It may have a somewhat low-key presence on the Web, but don't let that fool you: The under-the-radar business resource website EcomHelp.com has a nice variety of helpful articles geared toward providing advice for the start-up entrepreneur.
Most of the articles are basic, bare-bones business primers; but if you can get past the uninspired design and color scheme, there are also some gems to be found on the site, too.
One such gem is a piece by Tim North that attempts to put the hit-and-miss art of choosing an appropriate domain name into ten specific points. When paraphrased, his advice boils down to the following:
TIP #1: Keep it simple. “Good domain names are easily memorable and easily typed. Generally this means keeping them short.”
TIP #2: Avoid hyphens and underscores. They may make your domain name easier to read, but they also tend to create confusion. “The bottom line with hyphens is that most domains don't include them. So, when you tell someone your domain, they'll probably try typing it without any hyphens.”
TIP #3: Make it sound natural. Don’t be afraid to use plural formations: “If you're selling toy trains, I'd go with ‘toytrains.com’ instead of ‘toytrain.com’.”
TIP #4: Take advantage of domain name search programs. At Aplus.Net, we worked hard to develop our search engine tool, and we made sure it had the power to provide useful alternatives in case your first choice is already taken. Click here to check it out.
TIP #5: Think globally. Most countries have their own domain name types, and if you don’t plan on doing most of your business in the U.S., find out the next best alternative. For example, if you’re in Australia, use “.au” instead of .com. “On the other hand,” writes North, “if you're marketing your products or services globally (or if you're in the US), use ‘.com’ as your top-level domain.”
TIP #6: “Don't use words that are tough to spell. Similarly, don't use words that are spelled differently in some countries.” For example, “color” in the U.S. is “colour” in Great Britain and Australia. Don’t risk missing out on customers by using such a word.
TIP #7: “Ensure that there will be no trademark or other legal problems with the domain name you choose.”
TIP #8: Don’t be afraid to use your brand name. Generic names seem better because they’re simpler, but that’s not always the case anymore. “These days, many analysts argue that a domain name that features your brand name is more important. For example, if you've invested time and effort building up your brand name (Toyota, for example) you'd be better of using Toyota as your domain name, rather than something generic like ‘GreatCars’.”
TIP #9: “Avoid domain names that are too similar to existing ones. Not only do you want avoid legal issues (tip 7), but you want your brand to be distinct from that of your competitors.”
TIP #10: Think in the long term. You don’t own your domain name, you’re basically renting it from a provider. After all the work you’ve done building your site around it, the last thing you need is for it to expire on you. (It’s not always easy to get it back, especially if a competitor has been waiting to snatch it away should the opportunity arise — not an uncommon scenario.)
Even with all these tips to consider, selecting a domain name can be a tricky, lengthy process. Then again, some of the best domain names tend to just pop in your head. What’s more, the hosting plan and web design you use often make more of a difference than the domain name itself.
Remember, if you need any help getting through the process, Aplus.Net representatives are always happy to help you in your search. You can reach us 24 hours a day at 1-877-275-8763.
Click here to check out Tim North’s original article, entitled “Ten tips for choosing a good domain name”.
