Registering a domain name<\/a> is an exciting time for a business, especially if it\u2019s your first one. It\u2019s a rite of passage, and it makes your entity official, real and tangible. Long before you prepare to purchase, you\u2019ve probably taken the time to come up with a catchy name that personifies your company. However, there are a few more things to consider before you click \u201cbuy.\u201d<\/p>\nIs Your Moniker Clear and Concise?<\/h2>\n
Sometimes, a company can get away with a name which has nothing to do with the product or service they provide, but they are few and far between. Be sure your online identity is something that is associated with what the site is used for, and that it\u2019s easy to understand. For instance, a pet sitter\u2019s website will be easier to remember if it\u2019s called FredsPetSitting.com, rather than FredsPetSittingGroomingandDogWalkingService.com. If the moniker you\u2019ve chosen can\u2019t be easily remembered or identified, you might want to head back to the drawing board.<\/p>\n
Is There Room for Growth?<\/h2>\n
Beginning entrepreneurs often focus on a single product or service and build their site around it. While that\u2019s sensible in terms of content, it can cause difficulties if you use it for the name and \u00a0want to expand later. It\u2019s better form to register a domain name that represents your company as a whole, rather than a portion of it. If you\u2019re sure that your product is a winner, and that you\u2019ll be with it for a long time, consider getting both names. You can actually set up one website to redirect traffic to the other, so you won\u2019t need to maintain and build two sites. An additional benefit to doing it this way, is that nobody else can grab your product or business name for their own website. You\u2019re protecting your long-term interests.<\/p>\n
Can You Get a Dot Com Domain Name?<\/h2>\n
When people hand-key a site, they will automatically enter a dot com suffix. In fact, some browsers are designed to automatically fill in \u201c.com\u201d if you don\u2019t enter a suffix. Even though your service will probably offer you a dot net, dot biz, or other suffix when your first pick has been chosen, you might want to reconsider and select an entirely different name. It\u2019s quite likely that your customers will go to them, instead of finding you, no matter how good your marketing scheme is. Conversely, if your desired dot com is available, you\u2019ll likely be offered the alternatives. If you can afford to, it\u2019s a good idea to grab them while you can to avoid brand-confusion later. Although most of the time people register a domain name that\u2019s related, simply because the dot com was taken, others will be more devious with their plotting. They can set up a site similar to yours, in a cloak-and-dagger scenario, and take credit for your reputation, or worse, damage it.<\/p>\n
Do You Want the World to Know Who You Are?<\/h2>\n
The obvious answer is, \u201cYes!\u201d Of course you want the world to know about your product or service or you wouldn\u2019t be spending the time developing a website. The problem is, though, that your personal data will be published in the WHOIS directory, along with your site information when you register a domain name. If you\u2019d rather not have your name or other information associated with your new venture, make sure you seek out a company that provides privacy settings. Sometimes, the company you get your name from will place their information where yours would normally be for a small fee. If you\u2019re a private person, it\u2019s well-worth the couple of extra bucks. Moreover, it will help keep you off spam lists that are occasionally generated by bots crawling the mandatory registry.<\/p>\n
Do You Know the Company\u2019s Reputation?<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s always a good idea to research the company you want to purchase through. Some will sneak in hidden fees or will have a difficult renewal process. Moreover, if you\u2019re new, there\u2019s a decent chance you\u2019ll need live customer service at some point. Be sure to work with a firm which has a solid online reputation and good reviews. You\u2019ll also want to be sure that you can get help when you need it, via phone or live chat.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s ok to celebrate the dawning of your new website and to be excited for your adventure, but take a few deep breaths and think about your long-term goals before you buy. Registering a domain name is the first step of a journey. It sets the foundation for your overall experience, so be sure to choose both the name and the company you work with carefully to ensure your trip is a smooth one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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