Your choice of Domain name is crucial, as it is the first thing a prospective visitor or customer is going to see before entering your site. A short, catchy domain name is ideal, and one that is relevant to your site and/or product is even better.

However, it isn’t that simple. Domain names have been about for many years now, and even with the numerous additional extensions, many of the best names have already been taken. It is unfortunate, but there is money to be made in trading Domain names, so as soon as a new extension is released the top names will be taken within minutes of becoming available.

Domain Name Extensions

The extension is also important to consider. Although .com sounds more professional, if you are a UK resident, for instance, then a .co.uk Domain may be more appropriate and more importantly, easier to get hold of. There is nothing stopping you registering the same Domain name with multiple extensions to point to the same website, though do this with caution as there are far more possible extensions than you will wish to purchase, so choose wisely.

With that in mind, you’re all set to give your website a name. Just remember, keep it short and keep it relevant, and you will give visitors a good first impression. There is nothing worse than an elongated Domain that is difficult to remember and/or type, and that alone may cost you valuable visits.

There is also a possibility of purchasing a Domain name from an individual, though desirable names, particularly short, can be expensive and you have to ensure that the you are made the registered owner. Although it is possible to pick up a good name at a reasonable price, if you have little or no experience then it may be much less of a headache picking an available name and registering it straight from a domain registrar.

Judging the Worth of a Domain Name

The biggest problem with buying a Domain name from an individual is judging its worth. Although there will generally be a rough price indicated by the seller, you should be wary of paying more than it is worth. It is fairly safe to assume that any dictionary-word domain name will carry a hefty price tag, and in may cases you will be talking thousands if not more. If, however, you are looking at a more obscure name with the intent on branding, you should not be prepared to may any more than it is worth to you – that is, unless the name is crucial to the success of your site you shouldn’t be looking at anything over the few hundred dollar price range. Again, short Domains are considered desirable, and very short names can also be priced highly.

That was buying a Domain name in a nutshell, and although there are other tips and tricks to getting the best possible name for your business, the basics will ensure that you pick something memorable, and hopefully give visitors a good first impression of your site.