Domain name registration is a necessary, easy, and
strategically important first step in establishing an online
presence, whether for business or otherwise. A well-chosen
domain name registration can set you up for success with
your new site in so many ways, the most prominent of these
being increased search engine traffic. Here's some vital
elements to consider when executing your domain name
registration.
A good domain name registration, particularly for an online
business, (which is the main focus of this article) is
easily done, but at the same time requires choices that will
impact your site's effectiveness. So here, in no particular
order, are some things to bear in mind when doing a domain
name registration.
The extension - Will it be a .com, .net, .org, .info etc.
Any of these will get spidered and indexed by the search
engines, but if you can get a .com for your chosen name
you'd be better off, as this extension is more common and
carries an air of legitimacy with it.
Probably the most important aspect of your domain name
registration is the choice of keywords to use in your domain
name. Try to use the main keyword or phrase you'd like to
optimize the whole site for, and see if you can craft a
domain name around it. The search engines seem to favor
keyword-rich domain names. Nuff said.
Keep it short if possible. A shorter name is easier to
remember than a long one.
Try to keep your domain name registration topically
relevant. As search engines get smarter and smarter, sites
that display total relevance will rank higher than catch all
sites.
Lastly, be sure to avoid other companies trademarks and
copyrights in your domain name. For example, let's say
you're an affiliate of The Sharper Image. It's tempting to
use some version of that name to promote your affiliate
site, but don't do it, unless of course you'd like to meet
their lawyers!
To sum up, your domain name registration is easy to do, but
important to do well. It can make the difference in whether
you get found or not!
