How to Buy a Web Address Wisely
How to Buy a Web Address Wisely
Essential Tips on Domain Name Buying to Increase Website’s SuccessIn order to buy a low cost domain name that is an asset to the website’s profile, the webmaster must consider various options available to him.
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the URL address of a website and comes after the www part. Domain name extensions can be .com, .org, .co.uk and so forth. A top-level domain name is one that is located at the root zone of a domain space. An example of this is www.domain.com. A second level domain name contains data after the .com part of the domain name. Example of this is www.domain.com/nextlevel.
When a webmaster’s site is hosted by a service provider, the URL address will often be in two parts.
- The web provider’s address in the first part (for this is the root zone)
- The webmaster’s address in the second part (the lower level domain name)
The resultant domain name will look clunky and lengthy. Google is also likely to relegate lower level domain names to the supplementary pages of search results, boding poor for the website’s success and is likely to yield little Adsense income. Webmasters therefore will look for an alternative name via a domain registration service that offers a domain name that is at the top level and is memorable.
Cheap Domain Register
Some services offer a free domain name, but requires the customer to sign up for a hosting plan to earn the privilege. In other cases, the offer is for a limited period only. In each case, the webmaster should check the pricing of the hosting plan and/or the domain name when the time period of the offer expires. Either may cost more than gaining free web space and purchasing a cheap domain name. The top domain name providers are:
- GoDaddy
- TheComRegistry
- Network Solutions
- Register.com
Registering a Domain Name
When registering a domain name, the provider will conduct a domain names search first to check availability. The webmaster should therefore have alternative ideas handy. However, the domain name provider will offer alternatives that contain the chosen words or phrases. Whichever may be the case, the webmaster should bear in mind the following when selecting a domain name:
- Keep it short, ideally less than 15 characters. A short domain name is easier for visitors to remember and is less likely to be typed incorrectly.
- Make the domain name memorable. Snappy and catchy is the trick. Visitors are more likely to remember a catchy name, and when the site’s URL address comes up on search results, the visitor is more likely to click on the link.
- Don’t use weird spellings unless this reflects a brand name.
- Ensure the domain name reflects the product or services featured within the website.
- Prefer the .com extension for a website if possible.
Domain Name Advice
There is a steady influx of domain names that go back onto the market to be reused if the website no longer exists, or alternatively, endless scope for creating alternative domain names.
Before going with a domain name provider, ensure the company has good customer support. Checking out customer forums is a great indicator of how good this support may be.
Some domain name providers offer discounts for multiple names and years, which may be worth consideration.
Guidelines to Choosing a Domain Name
A great, top-level domain name is essential to a website’s success, which is why many webmasters use a domain name provider. Ideally, it should be short, catchy and reflect the nature of the website. Following these guidelines will ensure customers will remember the web URL . A good domain name provider is equally important to avoid hidden costs and assure good customer support. The webmaster should then check the availability of his chosen domain name.