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Selecting The Right Domain Name
For Maximum Web Traffic
By Marty Foley
Especially if you consider that your web address is the world's link to you and your
business, getting your own domain name (such as www.yourcompanyname.com) is an important
issue to consider.
NOT getting your own domain name can cost you more than you may realize. As I've explained
previously in an article at: http://ProfitInfo.com/domain1.htm, domain ownership gives you
significant benefits. To briefly recap, your own domain, among other things: 1) gives
exclusivity; 2) adds credibility; 3) allows mobility; 4) avoids loss of marketing
momentum.
For such reasons (and more) getting a domain name is a smart business move for serious web
marketers; well worth the nominal investment.
What's In a Domain Name?
A poorly selected domain name won't give you the maximum benefits that a well chosen one
can, so don't hastily grab the first available name that tickles your fancy. Take some
time to give domain name selection some serious thought.
Start by brainstorming a list of possible names. (The end of this article shows how to
check on the availability of prospective domain names.) As you scrutinize a potential
domain name, keep the following points in mind.
A good domain name:
-- Is Easy To Convey and Easy To Remember
Since the most basic (but often overlooked) web traffic building campaign should include
promoting your web address through every means you already have in place for reaching your
prospects and customers, it should be easily conveyed in any format, printed or otherwise
(on your stationery, in your catalog, on your product packaging, in your voice mail
messages, in your signature file at the end of your email messages, etc.).
If your domain name is not easy to convey and easy to remember, you'll lose traffic. And
you want it to be easy for others to spread the word about your web site. Simplicity will
help avoid things getting lost in translation.
Before I acquired ProfitInfo.com as my domain, my web address was neither easily conveyed,
nor easily remembered. Even when the old web address was spelled out in printed format,
some people couldn't access the site when they confused the tilde character that it
contained ( ~ ) with a hyphen ( - ). What's more, trying to explain to someone what the
little-known tilde character is over the phone was awkward and time consuming. Now it's so
easy to invite people to my site by saying something like: "Feel free to stop by my
website at ProfitInfo.com for more helpful business
resources."
-- Is Not Easily Misspelled or Confusing
Prospective visitors won't always have your web address spelled out in front of them. They
may try to visit your site from memory. Now you may be a whiz at spelling, but not
everyone that visits your site is. If they misspell or otherwise confuse your domain name,
they won't be able to access your site. They might even end up accessing a competing
domain! Simplicity is the rule.
-- Fits The Theme of Your Site, Yet Allows For Diversity
Suppose you find a more lucrative direction for your web site to take, other than what you
had originally intended, or want to diversify by adding a variety of related products and
services. A good domain name will be broad enough to allow for such diversity.
If you want maximum traffic to your web site, make sure your domain name is easy to
convey, easy to remember (in all formats), not easily misspelled or confusing, fits the
theme or purpose of your site, yet is broad enough to allow for future diversity.
Is Your Domain Name Still Available?
Before you fall in love with a prospective domain name, you've got to find out if it's
still available. It's easy for you to do an Internic search and/or reserve the domain name
you've finally decided on by following a link at: http://ProfitInfo.com/webserv.htm
It's been estimated that domain names are being snatched up at a rate of about a million
per year, so they're going fast. If you're serious about Internet marketing, don't
procrastinate on getting your own domain name. The sooner you get one, the sooner you can
start enjoying the benefits it can bring.
ATTENTION SERIOUS WEB MARKETERS! Premier Domain Hosting (www.yourcompanyname.com) with
several excellent cyberpreneur-friendly features, referral income program... more! Visit:
http://ProfitInfo.com/webserv.htm
To do a quick search to find out if the domain name you want is still available, visit:
http://www.virtualisys.com/vr/mfoley/domain_search.html
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