subject: Obtaining A Domain Name For A Successful Website [print this page] Obtaining a domain name is an important part of cultivating one's professional image on the internet. A professional does not want potential customers attempting to remember long URLs that point to their business page. Instead, obtaining a domain name allows you to present a professional face to whatever online presence you might be working towards. Whether it is simply a hobby site or a site dedicated to making your company easily accessible to clients, obtaining a domain name will allow you to further personalize your approach to your customers.
Having your own domain separates professionals from amateurs. It signifies to the customer and public that you are serious enough about your product to want to present it well to them. Generally speaking, the cost of doing so is fairly small in regards to the greater benefit that it provides. Given the choice between a professionally presented website and one that is not; which would you choose?
*Choosing a Domain Name
When obtaining a domain name one of the first choices will be what name to give it. A few key points can help you make the most of your choice of domain name. Choose a domain name that sticks readily in your mind. Unless you have a large advertising budget, this will be one of the best ways to get people to remember the website. Give it a name that is functional and applies to the website's content. By a functional name, we mean words that have meaning. The domain name www.my-home-improvements.com will be easier to remember, easier to pass along, and speak what it is about than a domain such as www.goayjl.com .
*Obtaining a Domain Name
Actually obtaining a domain name involves visiting a registrar website and purchasing the rights to use that website name. Due to the number of websites there currently are, it is a good idea to have a few alternative domain names in mind when registering. That way you have alternatives in mind already. To make this even easier, you can simply try Googling the URL you had in mind to find out if anyone has already parked it there. If you are sold on a particular URL that you really want, it might be available with an extension other than .com. The extensions .org, .net, .biz; and international extensions for international entities, are all permissible alternatives if they relate to the content. People are used to trying .com addresses first though since it is the most prevalent. So when obtaining a domain name, if you can get a .com address; you will be better off than with the alternatives.
The internet featured an explosive growth as more companies and individuals sought to spread their products and ideas online. Many people have heard the mantra that "all the good domain names are taken", which was never true and still is not true. Obtaining a domain name that is effective and works well for you simply requires some thought and creativity. Plenty of good domain names are still available out there for you and your business.
