Archive for the Domain Names Category

• Making Money Parking Domains - June 13th, 2009
• Does Domain Registration Length Effect Search Engine Rankings - May 21st, 2009
• How to Appraise a Domain Name’s Value - May 19th, 2009
• Let’s say that you’re creating a website for Barb’s Specialty Pet Products. Should the domain name be barbsspecialtypetproducts.com?
  
  Perhaps — but don’t stop there. Having the right domain name, or domain names, can bring more traffic to your site.
  
  Why more than one domain name?
  
  One domain is all you need to set up a website. But with more domains directing to your site, you can have these additional benefits:
  
  - Bring site visitors who type variations of your domain name
  
  - Acquire traffic that might otherwise go to your competition
  
  - Harness the marketing power of keyword domains
  
  Your primary domain name
  
  If it’s feasible, use your business or brand name in your primary domain. People will remember it and associate it with your business. Also consider the following factors when choosing your primary domain.
  
  Domain name extensions
  
  Should your primary domain end with .com, .net, or .biz, or with a country-specific extension such as .ca or .co.uk?
  
  If your website is aimed at people in a specific country, having a country-specific domain can help:
  
  - Site visitors will recognize right away that the business has a presence in the country of the extension. They may therefore be more comfortable buying from you.
  
  - Some country-specific search results include sites with the relevant country-specific domain extension even if the site isn’t hosted in that country.
  
  On the other hand, if you’re targeting an international audience, a country-specific domain could work against you. People from outside the country of the extension may be less inclined to buy if the business looks foreign to them.
  
  If you want to attract both people within your country and those in other countries, have both. Each domain could direct to the same site, with each audience seeing the domain intended for them. For country-specific search results, the primary domain should be the country-specific one.
  
  Chances are that the .com domain you want is already taken. If you use the .net or .biz version, you risk having potential site visitors go to your .com competition instead. Be sure to use the full domain name on all promotional material to reduce this risk.
  
  Domain name length
  
  A short domain is easier to remember, it has less risk of being mistyped, and it’ll fit easily on your business cards and correspondence.
  
  Conversely, if a short name doesn’t represent your business, it’s more difficult for people to remember. The short names you like may already be taken anyway.
  
  If your business name is up to three easy-to-spell words, it’ll probably work as a domain name. For a longer business name, the initials or just one or two words may be easier than remembering a combination of words.
  
  Secondary domain names
  
  Secondary domains directing to your site are for online use:
  
  - For people who type your primary domain name incorrectly
  
  - For people who search for your products or services online
  
  Typing and spelling variations
  
  How many ways can people spell and type your business name?
  
  barbsspecialtypetproducts.com
  
  barbs-specialty-pet-products.com
  
  barbspecialtypetproducts.com
  
  barbsspecialitypetproducts.com
  
  barbsspecialitypetproducts.com
  
  barbspecialtyproducts.com
  
  barbspecialtyproduct.com
  
  Hyphens aren’t recommended for your primary domain. When people tell others about your site, they’re likely to omit the hyphens. They may also forget to type them.
  
  For secondary domains, hyphens make long domains easier to read. Each word stands out when people see your domain. However, domains such as buy-keyword-product-now.com make some people view hyphenated domains, especially those with more than one hyphen, as spam-like.
  
  Having the words in domains separated may help some search engines recognize keywords. With Google, though, hyphens don’t make any difference.
  
  Consider all of these variations for secondary domain names:
  
  - With and without hyphens
  
  - Different ways of spelling some words
  
  - Singular and plural versions of nouns
  
  - Extensions with .com and .net as well as a country-specific extension if relevant
  
  What people search for
  
  If you want to find the website for Time magazine, you might do a search for it, or you might try typing in time.com. If you do the latter, you’ll find yourself at the Time site.
  
  This type of search behavior extends to generic words too. Searching for dog collars? Try dogcollar.com, for example, and you’ll be redirected to dogidcollar.com. Do you want life insurance? Lifeinsurance.com redirects to nmfn.com (and so does northwesternmutualfinancialnetwork.com).
  
  While having keyword domain names may not draw a lot of site visitors, using them is a technique to consider.
  
