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Selecting and Registering a Domain Name:

Guidelines for Selecting a Domain Name:

• Emphasize Content - Consider selecting a name that reflects the content on your site instead of your company name. People are more likely to visit a site called scentedcandles.com before they visit connorswaxshop.com.
• Contains Keywords - Using keywords will not only allow visitors to instantly identify the content on your site, but will increase your ranking with the search engines. Try to use two or three primary keywords. Make them specific and descriptive. For example, designercoffeemugs.com would be a better choice than wesellmugs.com.
• Shorter Is Better - Although a domain name can be up to 63 characters long (not including the extension), strive for 20 characters or less. The less your customers have to type and remember, the better. Would you remember moyerscustomuphostryrodsanddraperies.com?
• Avoid Hyphens (-) & Numbers - People may forget to type in the hyphen and numbers are confusing. Is that a 4, FOUR or FOR?
• Easy To Spell & Pronounce - Consider all the ways people will be finding your site: advertisements, search engines, printed marketing materials and word-of-mouth. Imagine telling someone your domain name over the phone. Would they have any doubts on how to spell it correctly?

Selecting A Domain Extension:

• .com - Best choice for business / commercial sites.
• .net - Originally designated for Internet service providers, this is a good second choice to .com.
• .org - For non-profits.
• .info / .biz / .cc / .tv / .us - No standard use has developed.