| Your domain name must communicate a message | | | | Use phrases that are easier to remember so you can |
| immediately. You also have to work with the reality | | | | instantly recall the domain name when someone asks |
| that hundreds of millions of domain names are | | | | what the site is for your information product. A great |
| already registered. The name you think is ideal may | | | | example of this is (capitals added for readability). The |
| already be taken. (We'll discuss how to get around | | | | name of the site clearly tells you what the product |
| that problem shortly.) | | | | does, and the name has a rhythm, or flow, to it. |
| Start with your topic keyword. For example, | | | | 4. Dot-com is Best |
| "e-book" doesn't say very much on its own, but it is | | | | Having a domain name that ends in dot-com is your |
| clear and definite. The site will be about an e-book. | | | | best choice, but dot-net is a good second option. As |
| Now go to a domain name registration service. It's | | | | I mentioned earlier, domain name services do supply |
| free to search for available domain names. You can | | | | a list of prefixes so you can see what alternate |
| also transfer the registration if you decide to use a | | | | suffixes are available when you have a really good |
| different company to host your web site. | | | | domain name. |
| The default setting for domain name searches is to | | | | 5. Reserve Multiple Choices |
| look for a ".com" address. Most services have a drop | | | | When some of the choices you searched are |
| down menu right beside the search box. This allows | | | | available, make a point of reserving more than one. |
| you to choose any suffix you prefer for your domain | | | | Let's say your key phrase is marketing whiz. When |
| name. Before we take a look at some examples of | | | | you find it is available, you might also reserve |
| domain names, I would like to share five tips on how | | | | themarketingwhiz. The point of reserving alternate |
| to choose a domain name for your e-book | | | | domain names is to lessen the potential for |
| micro-sites. | | | | competitors. Once you have the alternate domain |
| 1. Use Your Key Word or Phrase | | | | names registered, you just redirect them to the |
| This can be hard to do because most of the "best" | | | | primary domain name. |
| domain names have been registered. However, you | | | | Parting Advice |
| never know until you try. If your key word is | | | | Think about your options for a domain name before |
| "gambling," you'll find that is not available. However, if | | | | you go online and search for available names. |
| your topic is renovating Oldsmobiles, is more likely to | | | | It's just a matter of being prepared. Having only two |
| be available. | | | | or three options ready - and finding them all taken - |
| 2. Less is More | | | | means you either have to sit there trying new ideas |
| A shorter domain name is better than a long one. | | | | or go back to the drawing board. |
| Shorter is easier to remember, and you don't have to | | | | Use half an hour to think of as many potential |
| worry about making it fit on a business card. | | | | domain names as you can. Then make the effort to |
| However, short names are in the "best" category | | | | search availability for all of them - don't just stop |
| and are often taken. | | | | with the first one that's available. Wait to make your |
| 3. Use Memorable Phrases | | | | choice until after you've gone through your whole list. |