Your
domain name is the equivalent of a sign in a store window and
should be considered with extreme care. At Creative Presence we
are glad to help you devise an appropriate domain name and research
its availability. Here are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind
as you begin the selection process:
Keep
It Short
The shorter your domain name is the easier it is to remember and
spell. Avoid frustration on the part of your visitors by keeping
the length to a minimum.
Creative
Spellings
Be careful with the selection of alternative and creative spellings
for your domain name. What might be an obvious play on words to
you may not appear so obvious to potential visitors. Avoid confusion
with ambiguous spellings.
Dot
Com Rules, Unless You're a Non-Profit
Barring some special circumstances stick with the global recognized
standard of .com for commercial ventures, .org for non-profits,
and .net for networks. Do you really want to communicate to your
customers that you arrived a little late to the party with a .web
or .tv designation? Avoid looking like an amateur and select an
appropriate domain name extension.
Punctuation
is a No-no
You are limited to the use of only letters, numbers, and dashes
when selecting a domain name. Spaces and symbols are not allowed.
Also, domain names are not case sensitive.
Before
You Commit Look Both Ways
A crucial step that often does not occur to folks is to research
the usage of their domain name candidates. Is the name trademarked
(the search is FREE)? Is there someone else with any significant
presence online that utilizes your idea already for a campaign,
concept or product line (check your basic search engines)?
As
far as registering your domain, we would be happy to handle all
the details, but if you would like to process the registration
that's fine too.
