The Basics of Domain Name Selection, Registration and Pricing

Contributed by Millie Dearborn

Why Domain Name Registration Is Important

To put it in simplest terms, domain name registration is important because without it, people will not be able to visit your site. You need to have domain name registration to get visitors to your site. This registration process is simple if you go through one of the many registration companies or if you select a web host that will take care of this issue for you.

A Good Name Is Key To Domain Name Registration

When you are looking to register your URL, think about the name you want. It may be best to have a list of five or six names. That way, if your first choice is taken, you can look at your other options. Choosing a domain name is a bit harder than it seems. You need something simple that customers can remember. If you sell hippie clothing online, you may want to choose www.barbshippieclothes.com, for example.

That way, if your customers know you are Barb, and you sell hippie clothing, they can remember your site easily. Try to avoid long names if you can. Because people want fast service online, they want to be able to find you as quickly as possible, and that means typing in a short URL whenever possible. If your first choice is taken, don't despair!

Look for other options that are similar. If you were Barb, you could try www.barbshippieclothing.com or www.barbshippiestore.com. There are an infinite number of URLs out there. Find the one that works for you. Remember that the key is getting people to remember it so that they will come back. If they cannot remember where they found you, then you will lose a potential customer.

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