Dos and Don’ts for Domain Names
How to Choose
Good Domain Names
If you have a Web site, you have to create a domain name. A great deal of thought should go in to the domain name selection. Some rules of thumb to help select successful domain names are:
You should register your domain yourself. Domain registration is a very simple and straightforward procedure and there are many companies on the Internet that will register names for a wide variety of prices. http://www.networksolutions.com/ , http://www.aitdomains.com/, http://www.directnic.com/, and http://godaddy.com are examples of registrars that have been in business a long time. It is important to do enough research to establish that the registrar you are dealing with is reputable or personal information you supply, like credit card numbers or e-mail addresses, could be in jeopardy.
Many people just want their Web master or Web host to do everything and not be bothered, but companies go out of business, disagreements with Web masters happen, scams or deaths occur. You need control over your own domain name. If you must rely on someone else to do the actual registration, be sure they register the domain in your name with your contact information. I have had customer’s domains held ransom in order to regain control of a name that a “friend” or Web master had registered in their own names. This happens with great regularity. It should be understood up front by all parties: owner, Web master, and hosting provider, that your domain name is your own and all content on your Web site belongs to you. Verbal agreements are not legally binding. A written agreement is best.
Domain Name Renewals
Another very important point is to be sure to know the renewal date for the domain name and be sure to renew in a timely manner. If the name is not renewed, the first thing that happens is your Web site goes off the air. What may also happen while it is off the air is someone else can register the domain name. There are companies that monitor the net for dropped names and you may never be able to regain it, or it may cost you a lot of money to do so.
One safety device on domain name accounts is a registration lock which prevents anyone from transferring your account or modifying it in any way (domain name server modification, renewals, etc.) without your knowledge.
Also be aware that there are scams where a "registrar" contacts you proclaiming your registration is due and sending a bill. Be sure that you renew with the correct company and don't fall for scare tactics. When in doubt ask an expert.
Contact Information
Keep your contact information current with your domain name registrar, especially your e-mail address. This is the only way the registrar can send you notice of renewal dates and other important information. If you change your e-mail address and do not send communications from the address of record, the registrar will not make changes on your account without your faxing copies of identifying papers, in other words a lot of hassle, so keep records current.
If you have a Web site, you have to create a domain name. A great deal of thought should go in to the domain name selection. Some rules of thumb to help select successful domain names are:
- Short names are often best because they reduce the chances for misspellings and a potential visitor’s forgetting the correct name.
- Avoid plurals, hyphens, and abbreviations unless they are part of your brand name or the correct spelling of a word.
- The domain name should be easy to communicate verbally. The best choice is one you can tell a person you meet on the street and they will be able to remember it when they get home without writing it down.
- A domain name should include your brand name and/or keywords that make your product easier for customers to find. Rather than a non-descriptive name like jonesbrothers.com, a better choice might be jonesbrotherssaddles.com
- A “dot com” (.com) domain is usually the best choice rather than a .net , .org, etc. Customers usually try typing a name ending in .com first and may become sidetracked elsewhere.
- Names high in the alphabet help if directories or other services list domains in alphabetical order.
- Be sure the name you choose is not someone else’s registered trade name or trademark. You can look up the name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (http://www.uspto.gov/ ) and your state’s trademark database.
- When you find your best choice for a domain, register it immediately because someone else may register it if you delay.
- Eliminate prefixes. Once on the Web server, your Web master can set up your site so that when you type in the Web address you do not have to type in the prefixes of http:// and www. That will give you an advantage so folks can find you both ways. ( yourdomain.com or www.yourdomain.com) Those who do not type in those prefixes can also find the site and not receive a “site not found” message.
You should register your domain yourself. Domain registration is a very simple and straightforward procedure and there are many companies on the Internet that will register names for a wide variety of prices. http://www.networksolutions.com/ , http://www.aitdomains.com/, http://www.directnic.com/, and http://godaddy.com are examples of registrars that have been in business a long time. It is important to do enough research to establish that the registrar you are dealing with is reputable or personal information you supply, like credit card numbers or e-mail addresses, could be in jeopardy.
Many people just want their Web master or Web host to do everything and not be bothered, but companies go out of business, disagreements with Web masters happen, scams or deaths occur. You need control over your own domain name. If you must rely on someone else to do the actual registration, be sure they register the domain in your name with your contact information. I have had customer’s domains held ransom in order to regain control of a name that a “friend” or Web master had registered in their own names. This happens with great regularity. It should be understood up front by all parties: owner, Web master, and hosting provider, that your domain name is your own and all content on your Web site belongs to you. Verbal agreements are not legally binding. A written agreement is best.
Domain Name Renewals
Another very important point is to be sure to know the renewal date for the domain name and be sure to renew in a timely manner. If the name is not renewed, the first thing that happens is your Web site goes off the air. What may also happen while it is off the air is someone else can register the domain name. There are companies that monitor the net for dropped names and you may never be able to regain it, or it may cost you a lot of money to do so.
One safety device on domain name accounts is a registration lock which prevents anyone from transferring your account or modifying it in any way (domain name server modification, renewals, etc.) without your knowledge.
Also be aware that there are scams where a "registrar" contacts you proclaiming your registration is due and sending a bill. Be sure that you renew with the correct company and don't fall for scare tactics. When in doubt ask an expert.
Contact Information
Keep your contact information current with your domain name registrar, especially your e-mail address. This is the only way the registrar can send you notice of renewal dates and other important information. If you change your e-mail address and do not send communications from the address of record, the registrar will not make changes on your account without your faxing copies of identifying papers, in other words a lot of hassle, so keep records current.