Starting an online business can be very exciting. The thought of having your own website complete with products and services, and generating your first sale, can get you excited enough to research, surf and investigate ways and means to set up your own business. The first thing that then comes to your mind is a suitable name for your website.
So, to begin with, you should have a domain name and have it registered. What Is a Domain Name?
It is an address of your website that is on the internet. It is also referred to as a URL which means Uniform Resource Locator. The domain name is the unique address to your website, and every website owner has one name that is unique to their site. The most common format is the .com but there are many other common names that end in .org, .net, .info and more.
Buying a domain name looks easy, but it is important to do some research and understand some few tips on buying one.
Use a keyword tool such as wordtracker or Google Analytics Keyword Tool for ideas
Keep it simple and easy to remember and recall
Keep short names instead of long descriptive ones
Avoid hyphenated names, if possible
Avoid weird names, spellings, and weird numbers
Shorter names are normally much better, however, sometimes a longer one can make the domain more memorable. Another thing to remember is to keep your name easy to pronounce. Domain names containing keywords applicable to your niche market will help the customer to identify what your line of business is.
List out several names that come to your mind and search for their availability from a domain name registrar who is appointed by the International Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Some hosting companies will also register names for you, thus saving your time and effort finding two companies. Some companies who host your domain will also offer you a free domain registration when you sign up with them.
When choosing a registrar find out about their expertise in the market. They should be established, have ease of control panel usage, and have a customer friendly support system. It would be advisable to do business with a reputed domain registration company, rather than some of those who offer super cheap domains.
With little patience, time and research you should be able to find a good domain name and hosting support system to start your own online business.
