Domain Names Reviewed
If you don't have a website or if your current website needs an extreme makeover then the first place to start is with the domain name. A domain name is the name that people use to find your website, such as livelywebdesign.com. In order to be "king of your domain" you will need to find a good name, buy the name with a reputable registrar, and then actively manage it for as long as your website exists.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a domain name. If you are choosing
a domain name for your business then you may want to select one that is as close to
the business name as possible. You can also choose a domain that relates to your
main products and services. A quality domain may contain some or all of the following attributes:
- gives an idea of what the website is about
- has brand recognition
- is short in length
- contains keywords
- has no confusing characters or dashes
- has a [dot com] extension
The .com [dot com] extension is the most widely recognized extension for websites. If your domain name is mywebsite.net then many people may not remember the extension and go to mywebsite.com instead. However, we do recommend using .org [dot org] as the extension of choice for non-profits and other organizations.
After you've chosen that perfect domain name then it's time to buy it with an ICANN accredited registrar such as GoDaddy or eNom. Either of these registrars can help you check availability and they also have step-by-step instructions to help you make your purchase. A word to the wise is don't let anyone else purchase your domain name for you. A domain registration is a lot like the title registration to your car. If it's registered in somebody else's name then good luck proving that it's your car. Costs can run anywhere between 10 and 25 dollars for each domain name registration. Once you've made the purchase no one else can build a website on your domain. Congratulations! You are almost "king of your domain".
In order to truly be "king of your domain" it is not enough to just come up with a good name and buy it. You must also manage it. First, make sure that all of your registrant, billing, and technical contact information is correct. You should double check this once or twice per year on the WhoIs database. Second, make sure your registrar has the domain name pointing to your web host. If you don't understand how to do this then call us and we will help walk you through it. Lastly and most importantly is make sure that you keep your domain name registration current. If you don't renew it then it will expire. Someone else could then buy the domain name and then all of the hard work that you've done to help brand your website could be gone in an instant.
Try our domain name availability tool to find a domain name. If you need further assistance finding a good domain name, making the purchase, or managing your domain then call us at 770-362-7615. We would be happy to help!
