| Who doesn't like free? When it comes to online | | | | on a domain is a waste of resources in most cases. |
| business, wouldn't you like to own the domain of | | | | So is settling for a low quality name in a low quality |
| your choice for free? Do you know that there are | | | | extension. Free names sound great but the fact of |
| certain extensions such as .tk that offer free | | | | the matter is that most free extensions have been |
| domains? Yes, for no cost, you can register any | | | | so abused by hackers and spammers that nobody - |
| name in the. tk extension. But before you jump out | | | | neither your customers, nor the search engines will |
| of your seat and head over to the .tk (Turkey) | | | | take you seriously. If you are serious about your |
| registry, take a moment to consider the cost of | | | | online potential, you will have to shell out some |
| free. | | | | money, even if it is the nominal $10 registration cost |
| Your business requires a domain name to have a | | | | of a free to register name. |
| presence online. I think this much should be clear to | | | | What you should ideally do is settle on a list of |
| you if you are reading this article. However, not all | | | | keywords, then go about finding alternatives of the |
| domains are created alike. There is a certain | | | | same. If your keyword is "Atlanta Plumber", why not |
| hierarchy. extension is easily more marketable and | | | | add an additional keyword such as 'best', 'top', or |
| desirable than the .org version, while a top keyword | | | | even add the state (Georgia) to the domain? You'll |
| such as "Used Cars" would be a million times better | | | | find that these alternatives are usually available. You |
| than "Best Used Cars Online". But these top | | | | can go further and come up with something |
| keywords are usually already taken and cost a | | | | completely unrelated to the keyword which |
| fortune. Same for the .com version of most popular | | | | nonetheless gets your brand image across (ex: |
| keywords. | | | | PipesAndPlumbers.com, etc.). You don't have to settle |
| So you have three choices it seems: pay through | | | | for a secondary domain in a secondary extension. |
| your teeth for a top domain in a top extension, or | | | | Nor should you ever use a free name in an extension |
| settle for a secondary keyword in a secondary | | | | routinely associated with spammers. You shouldn't |
| extension (and pay a nominal registration fee), or go | | | | have to shell out half your marketing budget on a |
| free with a domain in an obscure extension such as | | | | name either. Just be creative and resourceful, and |
| .tk. Which option should you pick? | | | | you will come up with plenty of names that are |
| The answer is: none of the above. Spending 50,000 | | | | cheap, yet effective. |