The Secrets to a Great Domain Name in 5 Easy Steps

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Before you register another domain name, here are a few ...
should know that will save you some time and money:- what your domain name should REALLY say- how to find a great name that will get y Before you register another domain name, here are a few thingsyou should know that will save you some time and money:- what your domain name should REALLY say- how to find a great name that will get you noticed- where to register a domain name for about the price of a pizzaFor starters, don’t think of your domain name as simply a titlefor your business or web site. You should think of it as aheadline - something that appeals directly to the wants, needs,and desires of your target market.It probably doesn't hurt to use "your" name (BobsPlumbing.com).But, you really should be thinking about a name from theperspective of your clients and prospects.
I hate to tell you,but they don’t care about your name (or you, for that matter).People want benefits and solutions, and you should be tellingyour prospects what benefit they will receive by doing businesswith you - in a great domain name.Despite what you might think, all the good ones are not taken.Granted, generic one-word names (i.e. business.com,computers.com) are not available or are very expensive if forsale - but that’s OK.
There are alternatives, and good ones.Step 1:Brainstorm some ideas. Make a list of keywords related to yourbusiness.
Include some powerful, emotion-stirring adjectives, orat least words that might pique one’s curiosity. Put themtogether in two or three word combinations.
Get creative.Step 2:Go to http://www.namebargain.com, where you can search up to 30names at once for free - a HUGE time saver. I’ve had goodexperiences with them.
You can register names through them for$9.99 (unfortunately, they've got a ten name minimum for thefirst purchase.) Also, try http://www.whois.net where you canlook for hidden gems among the millions of recently deleteddomain names (names that were once registered and are nowavailable). You can also search by entering multiple keywords,and combinations of these words are automatically checked.Nifty.If you’re really serious about finding good domain names, visithttp://www.softnik.com.
They offer a wonderful program calledDomain Name Analyzer which can help you quickly and easilylocate a great name. It belongs in the toolbox of any onlineprofessional - and it’s free.Step 3:When you find something you like, before you take the plunge,ask a few people what they think.
Get an objective opinion fromsomeone who could be your customer. How does it sound if you sayit out loud? If you advertise on the radio, you better make sureit's clear.Remember: this isn’t 1994 - you can only be so choosey when itcomes to selecting names.
The one you really have your heart onmay be taken. If it is, but doesn’t appear to be in use, contactthe owner and ask if it’s available.
Detailed name and contactinformation can usually be found by doing a search athttp://www.betterwhois.com.Once you locate the owner, don’t offer anything up front, justinquire (Remember this important rule of negotiating: The firstto name a price usually loses). To get an idea of how muchsimilar names are going for, first visit one of the good domainname auction sites like http://www.afternic.com.Step 4:Before you register a name (especially if you’re in the US), youmay want to do a free search at the U.S.
Patent and TrademarkOffice web site (http://www.uspto.gov). It’s a good way to seeif your proposed domain name may potentially violate aregistered federal trademark.
Don’t assume that because it isavailable, it’s not trademarked. I've seen it happen.
It couldbe a costly mistake if you assume and you're wrong.In addition, there are also state and international trademarkissues to consider. Internet and trademark law can be a bitoverwhelming to the uninitiated.
Here’s a good summary oftrademark-related questions:http://www.trademark.com/new_tmdocs/faq.html. For more info on“CyberSpace Law”, check outhttp://www.ssrn.com/update/lsn/cyberspace/csl_lessons.html).Other considerations and recommendations:- Stay away from hyphenated names unless you also own theunhyphenated version (no one remembers the hyphen, and peoplewill accidentally visit your competitor).- Opt for “.com” if possible.
There may be more options with“.net” and “.org” (or any of the other zillion new extensions),but “.com” is still king. People remember “.com”, and again, youdon’t want to send prospects to your competitors.- Stay away from numbers (i.e.
Websites4you.com) - sounds andlooks cheesy; plus, it creates confusion if you advertise on theradio.Step 5:You’ve done your homework, you’ve found a good,“benefits-focused” name, and you’re ready to buy. Here are fewplaces you may want to register your domain name (I haven’tpersonally tried these, but the prices look good):http://www.GoDaddy.com - $8.95http://www.joker.com - approx.
$11http://www.orderyourdomains.com - $12http://www.dotster.com - $14.95Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll soon be on your way tofinding a great, memorable, traffic-generating domain name (forabout the price of a pizza).Wishing you much online success... Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com .