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What Is A Domain Name?

by Michael Tee

A domain name is the address of your website. Website addresses look like this: http://www.domainname.com. Website addresses are unique, just as your personal ID; no one else in the world can have the same ID number as you. Once the domain name has been registered by you, no one else can register a domain name which is the same as yours.

How to choose the best domain name?

An appropriate name that suits the theme of your website is always the best choice. If the theme of business is "starting an online business" then you should include words like "e-biz" or "internet" or maybe "business" in your domain name.

The best domain names are easily remembered. Visitors are likelier to come back if they remember your domain name. So, it would be wise to choose a good domain name. Here are some tips to choose a good domain name: The name should not exceed 5 words or 20 characters, keep it short and easy to spell. Try making use of keywords or popular search terms whenever possible and try not to have it more than 3 to 4 words long.

Registered vs. Free

Now, what would think if someone is selling a $97 e-book using a free domain name? A big cheapo right? Even If that person is selling a popular e-book that comes with a 90 day money back guarantee, you'll probably wonder if he would return the money to you if you decide to ask for a refund. Here is another point, should I name my business "bizmodelsyoucancopy", would it be much better if I registered www.ebizmodelsyoucancopy.com rather than www.geocities.com/internet/public/business/ebizmodelsyoucancopy? After all, registering your own domain would cost less than $15 per year. What is $15.00 a year compared to a potential loss of sales?

Registering a domain name

First, do a quick search to see if the domain name you want is available at the website of the registrar. All registrars provide search tools on their websites. Most domain names that you might have thought of might have been already taken. So, you might have to do a lot of searches to find available domain names of your choice.

Next, jot down all available domain names you like. Keep searching until you have about 5 to 7 good names that you can choose from.

Then, choose a domain name and register it at a domain name ICANN Accredited registrar.

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