Exactly What Makes a Domain Name Valuable? 10 Vital Elements When Choosing Your Domain

When considered in detail, there are many parameters to think about to get yourself a really valuable domain name. In order to determine what exactly makes a domain name valuable some analysis is required. Here are 10 of the main features to look for in a valuable domain name.

1. The domain name is inherently searchable. If a commonly typed search phrase exactly matches the domain name, it will be of higher value.

2. The market type. Depending on the current PPC rating, the niche or the mass market, a particular domain name may have a higher value. Free tools are available to determine the PPC rating, for example through Google.

3. The history of the domain name in terms of revenues and how long has it been registered. Old domains have this advantage over newer ones in that the search engines rank websites based on the keywords and when they find similar ones, the older ones get the preference as they are supposed to be more trusted. If the site was registered for a long time, tools are available to find out what it contained initially. If its contents were related to the domain name, this is always an advantage.

4. The domain name is a common word and is easily pronounced.

5. The domain name can be exploited to create brand recognition - although you must always be careful not to infringe copyright.

6. The domain name is easily memorable.

7. The domain name is short. The best names are are usually the shortest ones, particularly the two and three letter domains. These are getting harder to get, but if you concentrate on expired domains, there are still opportunities.

8. For already registered domains, if there is current revenue from Affiliates/Parking etc, this will make them valuable. The higher the revenue they generate, the higher the value.

9. Is the domain name registered with popular search engines? It is possible to find out a website's current indexed position with a particular domain name.

10. The number of backlinks, i.e. links pointing to the website from other sources. This is an important factor used by the main search engines to rank websites. Finding out how many back links that the domain has currently and checking if they add to the value to it from the viewpoint of the search engine gives a further insight into the usefulness of the domain.

In some ways, there are no fixed rules that say this domain is better than that one. As they say, one man's drink is another man's poison. Having said that, if you follow the 10 rules above, you can take the guesswork out of choosing the right domain name.

Val Wilson is a successful internet marketer and domain name trader.
If you would like to find out more about choosing domain names, and how you can earn cash from domains, go to [http://www.domianprofiteer.com/] for your FREE Domain Report.

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What is a Domain Name Registrar and How Will Your Choice Affect Your Business?

A domain name registrar is the company you buy a domain name from - or is it?

Buying a Domain Name from your Web Host

Your web hosting company may offer domain name registration services, but most likely, they are actually using a different company for the registration because they aren't actually accredited to register domain names. You can see a list of accredited registrars on the ICANN website. However, your web host probably has an agreement with an accredited registrar. The registrar provides a way for your web hosting company to place their code on the web hosting company's website; so, it appears that you are registering through your web hosting company, but you are actually registering through the accredited registrar.

Some web hosts have contracted with registrars in other countries because it is cheaper to do so. In fact, Yahoo has contracted with a registrar in Australia. To actually contact the registrar to do tasks, such as transferring a domain to another registrar, Yahoo would direct their customer to make an international call for support. This may no longer be the situation, but it illustrates the situation that the services a company lists on their website may not actually be services they have in house. If your registrar is actually a different company from the company you pay for the registration, you have to log in twice to get to your domain information, or, you may have to log in again for some functions, but not others.

How to Register a Domain Name through a Registrar

If you took a look at all the accredited registrar on the ICANN site, you see that you have quite a few options. Some popular registrars in the US are: Go Daddy, Tucows, Network Solutions, 1&1 Internet AG (a.k.a. Schlund.de), Register.com, Dotster,...

The first thing to do is find a domain name that is available. Write down some possibilities in order of your preference. Then do a WHOIS search. Do not search for a domain name unless you are ready to purchase because many registrars sell lists of the names that people have searched. The clients who buy that list will go ahead and register the name, hoping to sell it back to the person who did the search - at a much higher price. Registrar sites have a search box right on the home page. However, that search is just a sales tool. The real tool is a WHOIS search. Registrars like to hide the WHOIS search link in the barely visible links at the bottom of the page. They also like to move them around, which makes it difficult to find, but you should be able to find it on the home page. Again, don't do this search unless you have your credit card handy, or you may lose a good domain name!

