Saturday, October 10, 2009

Tips on Getting Your Domain Name Right

If you are going to start a web site, you have to have a domain name. There are a couple of tricks, however, you should know before you buy one.
Tips on Getting Your Domain Name Right
Far too often, people just rush out and pick domain names on the fly. What sounds cool? What sounds professional? I’ll just use my business name. These are the basic methods people come up with domain names and they can lead to regret down the road. A domain name is like a spouse, it can be great or horrific in the long run.
Unless you have a business name that is very well known, don’t use your business name as the domain. It isn’t really going to help you generate traffic and people will still be able to find you through search engines since you are probably the only one using the name. If you are paranoid about others stealing it, trademark and register the name.
The best way to pick a domain name is to first due keyword research. Keyword research is going to identify the keyword phrases your prospects are using to search for your services or products. You want to create a list of high traffic keyword phrases and then make one of those phrases your domain name. Search engines give a lot of value to a domain name that matches a keyword phrase. This helps you crank your home page to the top of the rankings, which gives you a massive head start over your competition.
Once you have identified the keyword phrase you want to use for your domain, there is another secret you need to know. The length of your registration is a factor in search engine rankings on Google. Google gives added value to sites that are going to be around for a long time. At a minimum, you should register the domain for five years, but go with the longest option available.
At first glance, picking a domain name is a fairly simple process. To jumpstart your marketing efforts, you should stop and give it some thought. If you follow the above guidelines, you can turn it into a powerful head start for your marketing efforts.

The Domain Name Game

You probably know that a domain name is a name given to a website or email account. Because IP addresses mark individual computers, the domain name is usually much easier to remember as it can be a catchy phrase or an on target description of what the website has to offer. In this day and age, the game of domain name selection is heated and often times a demanding field.
What does an effective domain name get you, anyway?
You may ask yourself why is it so very important to have a good domain name for your website. Besides being the best way to attract your customers, it is one of the best ways to have customers remember you. The returning customer is after all the best one to have. Yet, many websites fail at this point simply because there are so many other, just as good if not better, websites out there. Having a good, on target domain name is necessary for name recognition.
Finding Your Domain Name
Just like writing a jingle for a commercial, having an effective domain name should be something that people will remember. Catchy phrases or very targeted phrases can be the best way to get the attention of the user. More than likely, the first time they find you will be through advertisements or through a web search. But, once they are there, getting that domain name into their heads for next time is necessary.
But, its not really that easy. There is huge competition of domain names and many times you will find that the ‘good ones’ are already taken. But, when you get creative and think outside of the box you can really find the right niche and make your domain name the next one to be remembered.
There are also many information portals now devoted to the subject and we recommend reading about it at one of these. Try googling for “domain names” and you will be surprised by the abundance of information on the subject. Alternatively you may try looking on Yahoo, MSN or even a decent directory site; all are good sources of this information.

Sell A Domain Name – And Don’t Get Burned!

In the world of domain name, there is an act of buying a domain name and selling a domain name. These acts are so typical that many domain name consumers and holders are into it a few years after the introduction of domain name in the world of the internet. Today, as domain names continues to become a commodity; many people have particular desires to buy a domain name and particularly to sell a domain name.
Generally, to sell a domain name, which is the main focus of this article, involves a not so easy process. If buying a domain name involves some processes, to sell a domain name is also to undergo different steps.
According to many domain name experts, there are really certain purposes why a certain domain name holder or companies sell a domain name. It is a common note that many of them just purchased a domain name for the purpose of reselling it. Most of the domain name holders sell a domain name after finding that it has no use for them, or perhaps when the third party shows some interest in buying it.
Given such fact, it is then a nice move if you have certain desire to sell a domain name that prior to getting down to the hard work that is necessary to sell a domain name, you know how to place some sorts of value on your domain name. In fact, even if you are not going to post or publicize the set value of the domain name, it is still significant that you are aware of the minimum amount that you would accept for it when you sell a domain name.
When you desire to sell a domain name, you should take note that there are fundamentally two major means to sell a domain name. The first way for you to sell a domain name is to look for a buyer yourself or what the other call as “private transaction”. From the name itself, it is understandable that this way to sell a domain name is strictly between the buyer and the seller, of course with no third party involved in the transaction. Knowing such fact, it is then a very important factor that there is a level of trust between the parties, for the fact that a party is naturally waiting while the transfer authorization is absolutely done and the amount is sent to the seller.
On the other hand, the second way to sell a domain name is to use a company or group to find a buyer on your behalf. Many people address this way to sell a domain name as using an escrow service. In here, you are applying a third party that will fundamentally cling to the buyer’s payment while the dealing is absolutely done. As such, both the side of the buyer and the seller is protected. However, one of the bad impressions for the escrow service to sell a domain name is that you are putting another step to the process involves in the desire to sell a domain name, and another expense.
But in spite of the trail you decide to follow with your desire to sell a domain name, it is just necessary that you take some extra care, since when selling a domain name it is a typical condition that you rarely meet your buyer face to face.

What is Domain Name Backordering? Watch Out For This One!

Domain names are the hottest net-real-estate on the internet. It's no wonder services like: "Domain Name Backordering" is available to the public. Can someone really backorder your domain right from underneath you? Guess again...
So what is Domain Name Backordering?
This is a service that allows anybody on the internet to reserve a domain name if and when it goes up for sale! This doesn't seem harmful does it? Guess again...
Companies all over the internet are ordering this service for website url's that seem to be popular! What if by chance you just happen to forget to re-order your domain name? Let's say that you go on vacation and neglect to check your emails that are now telling you to renew your domain name? In this case, another company on the other side of the planet sees the fact that your domain name is soon up for grabs, so they order a backorder on your domain name and simply wait to see what you do with it.
So here you are coming back from a very long vacation and what is this? Someone else now owns your domain name because you simply neglected your duty to keep your net-real-estate up-to-date!
Unless you own a Canadian domain name protected by the CIRA, or you have a trademark on your domain name or business name, you are "really" out of luck. Once you are at this point, it may take months before you can prove to the courts that you simply forgot to renew your website address.
Should This Service Be Allowed?
That is a very interesting question. Some would say yes simply because there are literraly 1000's of websites that aren't going to be renewed next month. On the flip side, some of those websites are simply a mistake. I think the point here is; avoid making that mistake and renew your domain name for atleast 5 years.
Google is apparently looking through the "WHOIS Data Base" to see which websites have the staying power online and are serious by registering their domain name for more than 1 year at a time.
website content development
Again, should domain backordering be allowed?
I say no! Just like a patent for an invention, you should have up to 1 year to claim that domain unless you transfer the domain name to another company or individual. This way we would have less domain name theft and less "hick-ups" from companies who simply forget their important responsibility.
Protect Your Net-Real-Estate!
Your website address is the most important commodity you have online. It is as important as your business name itself. It is what ties your company offline to online. People know you through your domain name. Potential clients may end up visiting your website later on, you woudln't want some other company in your place?
Please be careful when give out the access information for your domain name to anyone that isn't within your trusted circle.
I hope this article has helped you out!