September 5th, 2009 | 
Author: 
Web domain names are probably the most important thing to get right when starting a website. The domain name can literally make or break the success of your website. It is what people first see when they are searching in Google and it is the acid test that many use to ascertain whether it is worth taking a look or not.
First things first – what exactly is a web domain name? Technically speaking it is a label for identification that defines a realm of administrative authority on the internet using the Domain Name System (DNS). Simply put – it’s the name given to your little corner of the internet. Web domain names are organized hierarchically in subordinate levels – with the top hierarchy being TLDs (Top Level Domains, ie: .com, .net etc) then ccTLDs (country code Top Level Domains) and then going down.
The most popular (and therefore useful) TLD is of course – .com, as it is the easiest TLD to remember. It also gives you a global reach and will ensure that you website does not get classified as “local specific” – which can effectively break a good website’s rise in popularity. Many search engines will tailor the information they gather to a person’s geographic location first and foremost. Having a ccTLD will help, but if you want to expand it will become difficult.
The other issue with web domain names is choosing the actual name. It’s all fine and dandy if someone tells you to choose something simple and catchy – but what if the majority of the really good names are taken that are available in your field? The only answer to this is to GET CREATIVE! A really amazing example is delicious. It is a social bookmarking site that you go to by entering de.licio.us (no www and no .com!) – The website founder took what looked like a bad moment and turned it into an online phenomenon. This subdomaining trick can be used to great effect. Is your favored name taken? It’s simply a matter of partitioning the name into easy to remember pieces and making it into what you desire.
Another option is to use dashes in the name itself. Generally though, this is not the best of ideas. In recent times – domain names which use many dashes have been abused by spammers to such an extent that any website that has more than one dash is viewed with suspicion by both surfers and search engines alike. A strategic dash could help with choosing a domain name, but it is best to use consecutive words unless your idea has a really (and I mean really really) long name.
So as long as you keep these things in mind when choosing a domain name – you will not have a problem getting your website started. However, this is only among the first steps in website development, but if you start properly you will have far less headaches in the future.
By: Donna Walsh
About the Author:
First things first – what exactly is a web domain name? Technically speaking it is a label for identification that defines a realm of administrative authority on the internet using the Domain Name System (DNS). Simply put – it’s the name given to your little corner of the internet. Web domain names are organized hierarchically in subordinate levels – with the top hierarchy being TLDs (Top Level Domains, ie: .com, .net etc) then ccTLDs (country code Top Level Domains) and then going down.
The most popular (and therefore useful) TLD is of course – .com, as it is the easiest TLD to remember. It also gives you a global reach and will ensure that you website does not get classified as “local specific” – which can effectively break a good website’s rise in popularity. Many search engines will tailor the information they gather to a person’s geographic location first and foremost. Having a ccTLD will help, but if you want to expand it will become difficult.
The other issue with web domain names is choosing the actual name. It’s all fine and dandy if someone tells you to choose something simple and catchy – but what if the majority of the really good names are taken that are available in your field? The only answer to this is to GET CREATIVE! A really amazing example is delicious. It is a social bookmarking site that you go to by entering de.licio.us (no www and no .com!) – The website founder took what looked like a bad moment and turned it into an online phenomenon. This subdomaining trick can be used to great effect. Is your favored name taken? It’s simply a matter of partitioning the name into easy to remember pieces and making it into what you desire.
Another option is to use dashes in the name itself. Generally though, this is not the best of ideas. In recent times – domain names which use many dashes have been abused by spammers to such an extent that any website that has more than one dash is viewed with suspicion by both surfers and search engines alike. A strategic dash could help with choosing a domain name, but it is best to use consecutive words unless your idea has a really (and I mean really really) long name.
So as long as you keep these things in mind when choosing a domain name – you will not have a problem getting your website started. However, this is only among the first steps in website development, but if you start properly you will have far less headaches in the future.
By: Donna Walsh
About the Author:
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Category: Domain Names | Tags: Acid Test, Cctld, Domain Name System, Global Reach, Hierarchy, Internet Names, People, Popularity, Search Engines, Top Level Domains | 
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