How To Choose The Best Domain Name


In this article we are going to look at the thought process you should go thru to choose your domain name.

First of all let's define what a domain name is.

A unique name that represents each computer on the Internet. (Some machines do have more than one domain name.) The DNS converts the domain name requested by an Internet user into an IP address.

The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol").

But it is hard to remember everyone's IP address. The DNS makes it easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 64.65.51.245 , you can type www.team-schuman.com. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember.

So what makes the best internet domain name?

First of all don't pick a name that has nothing to do with your Web site. If you are selling flowers don't pick a name like apples.com. Picking an oddball name makes no sense and it will just confuse your audience.

Don't make your new domain name too long. The longer it is the harder it becomes to remember. Can you remember myflowers.com or lookatmyflowerswebsite.com?

Short names are not the way to go either. It is to your benefit to try and buy a domain name that has a few keywords that relate to the topic of you Web site when possible.

Keyword placement when choosing your domain name is helpful as your site develops a higher placement with the search engines. Having the name jeffsflowers.com will do better with a search engine than jeffssite.com. With jeffsflowers.com you know I have a flower website where with jeffssite.com you don't know what kind of Web site I have.

When registering your domain name in some cases you will need to determine if you want to use hyphens in the name itself. Personally I have found this to be a great way to get a domain name that otherwise my not be available. The domain name myflowers.com might already be taken whereas the name my-flowers.com might be available.

Everything I have read says try to get a .com domain name first before going to a .net or .org etc. As more and more domain names are taken this becomes harder to do and I think you are better off getting a keyword rich domain name like my-flowers.org than you are to buy a .com domain name like jeffssite.com.

Is buying a cheap domain name a bad idea? Absolutely not. I do it all of the time. I get all of my domain names here:


http://www.godaddy.com

Then I transfer them to my hosting company here:


http://www.team-schuman.com/host4profit.

I can buy a domain name for less than $10 from Godaddy.com and transfer it for free to Host4Profit. This saves me $20 on buying it from the hosting company itself. A domain name is a domain name and you might as well save a little money where you can.

Finding out what names are available is very easy to do. Let's use Godaddy.com as an example.

  • Go here: http://www.godaddy.com

  • Click on the icon for Domain Names

  • Enter a domain name and see if it is available

  • They will come back with a list of available names

  • Decide what one you want and buy itOne last thing to consider. Protect your name by registering multiple extensions (.net, .org, etc.) This deters people from copying your name. For example, if you own my-flowers.com you can also register my-flowers.net and any other extension that's available. As you build up traffic to your site if someone types in an version other than the .com version you can forward it to your .com site and not lose any traffic.

    In closing it is important to spend a little time when choosing the best domain name for your website. Try and get some keywords in your domain name. Don't stop at choosing just a .com version and save a little money by buying a cheap domain name whenever possible as long as it still contains some keywords.

    Copyright 2004 Jeff Schuman

    About The Author

    Jeff Schuman is the creator of several websites. His Sites-Plus.Com website is a small business website that contains the best of everything you need to start and run your own small business. Visit it here today:

    http://www.sites-plus.com

    http://www.team-schuman.com





    Latest News:



    Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
    Jeff Ritter: Beware the Tampa QB, more fantasy news, views (Sports Illustrated)

  • We're cruising full speed ahead into Week 2 of the NFL season. It's been a wild week of news, from Tom Brady's ligaments, to Vince Young's grumpiness. There have also been a few new stories that could affect your fantasy lineup this Sunday, such as ... Futures flat; Lehman buyout news, data awaited (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
    Stock index futures were little changed on Friday as investors awaited news on the fate of Lehman Brothers after a slide in its stock this week heightened fears over whether the investment bank can survive. Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
    Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News)
    A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News)
    French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune)
    The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News)
    The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. Get Indexed and Ranked in Google News (Search Engine Journal)
    Google News can bring tons of traffic and boost your site performance. If you own news site and consider it ?newsworthy?, getting included in Google news is one of the first thing you should do: Make sure your site meets all requirements to be included: Shimon Sandler did a great job listing the factors that will help [...] News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
    Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance)
    A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News.

