If you formed your business years ago, you likely put a great deal of thought into your name. It is what defines you and it what causes people to recognize you when they think of the products and services that you offer. The same is true for an online business. The domain name that you choose will either effective increase your online visibility, or it will cause people to take a pass and go onto something else. You cannot afford to discount the importance of this major marketing principle. It may not seem that important, but it is critically so.
Securing Your Name
Once you do find an available domain that you like, you will want to make sure that you get it registered so you retain ownership of it. The process to buy domain names is rather simple. It is so simple, in fact, that many people neglect to do it. Do not be one of those. Do not wait until your website is actually designed to secure the name, as good names are hard to come by. There can only be one domain for any given site, so you want to be the first to get it.
Be prepared to think outside of the box in choosing your domain name. With so many sites already published on the Internet, it can seem as if nearly every name under the sun has already been taken. This is where creativity comes into play. Choose a name that is simple and easy to remember, yet one that also reflects what it is you do. Keep in mind that the domain registry is constantly adding new suffixes to be used not he Internet. So, while your name.com might not be available, you could find that .me is. You just never know.
Consider Your Geography
If you are having difficulty finding or choosing a domain name, consider the part of the country or region that you operate in. You can regionalize your domain name, making it easier for people to find and remember you. If you conduct business in several different places, it is quite possible that you could secure several domains, lock them in, and gain an even more pronounced presence on the Internet.
Create One Master Site
As mentioned, it is possible to choose multiple domain names in order to lock in a broader market base that gives you even more exposure. You do not actually have to create multiple sites, however, as you can have those domain names all pointing to one master site. This is quite handy for businesses that are trying attract customers from specific locations around the country or world. You can use those regional domain names to each appeal to users in a specific location. When that site is typed in, it will simply forward to the master site that you have created for your organization. It really is as simple as that.
Domain names can make or break your business. Spend some time trying to find just the perfect one, and then make sure that you get it locked in. Registration can be done at any of a number of sites by paying an annual fee. There is often a discount if you pay years in advance as well.
