What is a Domain name?

The unique name that identifies an Internet site. Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots. The part on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right is the most general. Every company or organization that wants to be on the internet will register a domain name for use as their on-line identity or name that clients (customers, all internet users) will use to access on-line services such as the organization's website or email system. For example, Rev-Creations, Inc. registered the domain name REV-CREATIONS.COM, so users on the internet can access our website (and order services, etc) at WWW.REV-CREATIONS.COM and send email to Rev-Creations, Inc. employees at username@REV-CREATIONS.COM. Much like a company's name, logo, or 800 number, a domain name has marketing value when customers can easily remember and associate it with the organization. Since over 11 million domain names have already been registered world-wide, it can be difficult to find a good domain name.

How to Select a Good Domain Name

1. Short.
A good domain name should be short, the shorter the better. Short is better chiefly for two reasons: it is easy to spell without error and it is memorable.

2. Memorable
But not all short URLs are memorable. Some domain name like bscs.com, the initials for Boyle's Sierra Carpeting Sales. Sure, bscs.com is short, but it is only memorable to a handful of company insiders. Now if you're IBM, then using initials for your domain name makes sense; that's how your customers know you. But most of the time, using initials for your domain name is a most unmemorable and customer-unfriendly approach to business.

If the domain name makes no sense in and of itself it is not memorable, and your customers won't be able to remember what in the world it is. Much better would be a domain name like boylescarpet.com, for it is both memorable and meaningful.

And also rhythm and meter can make a business name or domain name memorable.

3. Related to your services or products
A domain name normally is an indication as to the product or service you offer. The very best domain name should be one you can guess.

4. Hard to Misspell
Our fourth criterion may seem obvious -- hard to misspell -- but you'd be surprised how many domain names are tough to spell if you've only heard it orally. Many people are poor spellers. Still others are poor typists. Combine them together and you're better off with a short, memorable, logical, easy-to-spell domain name.