    Site: news - Google News
    Gas Supplies To Poland Stable, No New Caps Planned - Operator - CNNMoney.com

    ABC News

    Gas Supplies To Poland Stable, No New Caps Planned - Operator
    CNNMoney.com - 4 hours ago
    The Polish government has also adopted new rules allowing it to restrict supplies to industrial clients if the situation worsens. (END) Dow Jones Newswires ...
    Video: Ukraine leaves Europe without gas - Gazprom RussiaToday
    Medvedev: Russia will reopen to Ukraine only on new contract (Extra) Monsters and Critics.com
    Across Europe, a new 'cold war' Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Xinhua - RTE.ie
    all 7,058 news articles
    Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals - CNET News

    Sydney Morning Herald

    Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals
    CNET News, CA - 8 hours ago
    Microsoft will also announce new deals for Windows Live that will see Microsoft's search engine become the default on PCs from Dell as well as touting a ...
    Microsoft's news at CES not so new Seattle Times
    CES News: Ballmer Keynote Doesn?t Quite Fit The Bill Twice
    Windows Live Essentials released, more Windows Live news from CES LiveSide
    IT PRO - CRN - UK
    all 933 news articles
    New UN Gaza resolution proposed - Aljazeera.net

    Times Online

    New UN Gaza resolution proposed
    Aljazeera.net, Qatar - 2 hours ago
    Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, David Miliband, the British foreign minister, and Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister put the new ...
    Video: Israeli war on Gaza continues after second lull - 08 Jan 09 AlJazeeraEnglish
    News roundup: Lebanese rocket northern Israel; passengers ... USA Today
    New jobless claims down...Obama's `dramatic action'...UN driver ... KXMC
    Monsters and Critics.com - Council on Foreign Relations
    all 32,818 news articles
    MORTGAGES: Tenth Straight Decline Sends 30-Year Mortgage To New Low - CNNMoney.com

    The Money Times

    MORTGAGES: Tenth Straight Decline Sends 30-Year Mortgage To New Low
    CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
    ... of mortgage-backed securities issued by Freddie Mac , Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac chief economist, in a news release. ...
    Freddie Mac: Benchmark mortgage rate continues to new low MarketWatch
    New York Fed starts buying agency MBS Reuters
    all 791 news articles
    US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda - Voice of America

    FOXNews

    US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda
    Voice of America - 1 hour ago
    By Deborah Tate A day after a new Democratic-led US Congress was sworn in, lawmakers are focusing on an ambitious agenda. ...
    Video: Obama to Bring Accountability to Spending Plan AssociatedPress
    New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority New York Times
    Obama inherits $1.2 trillion deficit ? even before new stimulus Christian Science Monitor
    The Associated Press - WELT ONLINE
    all 11,242 news articles
    BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts - New York Times

    New York Daily News

    BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts
    New York Times, United States - 10 hours ago
    Florida 51, Oklahoma 17: Gators dominate special teams and stymie Sam Bradford to become the new preeminent program in college football.
    This BCS title game is a complete sham; Pac-10 news, notes & links The Oregonian - OregonLive.com
    all 2,588 news articles
    A double-header for 'Fox News Sunday': President Bush and his father - Los Angeles Times

    BBC News

    A double-header for 'Fox News Sunday': President Bush and his father
    Los Angeles Times, CA - 1 hour ago
    In the competition for the biggest Sunday morning interview, ?Fox News Sunday? may have scored the best get this weekend. Brit Hume, filling in for host ...
    Video: Obama Has 'Extraordinary' Moment With Presidents AssociatedPress
    CNN Student News Transcript: January 8, 2009 CNN
    George W. Bush and father talk to "Fox News Sunday" The TV Guy
    The Associated Press - U.S. News & World Report
    all 2,342 news articles
    Stocks' New-Year Rally Fizzles - Wall Street Journal

