How to Start a Business on the Internet: Lesson 3
Protect your web business and it's URL by registering your domain name with a recognized ICANN domain name provider. Your domain name is valuable property. It is important to protect the name of the registrar, login and password information.
A domain name is the key to your online business. You want to choose a domain name that supports your search engine ranking. You do this with a keyword-laden domain name.
Keywords
A keyword can be one word or a 2 or 3 word phrase. Keywords are critical to success on the Internet. You want the best keyword laden domain name, web pages with keyword in the title, first sentence and body of the message as well as a balance so your keywords don't overpower the content. For now, just find the best keywords for your business website.
First, you want to find the best keywords. This means, words that people actually use to search for the products and services you offer. This is one of the problems most startups have. They use keywords "they" think are right without doing any research. What you want are the words and phrases that people actually use… not the words you think relate. For the best results, use Word Tracker. Word Tracker has a free tool. It's not as robust as the paid version, but it can help you. So check it out. Once you have identified your best 30 keywords, open worksheet and copy the list to the first page.
Choosing Your Domain Name
The domain name you find does not to exactly mirror your keywords, but it does need to include one of the keywords or keyword phrases you identified.
For example, one of your keywords may be “baby shoes”, so a good domain name might be www.smallshoestogo.com or www.boybabyshoes.com or www.shoesforbabies.com
Also, you should try to acquire a .com but it isn’t necessary. If you find a good domain name and the .com is taken, it’s okay to go with .net or .us – The new .me domain extension is really popular as more and more websites take the .me domain (even in addition to one they already have).
Where to Get a Domain Name
There are many qualified domain name service providers. Order your domain name registration from a recognized ICANN domain name provider, such as NetworkSolutions.com and take all necessary steps to protect the name you purchase. If you decide to set an auto renew, be sure to update your credit card with the new expiration date and CVV as a bad card transaction may cause loss of your domain name. You want maintain control over your domain name and have access to your registrar information and admin zone.
Beware of Slamming where companies call, email or USPS mail you an official looking bill. Unsuspecting web owners pay the bill and in essence change their registrar to the company who slammed them. The problem with this practice is that it is deceitful. You may have trouble accessing your information. It may no longer be private.
If this does happen to you, take care to protect the information about your new registrar, login and password. You can object, but chances are that you are stuck for most likely a year. You can change back or transfer your domain registration back if you use a company like Network Solutions who may give you credit for the payment you made.
FYI: There are companies who grab expired domain names instantly without regard for the name itself. Even if you have a very personalized name or unusual name for a small business web site that no one will ever want, it is lost. You will have to pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars to recover it.
No matter who your domain name provider is, your domain name is valuable property. You need to know who your domain name registrar is and maintain your account with them in good standing.
We suggest you keep a record of when to renew, and/or set an automatic reminder when renewal is due if your domain name service provider offers one. Don't depend on getting a notice.
If you already have a domain name URL, but it does not have a top ranking… get a new domain name now… You have much to gain with a keyword domain name that supports your search engine ranking and your success online.
Protect your investment in your domain and professional web design services. You may want to subscribe to webmaster services. For a small monthly fee, if something does happen to your site (like failed registration renewal or hacking), your site files are protected and your site can be re-uploaded quickly.
Worksheet on Domain URL
Worksheet on Keywords |
