| As a web consultant I am often asked what makes | | | | 6. - Inexpensive: Domain names should only cost |
| a good domain name. The simple answer is "sticky | | | | about $10 per year. If you're paying more then |
| factor". The best domain names are short, easy to | | | | you're paying too much. If you're paying less then |
| spell, and often contain descriptive keywords. This | | | | you're probably stuck in a contract and/or not getting |
| makes them catchy and easy to remember, and | | | | the support you should. |
| that's sticky factor. | | | | 7. - Open 24x7: The internet never stops and your |
| Here's what you do... | | | | website never stops, so your tech support should |
| Tell each domain name you are considering to a | | | | never stop either. If your site goes down at 11:30 PM |
| group of family or friends then change the topic of | | | | on December 31st then you should be able to speak |
| conversation. An hour later ask them to repeat the | | | | with someone in person to get back up and running |
| domains to you. The ones they can remember have | | | | quickly. After all, you might be running a marketing |
| the most sticky factor. Try this with several different | | | | campaign or contest that starts during the oliday. |
| groups of people. Be sure to change the order in | | | | 8. - Local to You: No offense to non-English speakers, |
| which you say the domain names. You want to make | | | | but tech stuff is hard enough to understand without |
| sure they remember it because it's sticky, not just | | | | a spoken language barrier. Too many tech companies |
| because you said it first each time. | | | | outsource customer support to countries that don't |
| How Professional Domain Brokers Choose Business | | | | speak the same language. If you're in the US I |
| Domains for Clients | | | | recommend They also offer Spanish language |
| | | | support. |
| 1. Avoid hyphens and numerals. The shorter and | | | | 9. Choose your company name and domain name(s) |
| more concise your domain name the easier it will be | | | | at the same time. Ideally you want the main domain |
| for people to remember it. Symbols and numbers | | | | name (usually the.com) to be identical to the business |
| confuse people (i.e. home4rent.com, | | | | name. This is not always an option, so read the next |
| homeforrent.com, home-4-rent.com, etc). If you buy | | | | point. |
| a domain name with a symbol or number you need | | | | 10. In some cases a generic domain name is better |
| to buy all the different versions or your customers | | | | than a specific title. If your business name is made of |
| will get confused and go to on the wrong website. | | | | generic industry terms the domain is probably already |
| 2. Avoid abbreviations, unless they are universal. Your | | | | taken. Not to worry. You can always buy a keyword |
| company name abbreviated might mean something | | | | rich domain name. Think of the word combinations |
| to you, but to the vast majority of people it means | | | | that people will search when looking for a product or |
| nothing. It also means nothing to the search engines, | | | | service like yours and use those words to make a |
| unless the abbreviation is already common (i.e. USA | | | | custom domain name. |
| for United States of America). | | | | 11. Select domains with both and.NET available. This |
| 3. Location does matter for businesses. People often | | | | prevents competitors and "domain squatters" (people |
| search local terms (i.e. state, city, etc) when looking | | | | that buy domains and hold them ransom) from |
| for businesses. For example, someone in Seattle | | | | buying the other versions and leading your confused |
| would probably search something like, "Seattle auto | | | | customers to a website that is not yours. and.net are |
| mechanic" or "auto mechanic in Seattle" rather than | | | | the most popular domains it is usually good enough to |
| just "auto mechanic". Having your city, state, or | | | | get just these, but some companies choose to buy |
| county name in your domain name is one way to | | | | several (i.e..com,.net,.org,.info,.me, etc). |
| help boost your local search rank. | | | | 12. Even if you are not ready to setup a website you |
| 4. Do not register trademarks or misspellings of | | | | should still buy the domains now. Every day great |
| trademarks. Just because a domain is available does | | | | domain names become available because someone |
| not mean that it is legal for you to buy it. It is not | | | | forgot to renew them, or couldn't afford them, or |
| the responsibility of your domain registrar (domain | | | | just decided they didn't want them anymore. Good |
| name supplier) to tell you if a domain is trademarked. | | | | domain names do not last long and finding the right |
| Even if the sales representative tells you it is okay | | | | domain is hard, so if you find a good one buy it. If |
| and sells it to you, YOU are still responsible. Use TESS | | | | you find a better one, buy it. Who cares if you end |
| ( Trademark Electronic Search System ) to search | | | | up with several domains you never use? At least you |
| the United States Patent and Trademark Office for | | | | got the one you wanted. It is more expensive to talk |
| conflicting trademarks before you purchase a domain. | | | | someone into selling you a domain name than it is to |
| 5. Your domain name registrar (domain name supplier) | | | | buy a dozen available domains, so act fast or you |
| should be; inexpensive, always available by phone, | | | | may loose your opportunity. |
| and located in the same country as you. | | | | |