    Stocks' New-Year Rally Fizzles
    Wall Street Journal - 3 hours ago
    By PETER A. MCKAY, ROB CURRAN, and GEOFFREY ROGOW A barrage of glum economic and corporate news hit stocks from every direction Wednesday, prompting an ...
    Wal-Mart News Weighs on Stocks - BusinessWeek

    Reuters

    Wal-Mart News Weighs on Stocks
    BusinessWeek - 3 hours ago
    Sentiment was hurt by news that Wal-Mart (WMT) forecast lower earnings due to disappointing December sales. Also, while initial jobless claims fell 24000 to ...
    STOCKS NEWS US-Credit Suisse sees pension underfunding in 2009 Forbes
    Wall Street Declines On Economic News BankInfoSecurity.com
    Lower start on tap with WMT news, overseas losses SmallCapInvestor
    AOL Canada - U.S. News & World Report
    all 1,751 news articles
    American Technology Announces $2.7 Million in New LRAD(R) Orders ... - CNNMoney.com

    American Technology Announces $2.7 Million in New LRAD(R) Orders ...
    CNNMoney.com - 6 hours ago
    "We're off to a strong start in the first half of fiscal 2009 with over $5.5 million in new orders received in our first quarter, of which approximately ...

    MORE RESOURCES:
    Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for domain names
    "Brews.com," other domain names up for auction through Sedo (Boston Business Journal)

    Sedo, an online marketplace for buying and selling domain names, has announced a list of domain names that will be up for sale in an upcoming auction. Fake Antispyware Purveyor Doubles as Domain Registrar (Washington Post)

    A cyber gang known for aggressively spreading fake anti-spyware programs through hijacked and malicious Web sites has become an authorized reseller of domain names. Security Fix has learned that this gang is using its access as a registrar to ease the process of creating new Web sites used to push their invasive software. Klikdomains.com, also known as Vivids Media GMBH, sells Web site names in ... Aggressive Fake Antispyware Seller an Authorized Domain Registrar (CircleID)

    A group known for aggressive distribution of bogus anti-spyware programs through hijacked and malicious websites is found to be also an authorized reseller of domain names. Vietnamese domain name unmarketable (Vietnam Net)

    Bridge ? Just 3,800 domain names have been registered in Vietnamese since they were first issued 18 months ago. Most site owners said they registered their domains in Vietnamese to not miss advertising opportunities on search engines like Google or Yahoo. Presented By: BuyDomains.com, get the domain name you want! (Tom's Hardware)

       Choose the premium domain name for your business from the world?s largest inventory and marketplace for domain names - BuyDomains.com. We?ve helped thousands of businesses get the name they want. Call 866-830-6476 and let our Domain Consultants help you! www.buydomains.com Ads by Pheedo Premium Domain Names Including Love.Me and MovieRentals.com to Be Part of Live, Open Domain Name Auction (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)

    Buying descriptive and easy to remember domains offers businesses a faster way to generate traffic and build brand awareness Domain Strategies Launches Slideshow.com - From Parked Domain to Thriving Business in 45 Days (PRWeb)

    Domain Strategies and Gil Benatar (domain owner) partnered to develop a parked domain into a full functioning site that is poised to grow in the secured presentation and image display market. Domain owners looking for a way to derive the full value of a domain name have turned to domain development companies like Domain Strategies to realize the dream. (PRWeb Sep 12, 2008) Read the full story ... September Hosting And Domain Promos (Web Host Industry Review)

    September 11, 2008 -- ( WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Many hosts and domain registrars have announced deals in the first weeks of September. ResellerClub and DomainPeople are offering cheap domains, Host595 is trying to attract new customers, and Hostway is giving away iPhones. Service Channels (Web Host Directory)

    Sedo, the leading online marketplace for buying and selling domain names, today announced premium domains for its September GreatDomains Auction. 29 names crowd Rosemount ballot (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune)

