. Obvious I know, but the mistake is often made. If the .com isn’t available go for a .net, .biz or a .info.

As I’ve just mentioned, the other option is you can buy an already registered domain name at www.sedo.com. It’s certainly something to consider and I’ll tell you why a bit later on. I will also tell you how to make thousands of dollars using Sedo.com with only a few hours work.

Here are ten more questions to ask yourself once you have thought of a domain name for your business or website:
1. Is your name short and memorable?
2. Does your name promise a benefit?
3. Does your name accurately reflect what you’re selling?
4. Does your name distinguish your business from your competitors?
5. Does your name create a visual image?
6. Does your name appeal to your target market and does it reflect their values, needs, and lifestyles?
7. Does your name have graphic possibilities?
8. Is your name unique and has it already been trademarked?
9. Will your name allow you to expand your business with different products and services and still make sense?
10. Does your name reflect a position in the marketplace that is unique to your company?
Once you have your name decided, go to domain or a similar site to register it.

About the Author:

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How to Choose a Domain Name to Maximize Your Success

Author: Quang Van

Picking a good domain name can be essential for an online business. Although one good domain is the same is another good domain. Having a bad domain could cost your a lot of business.

A great place to do your domain name research is InstantDomainSearch.com

A few tips on how to choose a winning domain name are:

1) Don’t use hyphens. Hyphens can kill a domain name. Unless you are using the domain name for strictly SEO purposes, having hyphens is okay.

But if you are creating your main website. The hub of your business. Having hyphens could kill your business.

For example a domain name Fix-Your-Window.com though a domain name like that is good for SEO purposes, try telling someone your domain name out loud.

It’ll go something like “hey visit our website, ‘fix hyphen your hyphen window.com’, it’s hard enough for people to remember your domain name without remembering whether there are hyphens are not.

What’s even worst if you combine hyphens, and non-hyphens in the word spacing of your domain. Such as Fix-YourWindows.com …. no one will remember it.

Though Hyphen domain can look good on a business card it is still better to have a domain without them. If you truly must have a hyphen domain, try to get the non-hyphen one as well.

2) Shorter the Better. The shorter your domain the better chance your prospects will type it in. You ever try typing in a long domain name? It is a horrible experience. And if you have a spelling mistake, sometimes you often just tell yourself “forget this”.

That’s why domain searching on Google is so popular. You know that the search term “myspace.com” is really popular on Google? I think it’s because people know if the mis-type it, Google will still bring them to the right place.

Why is Microsoft’s Hub website named MSN.com instead of Microsoft.com? Because the shorter the domain the better.

3) For a business get a .Com – Get a Dot Com if you are a business. It is more professional. Though good dot com domains are harder to come by, when a little bit of clever thinking you can get yourself a great .Com domain.

About the Author:

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – 3 Tips for Picking Successful Domain Names for a New Small Business

I recently received an email from a concerned, fellow Internet business owner, asking for my opinion on an issue that could literally destroy his Internet business and the business of several other domains involved.

He had received legal notice from a prominent company, stating that he needed to relinquish his use and rights to his web site domain name because it contained three letters that infringed upon their trademark and their domain name. This same company also contacted several other Internet business owners and made similar demands.

Should a company that registers a specific trademark have the ability to destroy numerous businesses that legitimately registered domain names? Should a company that registers a trademark have the responsibility of ensuring that a domain name registration agency doesn’t issue domain names that may be a trademark infringement? Or should an Internet business have the responsibility of making sure a potential name doesn’t Infringe upon a registered trademark? Where does the responsibility lie?

Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the domain name registrant, as the trademark laws that apply in the hard copy world also apply on the Internet.

Any company that registers a trademark has the right to protect their trademark and has the right to notify you that your domain name is infringing upon their trademark. Why? If your domain name has the potential of confusing the public into thinking the trademark holder is somehow affiliated with your web site, they may bring infringement claims against you. The courts would have to make the decision based upon the trademark laws and if your domain name, in fact, has the potential of confusing the public.

Domain name registrants can protect themselves as well. If you have a registered domain name that doesn’t infringe upon any trademarks, you too may be able to register a trademark. Registering a domain name as a trademark isn’t easy, but it can be done. Although you can’t register the http://www.or the .com, if the use of your name fits the laws criteria, it can be registered. You should consult with an attorney familiar with the Internet, trademarks and the laws prior to registering your domain name as a trademark.

For a complete explanation, visit:

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/notices/guide299.htm

As stated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, http://www.uspto.gov/ “A mark composed of a domain name is registerable as a trademark or service mark only if it functions as a source identifier. The mark as depicted on the specimens must be presented in a manner that will be perceived by potential purchasers as indicating source and not as merely an informational indication of the domain name address used to access a web site.” In other words, the use of a domain name must not be used simply as an address to direct customers to your web site, but must be used to identify the products or services of the business claiming the trademark, which provides products or services via the Internet.

