Selecting a domain name

If you already have a business in the real world and are looking to spread your wings in cyberspace, it is best to stick with the same name. therefore, if your business is called Robert Records, you should try to purchase the same name on the Internet (www.robertrecords.com).

You can, however pay for more than one domain name for the same site. It may be useful to think of a keyword potential site visitors might type into a search engine and use this as a domain name. if Robert Records mainly sells Jazz CDs, for instance, it may be worthwhile registering www.jazzcds.com as well.

If you cant get the name you originally wanted, use your imagination. If the names Jazz CDs, Jazz and Robert Records are taken, you could go for JazzJazzJazz or even AlltheJazz and so on.

A domain suffix
A domain suffix is the part that follows your company name. The most popular domain suffix by far remains ‘.com’ , which was originally intended to denote a commercial or company website. If a person known your company name but is unaware of your website address, they will probably type into their computer: www.yourcompanyname.com

I would advise, therefore, that whichever domain suffix you prefer, you should also purchase the ‘.com’ version of your address if it is available.

If you have a business based in the UK, it will also be worthwhile obtaining the ‘co.uk’ suffix. Other country specific suffix includes;

Fr – France
Au – Australia

The other main suffixes you should be aware of are ‘.net’, ‘.org’ (for organizations) and ‘.edu’ (for educational organizations). The implication of these suffixes has, in recent years, started to diminish as more and more firms, including not-for-profit organizations, opt for ‘.com’ addresses.

New formulations are, however, being proposed that are intended to be more specific. These include;

.shop for online shops
.travel for travel agency
.sex for adult sites
.web for web based business
.store for an online store

So, as well as your ‘.com’ or ‘.net’, you may be able to add one of these to your shopping list.