Today we continue our series on the site called “Where to Start?” Where to Start? is a step by step series that helps you build a website from scratch on your own by giving you a variety of options to choose from.
Follow the Series Step by Step:
Getting Started
Today I’m going to walk you through preparing to register a domain name as well as some tips to keep in mind when coming up with the most effective domain name. I’ve been buying domain names for about five years now and have probably bought close to one hundred or so. I’ve used a variety of domain name registrars to buy these domains, but time-and-time again I have found myself going back to GoDaddy. GoDaddy not only always seems to be one of the cheapest registrars, but they are also offer a wide variety of very reliable products such as hosting and email services that could be very beneficial in your ministry.
Preparation
Domain Names, also known as URL’s, are the real estate of the 21st Century. Domains are being bought and sold left and right, and often for big profits. So you need to treat your domain name purchase like you’re purchasing a type of real estate – know what is available at what price, and have flexibility and options.
However, most people have a hard time understanding the difference between a domain name, and hosting. I think the best way to explain the differences is to continue with the real estate theme: Hosting is like the parcel of land you purchase. It’s where all of the parts of your house sit, from the concrete foundation and crawlspace that no one sees to the Sheetrock and siding that people will see, it all sits on your parcel of land, your host. A Domain however is the street address that people use as a point of reference to find your parcel of land, or in this case your website. You use a GPS by typing in an address and then get directions based on that address. The same is true online, you type in a domain or search terms in Google to find a particular website, or parcel of land.
Now that we’ve cleared up the difference between hosting and domains, you need to begin by seeing if your desired domain, address, is available, all of the main domain name registrars have a tool already built for you. I recommend heading over to GoDaddy and using their “Start Your Domain Search Here” tool.
All you have to do is type in the URL that you wish to find the availability of with your desired extension, and then press Go! It’s that easy. GoDaddy will also automatically provide a list of alternative extensions, as well as their availability.
As an added bonus, the guys over at FatWallet have put together a nice list of Coupon Codes to use during checkout to get some great deals. .COM domains starting at $7.49! Visit FatWallet for more info.
Quick Tips for Choosing Your Domain Name
1. Keep It Short
Although some places allow you to register a name with up to 63 characters, you have to keep in mind that people need to be able to remember it, and easily type it into their browser. Try to register the shortest name that your visitors will associate with your Website. Try as hard as you can to keep it under 15 characters; the longer the domain is the higher the chances are that people will misspell it.
2. Dot What?
There are many different extensions available right now – from the popular ones such as .com, .net, .org, to ones like .tt, us . If possible, I recommend a .com extension. It is the extension that most people are familiar with. It also has a subliminal effect that people immediately tend to associate your website as being legitimate right away.
3. One May Not Be Enough
Sometimes, it isn’t a bad idea to register several similar domain names. If you have “yourname.com”, register “yourname.net” so no one else takes it. You can register your full company name and a shorter, easier to remember version. Some people even register common misspellings of their company’s name. (You don’t need a separate Web page for each. Several domains can point to the same Website.)
4. Character Types
Just a reminder. Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and dashes. Spaces and symbols are not allowed. Also, domain names are not case sensitive. I would highly recommend only sticking to letters, but if necessary, you can use a number. No Dashes!
5. Ask Around
When you have settled on several available name choices, see what your friends have to say. A name that may make perfect sense to you may be too hard for other people to remember. Is your domain easy to say? Is it hard to spell? Do you have to explain why you chose the name?
6. Don’t Shell Out Large Amounts of $$$
You shouldn’t have to spend more than about $20 for an available domain. However, domains can get real pricey if you’re trying to purchase it from someone else.
Additional Resources
Hopefully you can picture domain names being a virtual real estate. Anytime you have to make a real estate decision, it is always such a daunting task. However, I hope that you can realize that purchasing a domain name is quite the opposite of a daunting task – the hardest part is coming up with one that is available, and it usually just takes some time to think up a list of creative ones, and then check to see which ones are available and which ones aren’t.
If you’re having trouble coming up with a domain name that is available, use these tools to try and generate a creative rendition:
1. Domai.nr
Domai.nr is an innovative web tool that helps you explore other TLD’s that have made popular websites like last.fm and del.icio.us stand out from the crowd. Of course, searches will also include popular top-level domains that are available but it is a very creative tool that you can use to come up with ideas.
2. Nameboy
Nameboy is a popular domain name generator. It is very straightforward web tool. This asks for a “Primary Word” and “Secondary Word” that describe the topic of your website, and based on your input, it suggests possible domain names.
3. Domains Bot
DomainsBot is a domain search engine that has an “Advanced” search feature so that you can conduct a more customized and refined search. For example, you can set the maximum domain character length to eliminate lengthy domain names from the results or exclude domain results that have a hyphen (-).
4. Dot-o-Mator
Dot-o-mator is a web tool that suggests site names based on prefixes and suffixes that you’ve entered (keywords). Alternatively, you can use a category of prefixes (like “Tech” or “Games”) and suffixes (like “Hardware” or “Web 2.0 words”) to generate suggested site names for you. It’s a helpful tool for, at the very least, obtaining inspiration for a site name.
5. Dyyo.com
It’s common practice to keep domain names as short as possible so that it can be quickly typed and also so that they’re easier to remember. dyyo.com specializes in helping you find 4-letter domain names to keep your URLs terse.
Some Other Tools to Consider
Expired Domains Search – Database for Expired Domains.
Domize – Domain Search Portal
Bust A Name – Domain Search