    Interest mushroomed after a mass mailing encouraged residents to run, citing an eminent-domain controversy. Site: domain names - Google News
    Negotiating the Domain Name Thicket - E-Commerce Times

    Negotiating the Domain Name Thicket
    E-Commerce Times - 23 hours ago
    By Jim Offner An Internet domain name can make or break a business, so choosing wisely is critical. Even pricey names may offer value that far exceeds a ...
    Geek Trivia: Master of your (top-level) domain TechRepublic
    all 3 news articles
    Condé Nast to Cityfile: Please Return Our Editors' Domain Names - New York Observer

    New York Observer

    Condé Nast to Cityfile: Please Return Our Editors' Domain Names
    New York Observer, NY - 16 minutes ago
    by Irina Aleksander | 2:03 PM January 8, 2009 Since its inception, the gossip website Cityfile has been buying the domain names of powerful New Yorkers, ...
    Appeals court set to rule on Kentucky effort to seize domain names - Computerworld

    Gambling911.com

    Appeals court set to rule on Kentucky effort to seize domain names
    Computerworld, MA - Jan 6, 2009
    The appeals court is deliberating whether to uphold a lower court's approval of a state plan to seize Internet domain names belonging to 141 online gambling ...
    Kentucky Online Gambling Domain Name Ruling Will Be Unenforceable Casino Gambling Web
    2008 Year in Review: Kentucky Internet Gaming Squabble PocketFives.com
    Kentucky Gambling Row Rages On Online Casino Reports
    all 9 news articles
    INTERNET LAW - Domain Name Disputes Involving Automobile Manufacturers - IBLS INTERNET LAW (subscription)

    INTERNET LAW - Domain Name Disputes Involving Automobile Manufacturers
    IBLS INTERNET LAW (subscription), CA - Jan 7, 2009
    The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration Panels frequently find likelihood of confusion where domain names incorporate automobile ...
    101domain Releases New Site, Services - Including ... - PR Web (press release)

    101domain Releases New Site, Services - Including ...
    PR Web (press release), WA - Jan 7, 2009
    Today 101domain.com launched a freshly-overhauled website along with a portfolio of new services, including internationalized domain name (IDN) registration ...
    Companies Have Fiduciary Responsibility to Lock Down Domain Names - Domain Name Wire

    Companies Have Fiduciary Responsibility to Lock Down Domain Names
    Domain Name Wire, TX - Jan 7, 2009
    It would seem that protecting domain names ? especially mission critical ones like CheckFree.com, Dell.com, Amazon.com, and ATT.com, would fall under that ...
    DomainPeople Accepts Preregistrations for .Tel Landrush Phase - PR Web (press release)

    DomainPeople Accepts Preregistrations for .Tel Landrush Phase
    PR Web (press release), WA - 20 hours ago
    To help customers get the domain name they really want, DomainPeople has opened preregistration for .tel domain names in anticipation of the February 3, ...
    Major cities lobby ICANN to cut prices on new domain names - Telecompaper

    Major cities lobby ICANN to cut prices on new domain names
    Telecompaper, Netherlands - Jan 7, 2009
    Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg and New York have written to ICANN to lobby for lower prices for new top-level domain names such as .paris, ...
    MagneGas Corporation Purchases Patents, Trademark, Domain Names ... - Earthtimes (press release)

    MagneGas Corporation Purchases Patents, Trademark, Domain Names ...
    Earthtimes (press release), UK - Jan 7, 2009
    ... from liquid waste, announced that it has purchased the patents, domain names and trademark for the MagneGas technology, previously held under a license. ...
    Host Color Gives Web Hosting Customers Free .US Domains On King - The Open Press (press release)

    Host Color Gives Web Hosting Customers Free .US Domains On King
    The Open Press (press release) - 14 hours ago
    It has announced that it marks the birthday of Elvis Presley with a promotional campaign on domain names and web hosting services. ...
    Home | Site Map | Resource Links