A domain name should be simple so visitors will remember it easily. What's easier to remember - three or four words, or only one or two words? Obviously a short and simple domain name is easier to remember. The shorter the name, the less likely people are to misspell it. Your goal in choosing a domain name should be to find one that is easy to remember, easy to spell, and will stand out in the minds of visitors. It should be related to your products and services, or personal website theme.
Domain Name Registration - Tips
Avoid using initials. Like for example john Fitzgerald Kennedy used as JFK. So it would be a bad idea to use www.SJL.com instead of www.samueljamesleach.com Weather it is your business name, or your name. These do not describe anything at all about your website's theme. Visitors will not remember it unless you promote it heavily on national television and all over the Web. We'll leave that to Corporate Web for now.
Domain Name Registration - Pricing
Whether you pay a cheap domain name registration fee or a high fee, you're still getting the same thing - a domain name! Don't be fooled by a high domain name registration prices. There's no secret add-on service that can benefit you, unless you're getting web hosting or a low-cost web site with your domain name. Otherwise, domain name registration is the same weather you order a cheap domain name or an expensive one. Be sure to shop around before you register.
Checking your Domain Name Availability You can visit almost any web hosting site to check the availability of a domain name. Never assume a domain name is available just because it doesn't show online when you try to bring it up in your browser. If a domain name is not showing online, it could be that the site's server is down at the moment, the owner is still designing a new web site and hasn't put it online yet, or the owner might be trying to sell the domain name. When you check to see if the domain name is available, you do not have to purchase it from the site where you checked. You can purchase it from any company that offers domain name registration, once you know it is available.
So do your research and check a domain name registry to find out about the status of domain name availability.
They are important steps in your domain name registration. Just as important as your domain name research.
Beware Of Expired Domain Names
If you are considering buying an expired domain name, do your research before completing the domain name registration process.
You could be wasting your money! Ask the registrar questions about why the domain name has expired, what type of site it was before expiring, etc. Some expired domain names have been banned from the search engines altogether because they were used by spammers or those selling illegal products or services. If that were the case, you'd be better off finding another domain name. Once a site is banned from the search engines, getting it listed again is almost impossible. Your chances for good, targeted traffic are next to none. This can often at times get people that just jumped in. Should you decide to, it might help if it was previously a very good domain. It might help you get listed in search engines quicker. Once again it all comes down to doing your homework. If you're the lazy type, you should stay away from this all together.
Web Hosting & Domain Names
Some companies offer both web hosting and domain name registration. Others might offer one or the other, or a combined package where you can get a low-cost web site along with a cheap domain name and web hosting. Although it's easier to keep up with billing and expenses, you might find that if you want to leave your hosting company, they might own the right to your domain name. Say you want to leave, they then say fine, but we keep the domain
Name.
If you go though a domain name registry you then have the option to buy your domain name. You will still be able to get your website hosted with any company you choose. That way if you want to leave, you can take your domain name with you. It might be more work, but at least you can leave if you want to, and I think it's better to have that option, if you need it. You can check your domain name availability, with a domain name registry also.
Domain name registration can be an easy process once you decide on the right domain name. Your domain name will be a key player in your online success, so take your time to choose a winner, do research if you need to, and try to be creative.