Choosing
a Domain Name
Online
business owners have realized web sites are
useful to their bottom line.
One's domain name is your online brand. A company's
first step in protecting their brand is to own www.yourbizname.com.
Just as companies need to own the domain with their
company name, so should a online auction seller own
the domain that is their auction ID when possible.
This is also why it is important to choose a good
auction ID, not just a combination of letters and
numbers. What if someone else owns
the domain name you want? If they aren't using
it, consider offering to buy it. They may be willing
to sell.
However,
it's
more likely they won't be. This leaves other choices.
Take a look at other auction seller sites. What have
others done? Make up something instead? Remember
these rules.
Don't use hard to spell words. Don't use a long name.
Use hyphens with care. Try to relate the domain name
to your specialty.
If
your business name is known as Mountain John's Place;
the following options are possible; mountainjohn.com,
mountain-johns-place.com, mountainjohn.net; and
so forth.
Also keep in mind new suffixes are now available;
info, name, store, biz, usa and others. Prices vary.
If you don't use .com or .net, online branding will
take longer. Again looking at what others have done
may help think your choices through. Ask local sellers
you know what they think. How many domain names to
own is up to you. Are there any names you feel the
need to protect? Register them now.
Made
your mind up? Where can you get a domain name? Domains
are rented by the year. Renewal is required or someone
else may rent it. Only certain companies are authorize
to rent domain names. Domain have prefixes and suffixes.
So www.publishingebooks.com can
be understood as follows; www (World Wide Web), prefix
publishingebooks, and suffix com.
Be
careful when choosing because cheap prices don't
always mean quality service. Be sure to read all
user agreements and privacy policies to understand
the company's way of registering the name and handling
any arbitration that may occur. Warning: names are
actually rented not owned. The term ownership is
used. Be sure to renew on time so as not to lose
your web site name. Here are three companies I have
used; TurnKey Internet , HostGator and SiteSell.
Others choices exist.
Choose
your domain name wisely. It may be used on TV, radio,
newspapers, and magazines, as well as business cards,
etc.. Careful thought ahead of time can save unnecessary
time, trouble and expense later.
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