If you’re in the market for a domain name, you may want to consider searching the Trademark Electronic Search System, http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm prior to registering a domain name. By researching the trademark regulations and knowing your rights, whether you hold a trademark or a domain name, you may be able to avoid the possibility of litigation.

Copyright © Shelley Lowery

About the Author:

Shelley Lowery is the author of the acclaimed web design course, Web Design Mastery. http://www.webdesignmastery.com And, Ebook Starter – Give Your Ebooks the look and feel of a REAL book. http://www.ebookstarter.com Visit Web-Source.net to sign up for a complimentary subscription to Etips and receive a copy of the acclaimed ebook, “Killer Internet Marketing Strategies.” http://www.web-source.net

When you’re ready to launch your web site and you’re trying to select a good domain name, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Select a Domain Name that Reflects Your Web Site

Above all else, your domain name should reflect what your web site is all about. For example, if your web site is about grooming a dog, you certainly wouldn’t want to select a domain name like ‘mybusinessname.com,’ as this would have nothing to do with your web site’s focus. You would want to select a domain name that tells the world what your web site is all about — something like ‘doggrooming.com.’

Select a Domain Name that Contains Your Web Site’s Keywords

Another consideration of great importance are your keywords. Try to select a domain name that contains your most relevant keyword phrase, as some Search Engines place relevancy on them. A keyword phrase is two or more words that best describe your web page. If your web page is focusing on grooming a dog, your best keyword phrase will be “dog grooming.”

Select a Domain Name that will be Easily Remembered

With millions of web sites accessible on the Internet, it is also very important to select a domain name that will be easily remembered. As in the ‘doggrooming.com’ example above, ‘doggrooming.com’ is very easily remembered, contains the most relevant keyword phrase and describes the web site in explicit detail. It is the ‘perfect’ domain name for this particular web site.

Select the Best Domain Extension

Another consideration of importance is the domain name extension. Although there are many new domain extensions available, dotcom is still the best choice. When typing in a web address, Internet users automatically want to type in a .com extension, as this is the extension that has been embedded into our brains from the start.

Avoid Using Numbers in Your Domain Name

Although you may be tempted to do so, avoid using numbers within your domain name. Including a number within your domain name can cause problems, as when you tell someone your web address, you will continually have to tell them it’s a number and not the word. For example, if you selected a domain name like number1host.com, if you were to tell someone your web address, they may try to type it as ‘numberonehost.com’ instead of ‘number1host.com.’ This type of domain name would cause confusion.

Avoid using Dashes and Underscores in Your Domain Name

Although many people do it, don’t make the same mistake I made when I first started out. Avoid using dashes, underscores or any other characters within your domain name that may cause confusion. When I registered my domain name, Web-Source.net, I actually wanted websource.com; however, it had already been registered. So, I settled for Web-Source.net. Now, when I tell someone my domain name, I have to say it like this: web dash source dot net.

Don’t get me wrong, www.Web-Source.net is now a high traffic web site, but I can only imagine how much traffic I’ve lost over the years due to my domain name. I have received many emails over the years from visitors who had a hard time finding my site. They said they couldn’t remember the domain name and kept wanting to type in websource.com.

Avoid using Abbreviations within Your Domain Name

Although well-known companies, such as IBM, can get away with using abbreviations within their domain name, most companies can’t. As a rule, try to avoid using abbreviations or anything that will be difficult for your visitors to remember. Not only will this cause confusion, but it can also cause your potential visitors to make spelling mistakes when trying to type in your web address.

Avoid using Long Domain Names

Although you may now register long domain names, it’s really not a good idea. I learned this lesson the hard way. I registered ‘www.workfromhomebusinessguide.com’ and the sad thing is … I can’t remember the domain name half the time. How can I expect my potential visitors to remember it? Try to keep your domain name as short as possible. The longer the domain name the harder it is to remember and the more apt your potential visitors are to make a typo when typing it into their browser.

Ensure Your Domain Name is Not a Trademark Infringement

Prior to registering a domain name, you may want to consider searching the Trademark Electronic Search System, http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm to ensure your potential domain name isn’t infringing on any trademarks.

Please don’t take this point lightly, as trademark infringement could cost you your entire business. It is your responsibility to ensure that your potential domain name doesn’t infringe on any registered trademarks, as the trademark laws that apply in the hard copy world also apply on the Internet. Any company that registers a trademark has the right to protect their trademark and has the right to notify you that your domain name is infringing upon their trademark.

When you’re ready to begin, create a list of a dozen or more potential domain names, as chances are, your first choice will already be taken. With any luck, one of the domain names on your list will be available.

Take your time and select a quality domain name that will grow with your business. It will be well-worth your time and effort in the long run.

Copyright © Shelley Lowery

About the Author:

Shelley Lowery is a successful well-known Internet Marketer and the owner of several successful sites, including www.Web-Source.net. Would you like an easier way to make money online without having to design your own site? Learn how to easily generate thousands of dollars every month with this secret residual income system on complete autopilot. Visit: www.ResidualIncomeOpportunitySecrets.com

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If you are currently engaged in any facet of ecommerce, even service sectors, a website makes up a great deal of your business. Therefore, it is a safe assumption that you pay for hosting your website in some fashion. If you do not already have a dedicated server, perhaps you should revisit the decision for the best hosting options for your business.

