| Choosing just the right domain name is often the first | | | | have a list of possibilities, go to It's cool because it |
| and foremost concern of new Internet marketers. In | | | | gives you immediate feedback on what is available |
| reality, it should not occupy the very top spot on | | | | and what isn't. Just start typing in names and it will |
| your priority list when creating a new site, but it's | | | | tell you instantly as you type whether the.com, .net, |
| definitely something you should give serious thought | | | | or .org is available for that name. If it isn't, back up |
| to. | | | | and try something else. Change the word order. You |
| Why isn't it the first thing you should do? Because | | | | can add hyphens, although some view them as |
| your choice of domain name should be heavily | | | | spammy. There are certainly times when they may |
| influenced by the keywords you are building your site | | | | be a good choice, though. |
| around. | | | | If you find a .com or a .net that is available with one |
| Keywords are the words or phrases that people | | | | of your keywords, great! But if you go through your |
| type into search engines. | | | | whole list and nothing is available, don't get |
| For instance, if someone is looking for a new | | | | discouraged. This is not at all unusual, but it does not |
| computer, they might type "laptop computers," | | | | mean that you are stuck. Can't get the name you |
| "Macbook," or "laptop computer reviews" into Google. | | | | want? Ideally, try to add another one of your |
| Each of these is considered a keyword, even if there | | | | keywords rather than a generic word. This of course |
| is more than one word in the phrase. | | | | makes the name longer, but that's okay, within |
| Keyword research is very important because if you | | | | reason. |
| know what keywords people are searching for, you'll | | | | If that's not working, one exercise that often helps is |
| know how to choose an appropriate name and how | | | | to simply write or type sort of a |
| to build your site so that they find you. Therefore, | | | | stream-of-consciousness list of words and phrases, |
| it's a good idea to figure out what your main | | | | starting with your keyword. Just let it flow. Don't |
| keywords are going to be before you choose the | | | | discard something because it's "not relevant enough" |
| domain. | | | | or because you know you would never actually use it |
| When you are ready for the search, what's the first | | | | in your domain. Just follow along as your brain makes |
| step? Do some "domainstorming." Write down a list | | | | associations. When you've got a couple pages filled, |
| of variations of your main keyword that you would | | | | look back at what you've written with your main |
| like to have as your domain name. The bad news is | | | | keyword in mind and see if anything fits or sparks |
| that, most likely, none of them will be available. But | | | | another idea that's even better. |
| it's where you should start. | | | | If necessary, you could add the word "quality" or |
| Back in the earlier days of the Internet, good domain | | | | "fine" at the beginning or "source" or "zone" at the |
| names were much easier to find, but they were also | | | | end. Generally, I don't like to add the word "the" |
| pricey. I used to have a client in my graphic design | | | | before the name because it doesn't add any value |
| business who was buying state name domains | | | | and can mistakenly be left off if someone is trying to |
| because she published a directory that she wanted | | | | get to your site, but it's certainly an option. |
| to expand nationwide. She sent out check after | | | | Keep in mind one very important thing, though: Do |
| check for $75 for names like Michigan.com, | | | | NOT buy a domain name with someone else's |
| Arizona.com, Ohio.com, Georgia.com, etc. At the time, | | | | trademark in it, such as "Sony Vaio" or "Macbook." |
| (this was in the mid-'90s), I thought it was an | | | | You can promote such products, but if you use their |
| outrageous amount to pay for something so | | | | trademark in your domain name, you'll end up in a |
| intangible. | | | | world of hurt. |
| Now, of course, I kick myself for not having greater | | | | Stay away from trademarked names! |
| vision; any vision, actually. Who knew that domain | | | | You might put hundreds or even thousands of hours |
| names would become such valuable cyber real | | | | of work into your site, but when the merchant finds |
| estate? Obviously not me. As far as I know, she | | | | out (and they will), they'll shut you down. All that |
| never developed those names. If she sold them | | | | work will be lost. You could start over with another |
| rather than let them lapse, she must have made | | | | domain and upload all the same files, but any search |
| quite a pretty penny. If I had just had a little | | | | engine rank connected with the previous domain will |
| foresight, I would have begged, borrowed, and stole | | | | be lost, and you really will be at square one in getting |
| to invest in a couple hundred premium domains and | | | | your site noticed again. |
| then waited for the rest of the world to catch up. | | | | Space does not allow me to detail all the variables to |
| So much for thinking ahead. | | | | consider when choosing a domain, but this will get |
| Anyway, back to your domainstorming list. Once you | | | | you started. Make the search fun! |