  How to use more than one domain
  
  Set up your website with your primary domain, and use that domain on your correspondence and with your customers.
  
  Point secondary domains to your site using URL forwarding (also called domain forwarding, domain redirect, or URL redirect). To have the secondary domain appear in the browser, use domain masking. You can set up these features when you log in to your account with your domain registrar (if your registrar offers these services).
  
  With domains that are simply variations of your primary domain, you can expect additional traffic just from having set up these domains. With domains that contain keywords, you can get more from them by using them to list your site in online directories. When these domains appear in search results, searchers will see the keywords.
  
  The next step
  
  Once you decide on the available domains that you want, register them immediately. They might not be available tomorrow.
  
  If you don’t already have a business name, you’ll find it easier to market your business online if you choose a primary domain and a business name together. If your first choice for a business name doesn’t work well with any available domains, consider a business name that you can easily market with an available domain. Once you’ve registered that domain name and your business name, register secondary domains and put them to use.
  
  Is it worth registering multiple domains for one site? That depends on your site, but any variations that you don’t register will be available for competitors to register and use. If a domain is valuable to a competitor, it’s valuable to you.
  
  - May 19th, 2009
• Whatever You Wanted To Know About Expired Domain Auctioning Strategies - May 11th, 2009
• All the good ones are taken. The really good ones, that is. But they don’t always stay taken.
  
  Domain names often come back onto the market. Even before they do, domain name prospectors are sifting through them to find the gold domains among them.
  
  Why domain names become available again
  
  Thousands of domain names expire every day. Other domains are offered for sale. The reasons are varied:
  
  Carelessness
  
  The webmaster forgets to renew the domain by the expiry date.
  
  The email address that the domain is registered with becomes invalid, and the domain name registrant doesn’t receive the renewal notices.
  
  - Lack of need or funds
  
  - The company that had registered the domain goes out of business.
  
  - The website owner loses interest in or doesn’t have time for the website.
  
  - The website owner doesn’t have funding to continue the website venture.
  
  - The domain name registrant registered numerous domains on speculation and couldn’t afford to continue renewing unused domains.
  
  Profit
  
  - The domain name registrant may realize how much a domain is worth and decide to sell it.
  
  - The domain name registrant may have registered the domain because of its potential worth, with the aim of selling it later.
  
  What makes a previously registered domain name valuable?
  
  In July 2005, the domain name website.com sold for $750,000, the highest-valued domain name sale this year. Why would anyone pay so much for a domain when they could register a new domain for under $10?
  
  - Instant traffic
  
  If the domain name previously pointed to a website, search engines have already indexed that domain name. Other websites probably still have links to that domain. If the domain is listed in directories, these links bring in even more traffic. You register the domain, and the work getting incoming links has already been done for you.
  
  - Surf value
  
  Sometimes web surfers search by typing generic words followed by dot com (or other extensions) into their browsers, for example, dogs.com. This particular domain name redirects to the website for a company that sells pet products and services. A domain name like this constantly brings visitors to the website without the cost and effort of advertising and marketing.
  
  - Easy to remember
  
  Your company name may not be memorable, but domains such as dogs.com and website.com are. People are more likely to return to a site or pass on the name to their friends when they can easily remember it.
  
  How to find domains pending expiration
  
  You decide to join the gold rush for valuable pre-registered domains. Finding expiring domains is the first step, but you also need to research domains that are about to come back on the market.
  
  Lists of domains pending expiration
  
  At these websites, among others, you can search for domains containing keywords you enter. At expireddomains.com, the results contain domains that are currently available, soon to expire, on hold, in the Redemption Grace Period (RGP), or for sale by their registrants. Extensions searched: .com, .net, and ..org.
  
  The domainsbot.com database searches .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz extensions for domains that are available, for sale, or expiring.
  
  Domain research
  
  You can find some (but not all) incoming links to a domain by entering “link:siteURL” (replace “siteURL” with the domain name) into Google or Yahoo. When you find the links, follow them to see what types of sites link to the domain. How would you feel about having these particular sites linking to your site?
  
