Domain Name

The first step in establishing internet presence is to obtain a domain name.

A Domain Name is the name people type in their browser address bar, when they want to view your site or when they conduct a search. A Domain Name is your online alter ego, your online identity. (Example: MarketingOverTheNet.com is my domain).
You register a domain with an authorized registrar for a small annual fee (Currently $6-$10/year). As long as you pay that fee, you own the rights to that domain name. If you stop renewing the registration, the domain name will become available to the general public.

Choosing a domain name

When you are picking a domain name, remember that it should be easy to type, short and memorable. These days with many names hogged by domain ‘squatters’ it’s pretty hard to find the domain you want. If you find something short and memorable and totally related to your topic, excellent. Otherwise, go for ‘easy to type in’, or ‘easy to remember’.

Avoid using numbers – If your domain is “merchandise4sale.com” people will tend to type “merchandiseforsale.com” and they will get to your competition instead of you. The exception to this is if it’s related to your brand, business or the content (www.the404errorpage.com for example).
Avoid using hyphens – If you have the domain “hypnotize-this.com” people will tend to invariably type “www.hypnotizethis.com” and you will end up driving traffic your competitor’s site.
Domain names without numbers or hyphens have a greater resell value.

ONLY register domains with the extension “.com” – not: .net, .info, .biz etc. Consumers recognize and know “.com” to be the main domain, so why try to fight their habit and perceptions?
The same principle applies here as for hyphens and numerals. If you have the domain “marketingoverthenet.info”, you will end up driving traffic to the domain that has the “.com” extension because that’s what people usually type in.
The exception is if it fits into your branding (“del.icio.us” for example).
The other exception if you are going for a country specific domain, e.g. www.main.co.uk.
Another example is the extension “.tv”. Television stations like this extension with their domain name (www.abc.tv for example).

As a rule of thumb: If you talk on the phone and you have to explain the spelling of the domain mane, you have the wrong name. In the long run you will end up wasting a lot of time and being aggravated for having to repeatedly explain and spell the name to people.  

Here is a free utility to help you with suggestions on domain names that are still available:
http://runurl.com/xx.php?ehz

Here is a free utility to help you find expired domains (domains the previous owners failed to renew): www.stuckdomain.com.
With previously owned names you may strike gold in the form of an easy domain to remember and spell. You may also get a name that is already generating traffic.

Registering a domain
On the registrar’s site you enter the domain name of your choice. The program checks if this name is available. If not available you will be presented with a few suggestions of domains that are available.
The process is easy and within a few minutes you will be the proud owner of a new name for your online business entity.

We recommend a few registrars for the combination of quality of customer services, product and reasonable pricing (Links open in a new window):

www.InstantWebAddress.com
         
www.WebRegisteredNames.com

www.WebRegisteredDomains.com

www.SiteNamesForYou.com
 
While you are registering a domain why not make a quick $50.00?
Simply become an affiliate at
www.SiteNamesForYou.com/DomainIt.htm  and collect $50.00 immediately.

Free domain registration
www.SpecialDomainsForSale.com

A good registrar should provide easy administration tools.
Log into your account and you will be presented with a control panel that enables you to do pretty much anything you want. You can point the domain to another host, sell the domain to another person, change you registration information, add features (at some additional cost) etc.

You may choose to host your domain with the same registrar. However I found through trial & error experience that it is best to use one company to register domains and another for hosting. This way you pick the best of each, leveraging their strengths and protecting yourself from placing all your eggs in one basket.