- Choosing The perfect domain name for your online store
- Selecting an extension such as .com or .biz
- Knowing where and how to register your domain name
Every store needs an address so that customers know where to find it. For online stores, the address is known as a domain name, such as volusion.com. Your stores domain name is a critical part of your business success. Unfortunately, far too many first-time review their domain name as an afterthought, which can lead to miss directed traffic and confused shoppers.
Choosing a great domain name
To help prevent customers for making a wrong turn in missing your website, here are some considerations to make your domain name:
Keep it short. If you’re selling western clothing and you pick a domain name like westernwearwarehouseandemporium.com, you are already shooting yourself in the boot. Keep it short and simple so customers have less to remember and type, and you have a smaller entry on your business card. For example, chickwesternwear.com might be a better choice.
Make it descriptive. Your domain name should indicate what your website offers.for example, if you’re selling toy robots, a web address of awesometoyrobot.com would be appropriate and easy to digest for new and returning customers.
Try something unique. You can also create a unique brand name that is different and memorable. This can be a made up word or something entirely new.
Consider using keywords. If possible. Use keywords that customers are likely to enter into Search engines like Google to find what you’re selling.
Avoid symbols and numbers. People aren’t used to typing symbols, such as hyphens or ampersands, into an address bar. While including a hyphen two separate words may be tempting, avoid doing so. Also, steer clear of numbers because if you have two tell someone your domain name out loud, they may not know whether you meant the new rule or the word; for example 3 or three.
Get a second opinion. Before making a final decision on your domain name, Chuck with friends and family for feedback. Although your choice might make total sense in your head, it may be off-putting or confusing to others.
Consider a few alternatives. Create a list of around 10 domain names that you’d be comfortable using before trying to register, so you won’t be too disappointed if you’d first choice has already been claimed.
Domain names are not case sensitive, so I knew using mixed case on your business cards and other marketing materials to make your own domain name easier to recognize and remember-for example, awesome toy robots.com.
Tacking on the right extension
After you found the perfect domain name, consider a top level domain name extension,.com,.org,.net, or dot biz. We strongly recommended claiming the.com extension if it is available and.org if you’re setting up a nonprofit. (although.org is no longer reserved for nonprofits, and help instill the confidence and potential shoppers and owners that the organization is legitimate.)
if.com isn’t available, Take the following steps: step one:
- Check the domain that is currently using that extension you may want to stick with your choice and simply use a different extension, but if a big-time business or website that has offensive content is using your domain name, reconsider your choice you don’t want competitors website for an offense of side
- consider using a different extension like .net or dot biz if you think that most customers will arrive at your online store via search engine the.net or.biz is fine. If you think you’ll be relying on customers to type in the domain name and extension and having a.com address maybe more important. If you choose an address that ends in something other than.com, be sure to reinforce that fact and your marketing communications.
Checking availability
The best way to check the availability of a domain name is to perform an Ajax the domain search . use your favorite search engine to search for Ajax domain search and click One of the resulting domain search thanks. After accessing the domain search paid, type the domain name you want without WWW.or.calm, and press enter the tool will then display a list of all available claimed domain names that match your entry.
Warning: be careful when using a domain registration service to perform your search. Often is the name you want is taken, the registration service present you with a long list of suggestions you may be tempted to purchase. While some of these may be helpful make sure that if you choose one of their options, it is a good choice.
If you domain name is not available, here is what to do:
- step one find the owner of the domain name. in the results of your domain name to click the owner info link for the unavailable domain name to find out who owns it and it’s expiration date.
- Step two: decide whether to negotiate are you the different domain name. Contact the owner, express your interest in the domain name, and tried to negotiate a price or consider using a different domain name if the price is too steep for you.
While your domain name is an important elements of your business, don’t get too hung up on choosing the perfect domain name. Even the most shack names have the potential to be great.
Registering your domain name
To claim your domain name, you must register it with the domain registrar of your choice. We recommend registering your domain name with your e-commerce provider, if possible. This allows you to have one point of contract for your e-commerce software, customer support, and domain name. Furthermore, this prevents you from having to point your domain to your providers servers when you launch your store.
If you’re not using any commerce solution that provides hosting or allows you to purchase a domain name from them, look for a reputable, well known provider.
Purchased the domain name for multiple years are use the registrars automatic update features so you don’t have to worry about losing the name when you registration is set to expire. Also, make sure that you update your billing information whenever changes. Businesses have lost domain names by failing to update credit card information.