  Also look into any possible problems associated with the domain. Search engines may have banned the domain if the previous site had controversial search engine optimization techniques employed, such as the use of hidden text or links. Check the history of the site at a domain name via the WayBack Machine. If the domain previously pointed to a site with gambling or adult content or a lot of affiliate links, or if it employed questionable search engine optimization techniques, search engines may have banned the domain. Aside from the possibility of a domain being banned, you may not want incoming links from sites associated with these types of content.
  
  How to register domains pending deletion
  
  You’ve decided on a domain that you want. How do you maximize your chances on getting it?
  
  At eNom.com’s Club Drop, you can bid on expiring .com and .net domains the day before they’re available to the public. You can also be notified when domains matching your search criteria become available.
  
  The NameWinner system places bids on .com, .net, .org, and .info domains for you. It bids only as high as is necessary to maintain your high bid position up to your maximum bid.
  
  How to profit from your domains
  
  - Selling domains
  
  If you have a domain that may be valuable and that you aren’t using, consider selling it at a domain auction. If you already have a buyer for a domain, you can transfer it securely through Escrow.com.
  
  - Paid parking for domains
  
  With paid domain parking programs, also called “domain monetization” or “monetize domains,” you can earn pay-per-click revenue via targeted advertisements. These sites offer domain monetization services:
  
  - DomainSponsor
  
  - Park Quick
  
  - Domain Spa
  
  - Google Adsense for domains
  
  With the right knowledge, timing, and a bit of luck, you have a chance as a domain name prospector to hit pay dirt.
  
  - May 7th, 2009
• Eenvoudige Stappen om Uw Naam van het Domein te krijgen - May 4th, 2009
• De Namen van het domein - Deel 3 - May 2nd, 2009
• 15 Ways to Become a Better Domainer - May 1st, 2009
• It may surprise you to know that one of the most popular questions I get asked by newcomers to internet marketing is related to buying a domain name.
  
  Now I know if you’ve been around a little while you’re probably thinking “Buying a domain name! How hard is that? Just choose your name, click and buy!” But actually, on reflection, it can be a bit of a minefield out there…
  
  From the minute you arrive at your preferred domain seller you’re bombarded with choices, processes and options that are designed to get you spend a deal more than, say, the $4.99 you Originally thought your shiny new domain name was going to cost you.
  
  I decided to pop along to my local domain shop (read click on a bookmark and login) and take a look at exactly what’s on offer and whether all these add-ons and extras are totally essential.
  
  1) OK, so the first thing I see before I even type in the domain name I want to buy is that there’s a “Sale” on certain suffixes like .com .net .org
  
  2) I type in my domain name - domain-name-confusion.com - and click the ‘next’ button and ‘fantastic’, it’s available, but hang on… I can also buy domain-name-confusion.US .NAME .BIZ etc and many more. I can also choose from MYdomain-name-confusion, EASYdomain-name-confusion, domain-name-confusionONLINE, domain-name-confusionSTORE and myriad other combinations
  
  3) I decide that no, I’m just going to stick to my original choice of domain-name-confusion.com and so I don’t check any of the other boxes. I proceed on to what I think is the checkout but OH NO… again I’m being asked to STOP!
  
  Why don’t I protect my brand and increase my traffic by buying the .org .net and .info - and I’m even offered a really amazing “special price” to buy the job lot! And what’s more there’s a special box with a list of compelling reasons why I really should do this
  
  4) No thanks, I still want to stick to my original domain-name-confusion.com so I click on the checkout button, AGAIN!
  
  Great! We’re onto the summary page where I’m told what I’m ordering.
  
  But WAIT! Do I want my domain name certified for an extra $2.99? Do I want email adding to my domain for an extra $1.99? Is that Complete or Deluxe, Madam? How about Hosting, Sitebuilder, a blog or even some traffic driving software? Is that Standard, Deluxe or Protected, Madam?
  
  5) No, honestly, you’re too kind, but I simply want to buy the domain name! Click on the checkout button, AGAIN!
  
  Phew, the checkout at last! But wait, do I want to add protection to my domain name and make it ‘private’? Do I want to add another domain name? Am I sure I don’t want the .NET OR .INFO?
  
