Steps to a Small Business – Domain Names

by Kevin Clark

In terms of real estate, the biggest boom we’re experiencing is the online type. Instead of houses and apartments, we’re talking about domain names. A domain name can be a business’ most important asset and those who don’t secure theirs early may find themselves forking out for it later – Woolworths certainly paid the price this year.

With more than 92million domains registered in the world (80,000 registered in the last 24 hours alone), buying into a domain is no longer as simple as adding .com to the end of your business name. It is one of the most important aspects of creating an online presence for your business and it’s not always an easy decision to make.

First of all, when considering a domain name it’s important to keep it simple but memorable. Keep it short and related to your line of business, business name and brand. In other words, don’t complicate things.

If your ideal domain name has already been taken you will need to be a bit more creative than adding a dash or a dot in the middle. In fact, steer clear of special characters and numbers altogether – they won’t do you any favours when someone tries to find your business online. Try to think of a word someone may associate your business name with. For example, if your business is called iiNet and located in Subiaco, try iinetsubi.com. If your business is primarily based in Australia a ‘.au’ address will reinforce your local presence.

Think of the bigger picture. It is worth investing not only in the .com, but the .net, the .biz, and maybe even a few variations of your name to top it off. You may find it will save you the headache if your company requires one of these in the future when someone is asking top dollar for it.

If you’re still having trouble, it’s always a good idea to ask for help. If you’d like to discuss some options or ask some advice from one of our iiNet domains representatives, call 1300 378 638 or email support@iinethosting.net.au

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