Business Web Site Domain Name

Pick the Right Domain Name for Your Business Web Site

Your business’ domain name — its’ Internet address (URL) — can be a valuable marketing and branding tool. So you and/or your web designer need to make sure you have the best, most memorable domain name possible.

Ideally that would be the name of your business: XYZ1Company, for example, would optimally want www.xyz1company.com as its’ Internet address. But many domain names are already taken, either by another business named XYZ1Company, or by cybersquatters, people who register many likely domain names and attempt to sell them, often at high prices.

There are services offered by reputable domain companies that can alert you to when your preferred domain name becomes available or help you purchase a domain name that’s already taken. But if you don’t want to wait – or purchase the domain name from the current holder at a premium price; how do you choose another domain name if your first choice is taken? Here are a few tips for selecting an alternate domain name:

• Localize you business domain name: if you serve primarily a local or regional area, think about adding that to your business domain name: oregonxyz1company.com, for example, or atlantaxyz1company.com
• Personalize your business domain name: if your business features your personal services and expertise, you can use those to you business Web site’s advantage: janesmithxyz1company.com, for example. Shorter urls are generally better for business Web site domain names (they are easier to remember) -- so you might try janesxyz1company.com
• Put products in your business domain name: if you have a distinctive line of products or services, use them for a distinctive business domain name: xyzc1ompanycatering.com, for instance or even cateringbyxyz1company.com
• Phrase making can make effective domain names: if your business lends itself to it, consider using a memorable phrase for your business Web site’s domain name: a caterer, for example, might try sauceforthegoose.com. Done right, a cleverly phrased business domain name is not only memorable, it becomes a key part of your business Web site branding efforts
• Consider different web site extensions: think about xyz1company.org, xyz1company.net, xyz1company.edu, xyz1company.biz, etc.

Whatever approach you take, you can use some simple tools such as WHOIS to see if the domain name is available.

And once you have the right domain name for your business Web site, be sure to sign up for automatic registration renewal to insure that you don’t lose the Web site domain that you have worked to secure.

Learn about domain products and services from Network Solutions.