| Let's say that you're creating a website for Barb's | | | | How many ways can people spell and type your |
| Specialty Pet Products. Should the domain name be | | | | business Hyphens aren't recommended for your |
| Perhaps -- but don't stop there. Having the right | | | | primary domain. When people tell others about your |
| domain name, or domain names, can bring more | | | | site, they're likely to omit the hyphens. They may |
| traffic to your site. | | | | also forget to type them. |
| Why more than one domain name? | | | | For secondary domains, hyphens make long domains |
| One domain is all you need to set up a website. But | | | | easier to read. Each word stands out when people |
| with more domains directing to your site, you can | | | | see your domain. However, domains such as make |
| have these additional benefits: | | | | some people view hyphenated domains, especially |
| - Bring site visitors who type variations of your | | | | those with more than one hyphen, as spam-like. |
| domain name | | | | Having the words in domains separated may help |
| - Acquire traffic that might otherwise go to your | | | | some search engines recognize keywords. With |
| competition | | | | Google, though, hyphens don't make any difference. |
| - Harness the marketing power of keyword domains | | | | Consider all of these variations for secondary domain |
| Your primary domain name | | | | names: |
| If it's feasible, use your business or brand name in | | | | - With and without hyphens |
| your primary domain. People will remember it and | | | | - Different ways of spelling some words |
| associate it with your business. Also consider the | | | | - Singular and plural versions of nouns |
| following factors when choosing your primary domain. | | | | - Extensions with .com and .net as well as a |
| Domain name extensions | | | | country-specific extension if relevant |
| Should your primary domain end with .com, .net, or | | | | What people search for |
| .biz, or with a country-specific extension such as .ca | | | | If you want to find the website for Time magazine, |
| or .co.uk? | | | | you might do a search for it, or you might try typing |
| If your website is aimed at people in a specific | | | | in If you do the latter, you'll find yourself at the Time |
| country, having a country-specific domain can help: | | | | site. |
| - Site visitors will recognize right away that the | | | | This type of search behavior extends to generic |
| business has a presence in the country of the | | | | words too. Searching for dog collars? Try |
| extension. They may therefore be more comfortable | | | | dogcollar.com, for example, and you'll be redirected to |
| buying from you. | | | | Do you want life insurance? redirects to (and so does |
| - Some country-specific search results include sites | | | | northwesternmutualfinancialnetwork.com). |
| with the relevant country-specific domain extension | | | | While having keyword domain names may not draw |
| even if the site isn't hosted in that country. | | | | a lot of site visitors, using them is a technique to |
| On the other hand, if you're targeting an international | | | | consider. |
| audience, a country-specific domain could work | | | | How to use more than one domain |
| against you. People from outside the country of the | | | | Set up your website with your primary domain, and |
| extension may be less inclined to buy if the business | | | | use that domain on your correspondence and with |
| looks foreign to them. | | | | your customers. |
| If you want to attract both people within your | | | | Point secondary domains to your site using URL |
| country and those in other countries, have both. Each | | | | forwarding (also called domain forwarding, domain |
| domain could direct to the same site, with each | | | | redirect, or URL redirect). To have the secondary |
| audience seeing the domain intended for them. For | | | | domain appear in the browser, use domain masking. |
| country-specific search results, the primary domain | | | | You can set up these features when you log in to |
| should be the country-specific one. | | | | your account with your domain registrar (if your |
| Chances are that the .com domain you want is | | | | registrar offers these services). |
| already taken. If you use the .net or .biz version, you | | | | With domains that are simply variations of your |
| risk having potential site visitors go to your .com | | | | primary domain, you can expect additional traffic just |
| competition instead. Be sure to use the full domain | | | | from having set up these domains. With domains that |
| name on all promotional material to reduce this risk. | | | | contain keywords, you can get more from them by |
| Domain name length | | | | using them to list your site in online directories. When |
| A short domain is easier to remember, it has less risk | | | | these domains appear in search results, searchers will |
| of being mistyped, and it'll fit easily on your business | | | | see the keywords. |
| cards and correspondence. | | | | The next step |
| Conversely, if a short name doesn't represent your | | | | Once you decide on the available domains that you |
| business, it's more difficult for people to remember. | | | | want, register them immediately. They might not be |
| The short names you like may already be taken | | | | available tomorrow. |
| anyway. | | | | If you don't already have a business name, you'll find |
| If your business name is up to three easy-to-spell | | | | it easier to market your business online if you choose |
| words, it'll probably work as a domain name. For a | | | | a primary domain and a business name together. If |
| longer business name, the initials or just one or two | | | | your first choice for a business name doesn't work |
| words may be easier than remembering a | | | | well with any available domains, consider a business |
| combination of words. | | | | name that you can easily market with an available |
| Secondary domain names | | | | domain. Once you've registered that domain name |
| Secondary domains directing to your site are for | | | | and your business name, register secondary domains |
| online use: | | | | and put them to use. |
| - For people who type your primary domain name | | | | Is it worth registering multiple domains for one site? |
| incorrectly | | | | That depends on your site, but any variations that |
| - For people who search for your products or | | | | you don't register will be available for competitors to |
| services online | | | | register and use. If a domain is valuable to a |
| Typing and spelling variations | | | | competitor, it's valuable to you. |