| Like a lot of things to do with websites, when it | | | | Use your business name |
| comes to choosing a domain name there are many | | | | Perhaps an obvious statement but it's worth |
| differing opinions about the best approach. This | | | | highlighting: Use your business name as your domain |
| results in the average business person getting | | | | name. Of course you might want to reconsider this if |
| confused about what should be a relatively easy | | | | your business name contains 40 characters but in |
| decision. So, if you want some simple, basic advice on | | | | general if you use your business name people will |
| choosing a domain, check out what I believe are the | | | | easily be able to remember your domain name. |
| six most important factors to consider. | | | | Use a keyword |
| Domain type | | | | At the risk of getting a bit technical, if you can slip a |
| The domain type (e.g. .com, .com.au and .co.uk) is one | | | | keyword into your domain name this can be an |
| factor to consider. For the average company doing | | | | excellent tactic for getting higher rankings in search |
| business in one country, choose the domain type for | | | | engines. For example, if you sell red widgets and you |
| your country. In Australia, choose .com.au; in England, | | | | know people will use the keyword phrase 'red |
| .co.uk; in the United States, .com. If you think you | | | | widgets' to search for a business such as yours in |
| might go international one day, domain type is | | | | Google or another search engine, having a domain |
| definitely a good choice as it's considered the | | | | name such as makes good sense. |
| international domain type. | | | | Undecided? Register more |
| What if the domain name you want isn't available in | | | | The cost to register domain names is relatively |
| the domain type you want? There are numerous | | | | inexpensive, so if you are unsure about your domain |
| other choices such as.net,.biz and.org but I would | | | | name register more than one. You may, for instance, |
| advise to consider carefully before choosing these | | | | want to get your domain name in a variety of |
| alternatives. Many people assume website addresses | | | | different domain types (e.g. au, and |
| will end au or .co.uk, etc.) so they may have trouble | | | | mycompany.co.nz). This is particularly good advice if |
| finding your web address or, worse still, if your | | | | you think your business may trade in other countries |
| competitor has address and you choose the.net | | | | in the future. |
| address you could be giving your competitor a helping | | | | Do it now! |
| hand. | | | | Once you've come up with a few potential domain |
| Keep it simple | | | | names, you need to find out if they are available and |
| In my opinion, simple is definitely best when it comes | | | | many domain name registrars have a facility that can |
| to domain names. That is, shorter domain names are | | | | tell you instantly (Google 'domain name registrar'). |
| better than longer, easy to spell names are better | | | | Once you know your chosen domain name is |
| than harder to spell ones and easier to remember | | | | available, register it straight away or otherwise you |
| domain names are better than names that test the | | | | could risk someone else coming along and beating |
| memory. | | | | you to it. |