An Internet domain
name is a one-of-a-kind web address that you can purchase for your
web site through Internic, the organization in charge of domain name
registration. It could contain your business name: http://www.yourbusinessname.com,
or most any other word/letter combination that you want, based upon
availability. For example, after much brainstorming, I decided on
http://www.ProfitInfo.com as my domain name.
You may not have
considered the benefits that having your own domain name gives your
web site, so I'll list some major ones and then we'll look at each
more closely:
1) Gives Exclusivity.
2) Adds Credibility.
3) Allows Mobility.
4) Avoids Loss of Momentum.
Gives Exclusivity
Without your own
domain, you don't have much of a choice; your email and web addresses
will generally be based on the domain name of your host or Internet
service provider, such as username@yourISP.com and http://www.yourISP.com/username/
But having your
own domain name is like owning your own virtual real estate; your own
slice of cyber turf, if you will. Such exclusivity can help build
name recognition for you and your company.
Adds Credibility
As the saying
goes: "You never get a second chance to make a first
impression," and in business, first impressions count. Having
your own domain name projects a professional image of you and your
company, normally associated with large companies. It tends to say to
others that you're a serious business person, operating an
established business, in a professional manner (even if you're
operating out of your bedroom at home, much of the time in your
P.J.'s; but regardless of your dress, you should still conduct your
business in a serious, professional manner.)
Allows Mobility
As mentioned
above, if you set up a web site without owning your own domain name,
you end up using the domain name of your web host by default. Such a
web address is not mobile; you can't take it with you if you ever
decide to switch to another web host.
Ownership of your
own domain name gives you the option of moving your web site to
another host without losing your web address. You can pull up stakes
at any time and take your domain name with you.
NOTE: Some have
run into domain ownership problems when their ISP or other person or
party that took care of the process of domain registration did not
list them as the actual owner. Moral of the story: Make sure you are
properly listed as the owner of the domain when it is registered.
Avoids Loss of Momentum
As any web
marketer knows, it takes effort (not necessarily any expense, if you
know some tricks of the trade) to promote a web site. Fortunately,
over time, some of those marketing efforts can build momentum,
bringing more and more traffic to your site without additional
marketing effort. But unfortunately, if you can't take your web
address with you when you switch to another ISP or host, you can lose
much - if not all - of the momentum gained by your previous web
marketing efforts.
Now you may be
happy with your current web host and have no plans to switch, but
having the option to move your web site to another host without
losing your web address is always good to have open to you. Domain
name ownership gives you that option, and any momentum you've gained
from previous effort (and possibly expense) involved in promoting
your web address doesn't go down the drain.
So, are you a
serious Internet entrepreneur without your own domain name for your
web site? Then now might be a good time to start making a list of
possible domain names. However, don't grab just any domain name in
haste. A poorly-chosen one won't give you the maximum benefits that a
well-chosen one can. Take your time to brainstorm the best domain
name that you can come up with. That's a key task for serious web
marketers, especially if you consider that your web address is the
world's link to you.
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you think? Post your comments on our Forums.
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