| #ffffff;" /> | | | | catchy domain name far outweighs having one that is |
| There are many different reasons why you would | | | | descriptive in nature. Think of the website |
| want to make a domain name purchase. Some | | | | "google.com", for example. That particular name has |
| people do this as the first step of their Internet | | | | nothing to do with searching the Internet, but |
| business, while others wait until after they have a | | | | through smart and clever branding, the name |
| better grasp of their business strategy, plan and | | | | "Google" is now synonymous with Web search. |
| direction. Whenever you decide to do it, at some | | | | One of the next things you're going to have to |
| point you will have to purchase your domain name. | | | | decide is if you are going to get a .com, .net, .org or |
| And while the process is actually very | | | | any of the other available extensions. If you plan on |
| straightforward, the choices that you make can be | | | | branding your name in one way or another, you most |
| quite complex. Here is a basic rundown on your | | | | certainly should look for a .com as it is the most |
| purchase, domain name features and choices that | | | | widely recognized domain name extention. Going back |
| you have available to you. | | | | with our example of Google, many people will tell you |
| In order to find your domain name, you should first | | | | that they went to Google, not that they went to |
| run a search to make certain that the name you | | | | The extension is simply understood. Unless it is |
| have chosen is available. Many people are surprised, | | | | absolutely necessary, you may want to stay away |
| especially if it is their first time purchasing a domain | | | | from the less recognized extensions, such as .info or |
| to find that many names are unavailable. In fact, at | | | | .biz. |
| one particular time, up to 80,000 of these domain | | | | Once you have finally found the domain name that |
| names were being sold on a daily basis. It didn't take | | | | you plan to use, purchasing it is a simple matter. You |
| long until almost all of the good one and two name | | | | only need to choose a domain registrar and then |
| domains were taken. Fortunately, there are always | | | | register your new domain through them. |
| options. | | | | Your domain may be purchased for as little time as |
| One of the best things that you can do when | | | | one year, up to 10 years or more in advance. |
| deciding on a domain name is to be a bit creative. Of | | | | However, for several reasons we won't go into here, |
| course, if you are attempting to have your domain | | | | purchasing the domain for at least a three-year term |
| name match an existing business, purchasing a | | | | is recommended. |
| domain with your business name in the URL is very | | | | All that is necessary from the point of purchasing |
| important. | | | | your domain, is to direct it to your Web server and |
| If, however, you are starting a new business on the | | | | then upload your website. |
| Internet, you might find that coming up with a | | | | |