After you find out that the name is available and are ready to purchase, set up an account with the registrar. Do not let the registrar scare you into buying a bunch of extra services, such as a private domain. They will tell you that scammers, spammers, and serial murderers will use your domain name registration information. If you have a business, your contact information is already available to scammers, spammers and serial murderers. By having a public domain name, you tell the legitimate people that you mean business. The one thing that you should buy, is multiple year registration. That tells people that you really mean to be in business!

Registrar and Registrant

Your domain name registration has three levels of contacts: 1) the registrant, 2) the administrative contact, 3) the technical contact. These are people the registrar has permission to speak to about your domain name. While the registrar is the company who registers the domain name, the registrant is the person or entity who owns the actual name. If your web hosting company or your web developer registered your domain name for you, check out who the registrant is. If it's not you, you don't own your domain name.

You may be listed as the domain name registrant and still not be able to make changes to your domain name, if that domain name is locked into someone else's account. That has happened to several of my clients. Someone else, such as a previous web developer, friend or relative, registered their domain name. That person was honest and put the site owner as the registrant, but it was inside the account of the person who did the registration with their own domain names.

Of course, some people lose their business names to unscrupulous people who they thing are registering their domain names for them. One gentleman called me because he had gotten a "free" domain name. He didn't check out the fine print. The company registered a domain name for him, but that "free" registration included a hefty monthly fee for website hosting. The problem was that he already had a website hosted with someone else!

Conclusion

1. Register your own name, no matter how much you trust your developer
2. Keep track of your registrar account information
3. Be sure to pay your domain name bills promptly.
4. Register with a reputable company.
5. Don't let them scare you into buying services you don't need.

This article is adapted from a handout for the Web Marketing and Design course at Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula, Montana. For links to more domain name registration resources, go to http://www.thecomputergal.com/WebMarketing/Articles/DomainNameRegistrar.html
Nora McDougall-Collins
Missoula, MT
nora@thecomputergal.com
Putting the world of computers into plain English

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Nora_McDougall-Collins/330275

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What is a Domain Name?

"A domain name is an identification label that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet, based on the Domain Name System (DNS)." - Wikipedia
Two major sections make up a domain name:

• a Top-Level Domain (TLD) - the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (e.g. ourmoneyadventure.com)
• a Second-Level Domain (SLD) - the part of the domain name located to the left of the dot (e.g. ourmoneyadventure.com)

The combination of the TLD and SLD is what makes a domain name unique.No matter what domain name you search for and find, you need to register it with an ICANN-accredited registrar for it to be yours. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) was founded 10 years ago as a non-profit corporation given the responsibility from the US Government to manage the Internet domain name system; it is "the governing body that coordinates links between IP addresses and domain names across the Internet, so you can find Web sites by entering domain names instead of IP addresses into your Web browser."

Top-Level Domain (TLD)

TLDs are also called extensions or generic TLDs (gTLD). There are many extensions to a domain name. Some that are most common are:

• .COM - the most common generic TLD
• .NET - another generic TLD and a great alternative to .COM
• .ORG - for non-profit websites
• .INFO - another generic TLD and a great alternative to .COM, for putting information on the web

There are also Restricted Top-Level Domains (rTLDs) that require registrants to provide a certain type of entity or to belong to a certain community like:

• .AERO - reserved for members of the air-transport industry
• .BIZ - restricted for business
• .EDU - reserved for post-secondary institutions
• .MIL - reserved for the US military
• .MUSEUM - reserved for museums
• .NAME - reserved for individuals
• .PRO - restricted to credentialed professionals and related entities

There are also domain extensions known as Country-codes that indicate what part of the world you are located in. These two letter Country-codes are defined in the ISO-3166. Examples of these Country-code TLDs are:

• .BZ - Belize
• .CA - Canada
• .DK - Denmark
• .EC - Ecuador
• .IE - Republic of Ireland
• .UK - United Kingdom
• .US - United States
• .ZW - Zimbabwe

For a complete list of existing gTLDs and their use, refer to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) list of gTLDs. You should know that ICANN is looking at expanding the list of gTLDs, to allow for more innovation, choice and change to a global Internet presently served by just 21 generic top-level domain names.
Second-Level Domain (SLD)

As previously mentioned, the SLD is located to the left of the dot (e.g. ourmoneyadventure.com). This is the part where your imagination can go wild. You can create any SLD name you want as long as someone else doesn't already own it. When you search for ideas and you don't find them right away check out what alternatives you may have. Many domain search sites will provide a list for you.

