Deciding on a domain name

[Published in The Business Eye, June 2006 - Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce]

A successful website does not happen overnight. It requires strategic planning and careful execution - and a name! So, what domain name should you choose? Like many things in life, "it depends".

If your websites rely heavily on offline marketing, such as print advertising or word-of-mouth, then an easy to remember domain name could help you. People may try to guess your domain name, based on your location and/or what products or services you offer. Choose an obvious name like MyService.com or MyFergusService.ca. Don't make it too long, though: it should still fit on your business card! Buying a few variations on these names may be wise; you can point them all to your website.

Coming up with a strange name may also work for you, like FogDog.com or Woot.com - it worked for a company called Google…! Downside to a strange name, though, is that you have to work hard(er) to help people remembering it. Branding is important then.

If you plan to promote your website in the search engines, then a domain name containing important keyword phrases may be advisable - such as Mostimportantkeyword.com.

For more information: contact your webmaster, or email Nardo Kuitert at nardo@u-cwebs.com.

Nardo Kuitert is an Internet Consultant with Fergus Website Development and Optimization firm U-C WEBS (www.u-cwebs.com). U-C WEBS also offers Internet advertising opportunities on www.ferguspages.com.

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