What is a Dedicated Server?

Most web hosting companies set up accounts or on a shared server. You essentially share the total hard drive and bandwidth allowance with many others. This may not be the best hosting option and can present many problems such as security and traffic bottlenecks. On a dedicated server, the server is completely yours, and there are not other websites utilizing the same machine. The server is dedicated completely to you and your business.

Advantages of a Dedicated Server

Several advantages can make a dedicated server the best hosting choice for you. These include:

Server Security –Dedicated servers increase the security of your website tremendously. There are no other webmasters using the same workspace, and simple mistakes or user error that might occur due to shared machines simply no longer existent.

Storage Space – As the entire server is dedicated to a single customer, there is tremendously more storage space available for website pages, images, and features.

Data Transfer – As with storage space, there is a great deal more bandwidth available for data transfer. Traffic to your site no longer competes with traffic for other websites reducing bottlenecks and slow server response time.

Control Panel – Having your own server offers additional opportunities for control. Sharing a server indicates that you have only limited control of server features and functions, but with a dedicated server, webmasters have greater control and access to the day-to-day functions of the host.

Software Options – Dedicated servers also allow more software and script options. The server has greater storage capacity for this information, and there is no need to align coding or features with other users of the same machine.

Disadvantages of a Dedicated Server

The sole disadvantage of a dedicated server is the cost. It is only logical that obtaining an entire server versus a piece of a shared server would be more expensive, but the rate often makes webmasters baulk. It is important to consider the fee as related to the total cost of shared server space when determining if a dedicated server is the best hosting option for you business, despite cost. A single credit card safety incident or an exorbitant bill for bandwidth overage should level the playing field almost immediately.

Am I ready for a Dedicated Server?

Websites grow at different rates, but as the success of a business grows, so does the need for additional hosting capacity. If you are approaching the limits of your current hosting company or have concerns about safety, such as storing credit card information on the same server as others or simply if your current company is the best hosting company for your needs, it is definitely time for a dedicated server.

Copyright notice: This original article is the property of Web Hosting Geeks (http://webhostinggeeks.com). Web Hosting Geeks provides independent customer and webmaster reviews of top 10 web hosting providers. Top web hosting reviews, best web hosting awards, web host rating, web hosting articles and more.

Finding the best hosting service for your website can be complicated. There are almost endless options all clamoring to be the top hosts or the least expensive service, and this can make it almost impossible for webmasters to sort fact from fiction. The best way to select a quality web host is to take the selection process one step at a time:

Assess Your Needs

The very first item to address in selecting the best hosting service for your needs is to actually identify what those needs are. What sort of website are looking to host? Small personal homepages will have very different hosting criteria from large company websites. To find the best hosting service for you, it is important to determine exactly what you plan to host now, and ideally take into consideration anything you are planning to host in the immediate future.

Rate

Different hosting companies offer a large variety of rates. Companies offering dedicated servers will be substantially higher than others offering budget hosting with limited bandwidth. Competition from overseas is priced temptingly low for many, but there are many factors to consider. Don’t stop at price, and if you plan on using your website in a professional capacity, it is important to move beyond free web hosting. Free hosts are great for small family or fun sites, but are not suited to the needs of internet marketers – even those just starting out. Rate should not be a top determining factor until you have narrowed a list based on other criteria such as:

Reliability and Speed

The best hosting services will offer uptime of over 99%. This should be a guarantee to motivate the company to keep all servers up all the time. Of course, visitors should also be able to access your site quickly.

Data Transfer and Disk Space

Bandwidth requirements grow with your site. Web hosting companies pay for bandwidth, so you, the one using that bandwidth will be billed accordingly. It is far better to pay for the required amount of data transfer upfront rather than get a surprise bill in the mail for having gone considerably over your allotted amount. By the same token, be sure you have an appropriate amount of disk space reserved. Most websites require less than 3GB.

Technical Support

It is very important to be able to reach the hosting company if your website begins experiencing problems. The best hosting support one can hope for is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Most companies know this, so take their stated hours with a grain of salt. Always spot check the companies with email at random times to see if they really have someone available to help 24/7.

Scripts and Special Features

Different websites have different needs, and the best hosting service for you should accommodate those needs. Email addresses should be standard as well as the capacity for a variety of scripts. Be sure to see if other features like shopping carts and secure servers are available or standard.

Control Panel

How much control does the hosting company offer webmasters? It is inconvenient to work through customer service every time to modify a password or to change email addresses. Be sure hosting companies offer some form of a control panel accompanying hosting.

Copyright notice: This original article is the property of Web Hosting Geeks (http://webhostinggeeks.com). Web Hosting Geeks provides independent customer and webmaster reviews of top 10 web hosting providers. Top web hosting reviews, best web hosting awards, web host rating, web hosting articles and more.