| In this article, we'll look at some tips when it comes | | | | the website address you want is not available. If at |
| to registering domain names. | | | | all possible, attempt to choose domain names that do |
| First, you'll need to decide what you want your | | | | not require hyphens. They're very difficult to |
| domain name or website address to be; and although | | | | remember and very difficult for users to type into a |
| this may sound like a pretty easy task, you'll want to | | | | browser. |
| take into consideration a few things first. | | | | If the website address you want is not available, |
| For Brick and Mortar Businesses. If you have a | | | | consider adding modifiers to the term you want to |
| brick-and-mortar business; that is, a physical store | | | | use. For example, if you wanted to register |
| where people purchase your goods or your services, | | | | "CarlsCoffee.com" but someone else already had that |
| you'll want to try and get a domain name that is as | | | | registered, you could try "CarlsCoffeeOnline.com", |
| close to the name of your business as possible. For | | | | "CarlsCoffeeHouston.com" (or whatever city it is that |
| instance, if your business name is "Carl's Coffee" then | | | | you're located in), "CarlsCoffeeStore.com" or even |
| an obvious choice would be to register a since by | | | | "CarlsCoffeeSite.com". |
| default, most of your customers will type in this | | | | Which domain extension should you use? Should you |
| website address to get to your site. | | | | use.com,.net,.org? Whenever you can, always choose |
| For Internet Only Businesses. If you only do business | | | | version of a website address. This is due to the fact |
| online and do not have a physical store, you'll then | | | | that people in general typically type after a website |
| want to do a little bit of keyword research first. First, | | | | address; it's just something that we've all become |
| decide what your website will be about and then | | | | accustomed to. After all, you don't want to |
| enter that term into Google's free keyword research | | | | inadvertently send your customers to a competitor. |
| tool which you can find by searching within Google | | | | All in all, finding the perfect domain name all depends |
| for "Google Keyword Tool". After entering your main | | | | upon the kind of business you're running. Online-only |
| keyword into this tool, take a look at the terms that | | | | businesses need to focus more on the keywords |
| real people are searching on within the search | | | | within their domain names, and brick-and-mortar |
| engines. Make note of those terms that have at | | | | businesses; more on the name of the business. |
| least 3,000 searches a month globally but that aren't | | | | This is not to say that brick-and-mortar businesses |
| so competitive that you'll have a difficult time being | | | | absolutely have to stick with just their business |
| found online. These would be those terms that are | | | | name. If the intention is to also get found online |
| one- or two-word phrases and that get hundreds of | | | | within the search engines and the website address is |
| thousands if not millions of searches each month. | | | | not strictly for their local customers, you can always |
| Write down those phrases that seem to fit best | | | | choose the same route of picking out keywords |
| with what your website contents will be. | | | | instead. |
| When choosing your domain name, you may be | | | | It all comes down to where you expect your |
| tempted to go with a hyphenated domain name if | | | | customers to be coming from. |