It can be pretty frustrating when you try to choose a domain name for the first time. At first, it is exciting because you have made up your mind to "publish" a site to the internet. That is a big deal!

So, you find a domain name registrar, usually it is your hosting company. (Many hosting companies offer a free domain name registration with a new account - you should check on that when choosing a hosting company) Then, log in to your account and try to choose a name.

Well, you draw a blank. There are so many names to choose from. Or, you type in a few name ideas and they are already taken. What should you name your very first website? Here are some things to consider:

• What is your site going to be about? A hobby? A business?
• Who do you suppose will visit your site? Friends and Family? General public?
• Do you intend to sell a product or service?
• What kind of information or media will you put on the site?

An informal name may be appropriate if your visitors will be limited to a select number of people. For example, a name like "jonesfamilyreunion.net" would be appropriate for a site restricted to the Jones Family and maybe their close family friends.

Although some domain name extensions have their own rules, many domain names can be any combination of letters, numbers, and hyphens (dashes) up to 63 characters long. But, names cannot begin or end with a hyphen. It is advisable however to try and keep your names short and to the point.

It is not always easy to find a good name on the first try. Many names have already been taken. Some registrars now have name recommending tools that help you choose your name by taking the name you want, if it is not available, and changing it a little into a name that is available.

If you are opening a business, or bringing your business online for the first time you may need to take a more formal approach to naming your site.In addition to the preliminary questions above you also need to answer these questions:

• I know my site needs to look professional, but how formal does it need to be?
• How much credibility will the name I have chosen lend to my business?

You see, a domain name, just like your business name, is often the first thing your customers see when they "meet" you for the first time at a search engine, or directory site. Your name must reflect a positive first impression on the type of visitor you are trying to attract to your site. It may be difficult to find these days, but it would be ideal if you can register your primary domain name as your business name.

It is also wise for business site owners to register more than one domain name. It is helpful to register several names that include various "keywords" relating to your business, and then have those names "forward" visitors to your main site as a "catch-all" method of attracting visitors that may not know your business name or internet address. That can easily be done through either your registrar or your hosting account.

The main points to remember about choosing your first domain name are; try to choose a name that is short and easy to remember, try to choose a name that is appropriate for your purposes, and try to choose a name that you will be proud to tell your friends, family, and customers about.

To learn more about domain names and what you can do with them visit: http://www.ClearSkyDomains.com today! Get 10% off your first purchase! CLICK HERE Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_M