5 Strategies For Effective Domain Name Registration

If you're contemplating launching a website, the first thing you need to do is have a domain name. This is your "home address" that users type into a web browser, or that is returned in search engine results. It's your unique address on the web. Often, individuals and businesses don't give a lot of thought to a domain name, or how domain names might play a role in their overall goals. That's a mistake Here are five strategies to consider when selecting domain names:

1. Make it relevant. When selecting a personal or business domain name, you should choose one that is relevant to your website topic. It doesn't make sense to have a URL that includes "bananas" if your website is about apples.

2. When possible, avoid dashes. Most website visitors are accustomed to run-on URLs, and are unaccustomed to typing in dashes. You want to make it easy for visitors to remember and return to your site, so choose a domain like ApplesAreGreat rather than apples-are-great.

3. Choose.com over other extensions. Your domain name can be a.com,.net,.org, or one of dozens of other extensions. If ApplesAreGreat.com is unavailable, it might be tempting to go with ApplesAreGreat.biz or ApplesAreGreat.tv. Avoid the temptation. If the owner of ApplesAreGreat.com is your competition, chances are good that your customers will mistakenly type your competitor's URL into the browser window - and you may lose that customer in the process. The more familiar.com,.net, and.org are vastly preferable over the alternatives, so find a great name within those realms. Having said that....

4. Buy up all available options. Whenever you engage in business domain name registration, you have to see into the future. That means buying as many relevant domain names as possible to thwart your current or future competition. You don't want a competitor to purchase a domain name that's similar to yours, so you need to preemptively register those domain names. In other words, go ahead and register the.biz,.tv,.mobi,.net, and.org versions - if only so the other guy doesn't have a chance to do so.

5. Find the right service to help you. When planning your business domain name strategy, it's important to find the right partner. An exemplary domain name registration service will offer more than simply registration. Indeed, they will do everything from holding a free domain name monthly contest to offering a suite of services that make creating websites and managing your domains a breeze. Look for a service that incorporates easy-to-use website builder software, a website content management system, and information on such topics as Internet marketing, search engine optimization, and how to open an online store.

When all is said and done, your company domain name is an asset, similar to the other assets your business owns. It's part of your brand identity, and plays an integral role in your promotional activities. So find the right domain name registration partner, have some fun by entering a free domain name monthly contest, and conquer the online world!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Domain Name Registration.