Choosing Small Business Website Names

I disagree with the comment made by some webname, and very unique at that. Using your name is
developers that all the good domain names are taken.okay, and expected if you're famous. There is,
Search engine optimization, or seo, does not dependhowever, little or no value as far as keywords in my
heavily on the www name you select. For my clientswww domain to attract visitors, so is that a mistake
just starting out the decision choosing small businessfor search engine optimization? Certainly not. The fact
website names has never been an issue. It is a factthat I have collected more than 100 screenshots of
that all the 3 character and 4 character domain namesgeneric phrases relative to my business that made
with the key extensions are taken. Furthermore, IGoogle page one is evidence the content, not the
agree that a vast number of choice domain namesdomain, is key.
are no longer available; however, the selection of aHere's some advice to help you when choosing a new
suitable www domain for your small business isdot COM small business website domain name.
possible if you remain flexible.Start out with a list of about 10 domain names that you
The real value in the name you choose from a searchwould like to have. Next, make a list of market related
perspective is how easy it is to spell and remember.single word terms about what you do and the
Of the two types of visitors to your site, the humancustomer base you service. If your market is localized,
visitors and search engines, the ability of a person toconsider geographical terms that relate to where you
remember your domain name and spell it correctly tosell or provide services. Spend 30 minutes
pass it on to others outweighs any SEO value. Searchbrainstorming to come up with the initial names and
engines are robots and don't care.additional lists of single word terms. You may want
Using words like "greatest", "best", or otheranother list of significant initials.
exaggerated terms in your domain name is thought byNext, search for "WhoIs" in Google to find free online
some to be a disadvantage and penalized by searchservices that keep a database of available domain
engines. Search algorithms change often and likewisenames, and follow the link in the search results. Each
that theory, and although you may not be penalized fordatabase has a search box which allows you to input
using such words, consider the reaction of your humanthe domain name and extension. Begin with your first
visitors. They may not stick around if they feel youchoice and work down the list and keep track of
boast without the content to back it up. For a seriousavailable names for review later. It may not be easy,
small business commercial enterprise, my advice isso try combinations of the key terms as you continue
avoiding adjectives in the domain name entirely.to search, and keep in mind you want a domain name
In some cases new clients approach me to redesignthat is easy to spell and remember. By the time you're
an existing website, and it surprises me that some ofdone you should have a half dozen or more available
the basics are overlooked. For example, a commercialnames, so take your time and select the best one, and
enterprise in business for profit should not select a dotthen register the name immediately.
ORG domain simply because the dot COM wasTip: The domain name may not be significant for
taken. This was the case from a conversation with asearch engine optimization, but the length of your
client interested in a site makeover. Their ORG versionregistration can be. My advice is registering domains
was online for two years with little or no backlinks orfor 2 years minimum, and 5 to 10 years if that's in your
serious indexing from search engines. The mindset ofbudget. Search engines consider that the length of
getting one particular name should be reconsideredyour registration reflects your commitment to be online
especially if it's your first online venture.long term, so at today's prices 5 years is practical and
Here's a breakdown of the most desirable domainshould cost less than $50 USD.
extensions and the usual purpose of each:There's nothing wrong with getting the dot COM
COM - Commercial for profit enterprisedomain name you want, and then registering the other
INFO - Information only related websitemajor extensions that are available for the same
NET - Companies providing internet servicesname. If you are highly successful in your online
ORG - Non-profit organizationsventure, having the other extensions registered in your
Certainly there are many more like BIZ, US, WS, andname prevents others from attempting to take
others which are all reasonable choices, but for youradvantage of your reputation by association. In
commercial small business my recommendation isconclusion, the concept that all the good domain
always acquire a dot COM www domain name. Thenames are taken is a myth. You may not get exactly
client mentioned earlier did not realize a dot ORG waswhat you want, but practical options are available with
intended for a non-commercial enterprise, and theya little research and due diligence.
decided the poor website SEO performance wasJim Degerstrom writes small business advice based on
something that justified getting a new dot COM. We30 years in management, sales, and marketing,
easily found an available www domain using theirincluding GM or President of small companies in 5
company initials and one key word about their targetstates. He is proficient in website and graphic art
market which is medical. Despite my advice that theydesign, and runs his online Small Business Resource
keep the existing site and simply change the theme,Center and offers advice on his Small Business
they decided to just let it go when it expired.Advice Blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.
My commercial site choice was my first and last