  Quite a marathon, huh? And, of course, when you are all wrapped up in the dream of having your own website and wanting to make it perfect from the outset, you are vulnerable to emotional suggestions. PROTECT, INCREASE, EXPAND, ATTRACT…
  
  So let’s take a look to see if you need all these unfamiliar, but reasonable-sounding options?
  
  Do You Need Extra Domain Suffixes?
  
  You can register a .com domain name with several very reputable registrars for, say, $6.99/yr to $9.99/yr. Fees for registering the other possibilities, .info, .co.uk, .net, .org, .biz, .tv can range from $0.99 per year to whatever the registering company wants to charge.
  
  But is it going to be worth it? And where do you stop with the combinations? .com, .co.uk, .info and then there’s the ‘do I add a dash ( - ) just-to-be-on-the-safe-side.com, .org, .biz’ ? I would say, probably not. The .com brand is so widely known that most people will automatically type in a .com extension on any website they are trying to find.
  
  Private Registration
  
  This option will keep your private details, name, physical address and email address unavailable to anyone checking the ownership of your domain on “Whois”. Internet law requires that all information about domain registration be publicly available and “Whois” maintains the databases that hold this information.
  
  If you buy a private registration, your details will not be available to just anyone who wants to check your domain for specific ownership. There are many domain owners who don’t think this is necessary but, on the other hand, private registration can help you avoid spam, crank emails and unwanted phone calls.
  
  It is worth bearing in mind that any emails you send from the US that are commercial in nature, like:
  
  i) Promoting a product or affiliation
  
  ii) Suggesting that the reader visit your sales page
  
  iii) Offering a discount for purchasing some product
  
  are required, by the US Can-Spam Act, to have your correct, physical mailing address visible to your email recipients and the correct email address you sent the advertisement from, so this kind of defeats the object of private registration in some ways.
  
  Protected Registration
  
  This form of domain registration protects you from inadvertent expiration of your domain registration, including credit card expiration, failed billing or outdated contact information. It also makes it more difficult to accomplish most malicious domain transfers by Internet predators. Effectively, your domain would be held for you until you renewed the registration.
  
  It can cost more than $25 a year for this service, depending on who you are using for this protection. If you are a small marketing venture, selling a piece of software, an affiliate product or an ebook on a niche product, you may not need this upsell. However, if later your domain starts making lots of money, and you decide that you do need it, you can easily add it.
  
  Business Registration
  
  This level of domain registration keeps need-to-know information about your business in the Whois database. That information can include a map to your store, website photo, business description, phone number and links to vital pages of your website.
  
  The vital information your customers might need to facilitate business deals with your business is visible to millions of searchers in the Whois domain name database.
  
  Do you need it? That would depend on the nature and size of your business and your budget. This would be more of a marketing/budget decision. A small, start-up website selling one ebook would probably not need this additional service.
  
  How Many Years Do You Need?
  
  Every time you register a domain name, regardless of the service you choose to use for the registration, you will be offered a multi-year registration at a discount. It is up to you whether you consider this offer to be a good deal, but you might want to consider something before you do it.
  
  Are you positive that you will still want to own the domain name after the first year? Will you still be in business in a year? Will you have graduated to a bigger, much different online business or another business entirely?
  
  If you take a multi-year package, the registrar will get all the money up front and you will not get a refund if you change your business or drop out entirely.
  
  Hosting On The Domain Registry Site
  
  This is a likely time-saving upsell you will be offered when you register your domain name. It seems like it would be an easy, time-saving option to buy. Your domain and website would be in the same place.
  
  Most Internet Marketers, if asked, would advise against doing this. Putting all your eggs in one basket means your entire business disappears if the domain registrar quits doing registrations or generally just goes out of business.
  
  A better choice would be to find another hosting company that provides the options you need to make your website what you want it to be.
  
  Finally…
  
  The multitude of domain registrars on the internet will guarantee that there will be more offers to upgrade or to buy packages with various multiple options that sound fantastic on the surface. Since it’s your money at stake, it might be wise to carefully consider what you actually need right now…not a year down the line. By then your needs could be far different than anticipated originally.
  
  - April 30th, 2009