Trish Henao is based out of Calgary, Alberta and has been employed in the Technology industry since 1986. With a B.Sc. in Computer Science, she has acquired experience in the energy, communications, utilities, airline and healthcare sectors. Starting her career as a computer programmer, she has since moved on to becoming a business analyst. Her experience has taught her skills in system analysis and design, data modeling, system development methodologies and project management.
Trish's coauthor, Tatiana Davison, is a passionate and committed leader with experience since 1997 in various management operational roles. She has gained experience in business development supporting industries such as telecom, utilities, oil & gas, and international trade. Tatiana is focused on delivering results through facilitating, motivating, and challenging high performance teams to bring ideas and visions to fruition.
Visit us at [http://www.ourmoneyadventure.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Trish_Henao/419519

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What Is a Domain Name and How Do I Get One?

What is a Domain Name?

If you've ever gone to a website, you've had experience with a domain name. A domain name is your website's identity online, or your online address. It is how internet users find you online and is an essential part of any website. Domain names can be customized to a variety of things, but have to be unique. Often times, a website will have multiple domain names that all lead to the same page. For example, a music store may want to have multiple domain names that reach different audiences of people. While the main domain might be "http://www.ABCmusic.com", alternate domains might include "http://www.classicalmusic.com" or "http://www.jazzmusic.com".

How Do I Get A Domain Name?

If you are ready to get a domain name, here are the steps to take to get started!

1. Brainstorm: Start by jotting down a list of possible domain names that you like. Since you have to choose a domain name that is not currently being used by someone else, make sure you have a few options in case your top choice or choices are taken. Be creative, but try to keep it simple enough that people will remember it! Avoid using to many numbers or extremely long domain names, as these tend to be harder to market to the public. 

2. Check Availability: Next, you will want to ensure that your domain name is available. To do this, find a domain name registrar company, such as GoDaddy, Register, or Dotster that you'd like to use. Using their search box, go through your list of domain options (from step 1) until you find one that works and is available to purchase. Domain names can be.com,.net,.biz, etc. Be careful to select the appropriate ending, as they are all different. Also note that people are registering for new domain names all the time, so don't procrastinate moving to the next step, as your domain name might not still be available if you wait too long.

3. Register: Now that you have found the perfect domain name, and have made sure it is available, it is time to purchase the rights to use this domain by registering it. Registration is fairly simple, and the cost is minimal. Most domain names can be registered for less than $40 for the entire year, with some sites offering specials to new customers that are as low as $10 for the first year. Each registrar site will be slightly different, so follow the instructions to register. Be sure to have a credit card ready, as one will be required for payment.

4. Renewal Options: Finally, it is important to note that your domain name has to be renewed from time to time. The standard is yearly, but some registrars allow different terms. Be sure to set up some kind of auto-renewal or renewal reminder notification with your registrar so that you don't lose your domain name because you forgot to renew it.Domain names are a great way to bring traffic to your website, build a reputation for your business, or simply help customers or web users find your site online. Take time to find one that suits your needs and then get started using it!

Effortless Virtual Assistants is a full service virtual administrative and online marketing firm. Let us help you with your daily admin needs, plan your next product launch or just answer the questions you have about running your online business. http://www.effortlessvirtualassistants.com

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Internet Marketing Beginners - What Is A Domain Name?

Internet marketing and making money online is a booming industry, but let's start from scratch with 'what is a domain name?'

Chances are if you are already thinking about getting involved in making money online in whatever way you have thought of doing so, then you probably already know. But, there are also a lot of people out there who are just discovering the business potential the internet offers and need to start from scratch in order to make sense of it all and eventually profit.

