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One of the first steps to creating your website is getting a domain name. You might get stuck on this part but don't! It's not that big of a deal and you can get one for under 10$ a year. Even if you don't end up using the domain name you chose, and want a different one, you can just drop it at anytime. You can have as many domain names as you want! (I currently have about 20 domain names myself- and I am only using about 10 of them. The rest are just sitting for future projects).
So, here's how you do it:
Choose a domain registry:
I use GoDaddy.com , its cheap (under 10$) and had an admin control panel where you can make my own changes (very important!!). There are other domain registrars such as register.com, which are also good, reputable, and have good prices. When searching for where you will finally register your domain, just make sure that you have your own control panel where you will be able to enter the DNS servers yourself and also will be able to transfer the domain to another registrar at a later time if necessary.
Choosing your domain name:
What kind of domain name could you have for your business? Maybe you make gift baskets, look for a domain something like myowngiftbasket.com, or for crafts coolfuncrafts.com - are just a couple of examples. You could add your name as well: victoriasfuncrafts.com, but in case you decide to sell your online business at a later time, it will be easier if you don't have your name attached. You will have to do a few searches to see if the domains you want are taken as many are. Don't be discouraged, there are many good domain names for your business!
Some tips in choosing your domain:
Make it easy to type out
Choose something that you can type out easily with your keyboard. Sounds pretty basic, but I have been frustrated many times while trying to type out complicated domain names. Something like peterpiperpickedapepper.com may be easy to remember, but annoying to type out.
Avoid strange spelling
Have you ever remembered a website name but can't get the spelling right? Something like dealzsite4U.com gets confusing and very difficult to remember. Look at all the possiblilties: dealsite4you, dealssiteforU, dealssite4u - I think you get the meaning. If you really must have the name dealssiteforyou, try to add dashes, deals-site-for-you.com.
Don't use long acronyms
Talk about confusing - I can never remember the name of my banks' website because its one big long acronym - I'll give you an example of a long acronym: pccmoa.com. (pine creek city museum of arts).
Watch the plurals as well
Make sure it doesn't sound confusing when you say it out loud. When you can't find the exact domain you want, it will be tempting to add an 's' to part of your domain. You don't want your visitors going to your competitions website by accident. For example, something like websitesale.com sounds just the same as websitessale - making website(s) plural. Too confusing!
.com or .net
Stick to the .com instead of .net or .info which will be hard for your customers to remember, and again, too easy for your visitors to confuse with your competitors website.
You can do the following test to ensure you picked something easy enough:
Pick up the phone and repeat the desired domain name to a couple of friends or family members and have them write the domain name on paper. Can they spell it? Did they have to ask you to repeat it 5 times? Something like sweetzRus.com (sweets are us), besides easily getting misspelled, try explaining the spelling to someone on the phone!
Don't lose customers by having difficult domain names.
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