Buying A Domain

Before you can get your website up and running you have to go through the process of selecting and buying a domain name. You want to find domain name options that are well suited to the niche or subject of your website as it will serve as your permanent online address. For instance, the domain name chosen for this website is onlinemarketingfairy.com and that is the address you use to find this site.

Before buying a domain name it is important to understand the main purpose of your website. If you find domain names first and map out the purpose of the site second the domain name won’t serve the site very well.

Without keywords your site will never be found and won’t be very successful, so read our page on choosing keywords!

Looking for online business ideas? Head over to my page on Legitimate Home Business Opportunities for some inspiration.

Once you have an idea for your website, don’t rush right into buying a domain name just yet. Do some keyword research to determine the exact words and phrases people are using to search for the information and/or products you will be presenting on your website. Use this research to spark ideas as you find domain name ideas.

The test is whether you can find domain name ideas that incorporate your main keywords but which aren’t already taken. Most of the best .com names are already taken so this may take some creativity. Name Boy is a great resource that will help you come up with creative name options.

When buying a domain name make sure to pay for at least a year of ownership. While every web hosting service has different prices, buying a domain name for around ten bucks a year is ideal.

My preferred service for registration is Name Cheap. I have never had a complaint when buying a domain name from them and I actually like the domain privacy offered. This ensures that your postal address is not displayed for others who look up your site information. I pay less than ten bucks for a year, which is very reasonable.

Tips for Buying a Domain that Earns Money

Buying a domain isn’t something you should gloss over just to get your business started. While it may be an overstatement to say this is the determining factor in the success of your business, it is very true that the domain name you select will affect your business from all angles. This is a decision to think through carefully.

Consider some tips on how to find domain name ideas that will help you earn money down the line:

1) There are a variety of different website extensions such as .NET,.ORG,.INFO, and .BIZ, but you should stick with .Com since it is the most recognizable extension and tends to be what most people type in when looking for a website. Your site will be harder to find if you use other extensions.

2) It is easier for people to remember domain names that are short and sweet, so stick to names about 13-15 characters, numbers, or hyphens long. You should be able to find domain name ideas that are catchy and short.

3) Try to find a domain name that is easy to remember or which has a catchy ring to it.

4) Expect the mistakes that other people are bound to make. If there is a common misspelling for your domain name, find domain name options that are very similar and register those as well. This costs more money but it will keep some of your customers who may type in different extensions or names trying to find you.

5) Buying a domain name that incorporates a couple of your main keywords will help with your search engine optimization in the future. Include at least one keyword, but preferably two.

6) Make sure your domain name describes what can be found on your website. There has to be some clear connection between your site’s purpose and the name.

7) Use http://www.deleteddomains.com to find domain names that have expired and are now up for sale. You may be able to find the perfect name for your business by buying a domain that someone else has let go.

Make sure your domain name is not going to violate any trademark registrations. This is important because you don’t want to find yourself in a legal battle because your great domain name is a trademark for someone else’s business. You can look into trademark information at these sites:

U.S Patent and Trademark Office – http://www.uspto.gov

Thomas Register – http://www.thomasregister.com

The Trademark Association – http://www.inta.org

Nameprotect – http://www.nameprotect.com

Here are a couple websites that will help with researching possible domain names:

Nameboy – http://www.nameboy.com

GoDaddy – http://www.godaddy.com

Both of these websites allow you to search for domain names that are available and then register them on the spot if you are ready to make your purchase and get started.

Think about what you can do with ten bucks. Maybe you could purchase a very cheap t-shirt or go out to lunch somewhere moderately nice. Or, you could use that ten bucks for buying a domain name that fits your business perfectly.

Your chosen domain name is like the face of your business. It is often the first impression you make on visitors, so make sure to choose it with great care. When you find the perfect name register it right away and move on with setting up a great business.