So for me, I think a good starting point is Domain Names, and why you would want one? Well, it is your website's address. Kind of similar to your home address in the sense of if somebody wants to visit you, they go to your address! It can also be referred to as 'web address' website address' or even 'URL'. Just so you know URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator, a bit of fairly useless information for you, but it's still good to know!

Why would you need a Domain Name?

There is actually tons of business and internet marketing related reasons as to why should have certain domain names. But since we are going for the most simplistic reasons, you would need a domain name if you would like your own website or blog (if you are not sure what a blog is, don't worry, I will be talking about that in another article.) I does make sense, that if you are to launch your own website or blog, that you choose what you want the domain name to be. You see, you can get free domains, but a lot of the time it will just be your site's name tagged onto the end of another site's name.

Are Domain names expensive?

No. That's the answer you want to hear and that is the truthful answer. They generally range between $7 - $10. Where you will have to spend more money, not much more, is on website hosting. Again I will explain this in further detail in a later article, one thing at a time hey!

Where do I get a Domain Name?

This is actually dead easy. There are tons of great companies on the internet that can sell you a domain name, it's really not that big a deal. A simple search on the internet for "buy domain name" or something like along those lines, will bring up loads of the kind of site you need. I would suggest checking a few out first before you go ahead and buy.

So that's pretty much it. Domain names can play an important role in the branding of your website or blog so don't rush in. Take your time, choose carefully and if you mess up don't worry about it! We learn more from our mistakes any way! This is just one small stepping stone on your way to achieving financial success on the internet, so enjoy it!

Carl Ashton is a home based Internet Marketer with a passion for helping others take control of their lives and be able to work from home (or anywhere they like!). He has a free 7 Day Bootcamp for you at [http://CarlAshtonOfficial.com] Go get yours today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Carl_David_Ashton/884261

 

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What Is A Domain Name And How Does It Work?

A domain name is basically your website address on the internet. When people search for your website they put your domain name (web address) into their browser to locate it.

Without a DN your site simply does not exist online and cannot be found by searchers.

Why Do I Need A Domain Name?

You need a DN so that your website has an address online so that people can locate your website's pages. If you own your own website you need to have a DN for your site.

How Do I Get A Domain Name?

There are many companies online that sell DN's for a reasonable price. Once you buy a DN from one of these companies then your website will have a web address and make it accessible to the online world.

NOTE: You also must have web hosting for your site to be visible online (explained later...)

How Do I Choose A Domain Name?

When you choose a DN it is important to keep it relevant to what your website is about. This makes it relevant and easy to remember for your visitors and allows the search engines to rank your website high when people search for your site.

Example: If I had a site that was about helping women with morning sickness one relevant DN I could use would be: morningsicknesscures.com, another DN could be: morningsicknessremedies.com. There are literally many different combinations you could use but the important thing is to get your niche specific keywords into your domain name if possible.

What If The Domain Name I Want Is Taken?

If a DN you want is taken you can try to find different variations of your desired DN. Many web addresses end in.com but there are other top level domain endings you can use like.net or.org. Quite often these are not taken so you can use them instead of a.com ending if it is already taken.

There are also other variations you can use at the end of your DN like.biz,.info,.tv etc. if all other options are exhausted. If no options at all are available for your desired name then you either need to choose different related keywords or get creative and add extra words to your DN eg. bestmorningsicknesscures.com (If morningsicknesscures.com wasn't available and all other endings weren't available then I could try adding other descriptive words like best to my DN to see if that creates a unique DN).

What Is Web Hosting?

Web Hosting or 'Hosting' is a service provided by a vendor which offers a physical location for the storage of web pages and files from your website. Think of a Web Hosting Company as a type of landlord, they rent physical space on their servers allowing webpages to be viewed on the Internet.

Web hosting is usually charged as a monthly fee by most suppliers and is required if you have your own site so that your site is accessible to the online world.

So as you can see domain names are very important when getting your website online. Without one your website does not exist online!
To find out where you can get an affordable domain name and web hosting for your website please visit my cheap domain name and web hosting [http://makemoneywithinternetmarketing.net/cheap-domain-name-and-web-hosting] webpage.
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