| Your domain name is the beginning of the | | | | target market has, or a solution that you can offer. |
| establishment of your presence online, The process of | | | | 4. Shorter is better, if it's to be your primary domain. I |
| picking the "right" domain name takes some time and | | | | haven't always followed my own rules here, as I tend |
| thought so that the domain name serves you well into | | | | to have business names that are quite lengthy. If the |
| the future. Here are 7 strategies you can use to pck | | | | domain name is going to be your primary domain |
| an effective domain name: A friend of mine calls me | | | | where your primary email address will be housed, you |
| the "Domain Queen", since at one time I owned around | | | | want your domain name to be as short, catchy, and |
| 50 domains. I've let many of them go (I own only 22 | | | | memorable as possible. After a few times of spelling |
| now) as my business has changed and developed, or | | | | out your lengthy email address, you'll come to |
| I've just simply lost interest in the project. I'm often | | | | appreciate the beauty of a short domain name. Your |
| asked how I go about picking effective domain names, | | | | domain name can contain up to 67 letters and |
| so as the "Domain Queen", I'll share my thought | | | | numbers, although I would encourage you not to have |
| process with you. | | | | one of this length, and can contain no special |
| 1.What's the purpose of the domain name? Are you | | | | characters other than hyphens. |
| planning on using this name as the main website for | | | | 5. Purchase your your given name as a domain name. |
| your company, as a one page sales letter site, or | | | | I typically tell my clients not to try and brand their given |
| squeeze page site? If the domain name will be your | | | | name as their business name, as that takes many |
| primary company website, try and find the closest | | | | years, much money, and lots of hard work to have the |
| version to your company name that you can. If you're | | | | name recognition of Oprah, for example. However, it |
| just starting out, choose your business name and | | | | still pays to purchase your given name as a domain |
| domain name with care. When I started my virtual | | | | name, as well as any common misspellings of your |
| assistant practice, I chose the name SOHO Business | | | | name. Many people think my name is Donna Gunther, |
| Solutions, as I thought everyone knew that SOHO | | | | with an "h" in the last name, but I've been unable to |
| stood for Small Office, Home Office. I think I've run into | | | | register that common misspelling of my name, as a |
| 2 people in my 7 years in business who knew what | | | | photographer in Venice, CA, has owned in since 2000. |
| that acronym stood for. If I had it to do over again for | | | | Once you've purchased your name as a domain, you |
| this business, I would choose a business name and | | | | can redirect it to your primary website. This means |
| domain name with virtual assistant in the title, like | | | | that when someone types in a domain, they land at |
| InternetMarketingVirtualAssistant.com, a name I just | | | | the website to which you pointed that domain. So, |
| recently purchased. | | | | currently redirects to because I don't want to use my |
| If the purpose of a domain is for a one-page sales | | | | name as a website, although that might change in the |
| letter site or a squeeze page, think ahead as to how | | | | future. |
| you might promote this site. Because content is king in | | | | 6. Buy the .COM version of the name if it is available. |
| today's internet marketing world, there's little chance | | | | When people hear a domain name, they "hear" .COM |
| that either of these types of sites would be picked up | | | | whether it's .NET or .BIZ or .ORG or whatever. So, it |
| by the search engines on key words. Therefore, your | | | | pays to find a domain name that you like that is part of |
| best promotion strategy is PPC, or "pay per click", | | | | the .COM family. If you just can't get the name you |
| where you're buying keywords for placement in | | | | want, try a hyphenated version of the . |
| search engines. If you're buying keywords from | | | | COM name. For example, when I was seeking a |
| Google, for example, the paid listings appear at the top | | | | domain name for my Self-Employment Coaching Gym, |
| of a search in a blue box, or down the right-hand side | | | | I really wanted SelfEmploymentSuccess.com, but it |
| of your screen. You want to be sure that the info | | | | wasn't available. However, was available, so I grabbed |
| displayed there is compelling enough to get someone | | | | that. Many SEO specialists state that search engines |
| to click and visit your site. So, for example, I've created | | | | like hyphenated names, and many online business |
| a squeeze page, GetMoreClientsOnline.com, which has | | | | owners use hyphenated keywords in their domain |
| a compelling solution to a common problem that my | | | | names to be more attractive to search engines. I don't |
| clients have, as a side door gateway to my coaching | | | | have a clear answer as to the validity of this theory, |
| website. | | | | so I just advocate going this route before having to |
| 2. Brainstorm a list of ideas of the problem you're | | | | resort to the .NET or .BIZ of the name you desire. |
| trying to solve or the solution that you have. A domain | | | | Some domain name holders may be willing to sell you |
| name that clearly indicates what you do, or a problem | | | | the domain name that you want. You can find out who |
| that you solve, or a solution that you have to a | | | | owns a domain name by checking the WhoIs Registry |
| problem will give a visitor a fairly clear picture of what | | | | at Internic, For info about country codes (two-letter) |
| s/he'll find on your website. What I typically do is go to | | | | top-level domains (.UK or .CA, for example) visit |
| my domain registrar, www. | | | | Consider owning other versions of your primary |
| UltraNetDomains.com, and just start plugging in the | | | | domain name. If you are registering the .COM version |
| names I'm brainstorming until I come up with 3 or 4 that | | | | of a domain for your business, you may also want to |
| are available. If the domain name that you type in isn't | | | | secure variations of the name, alternate spellings, |
| available, the service will come up with 10 or so | | | | common misspellings, and the . |
| alternates for you to consider. I found this alternate | | | | NET and .ORG versions of your domain and repoint |
| listing quite helpful recently in picking the name of an | | | | them to your main site to keep them out of the hands |
| article directory site that I want to create. | | | | of your competitors. You can also go broke very |
| 3. For SEO (Search Engine Optimization) purposes, it | | | | quickly by purchasing all of these variations, so |
| helps to have your keywords in your domain name. | | | | exercise some restraint in your purchases and don't |
| Marla Regan, who's a professional organizer, has put | | | | go crazy with purchasing every single variation of your |
| two keywords in her domain name, Retirement Coach | | | | domain name. For my coaching company site, I own |
| Lin Schreiber has her keyword niche in her domain, | | | | both the and and decided that was good enough. |
| Consultant John Reddish has the desired outcome | | | | Your domain name is the beginning of the |
| keywords in his domain, I own a domain that I haven't | | | | establishment of your presence online, Take some |
| yet developed for house sitters, Before buying your | | | | time and put some thought into the process so that |
| domain, make a list of keywords that someone might | | | | the domain name serves you well in the years to |
| use to find you online. This list could include your | | | | come, and is an effective tool for helping you get more |
| industry, your target market or niche, a problem your | | | | clients online. |