Dot com or dot net, which is the best domain name to settle for?

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let us also appreciate fact it is becoming increasingly difficult for anybody to land a decent dot com address. After years of use, there is hardly any short catchy name that you can think of that will not have been already taken up. Do not even mention search-engine key word friendly domain names which will be virtually impossible to get. This is reason why folks often settle for a dot net address. Others do not even bother to start their search with dot com domains. This is a big mistake despite unavailability of good dot com domains, which we have already acknowledged.

Exhaustive efforts should be made to try and secure a dot com domain before you give up and move to dot net. For example you can try and search for abandoned domain names. In fact by making an effort to be really creative and not hurrying process, it is quite possible to secure a reasonably good dot com domain. You can be sure that it will be well worth extra effort and time you put into it. More so when you begin to seek traffic. Of course if you just cannot get a dot com domain, a dot net one is a good second choice.

 

About the author: Chris K. is a Technical Executive Writer for Website Source, Inc. http://www.websitesource.com. His established writing skills coupled with experience in the website hosting industry have provided internet professionals with marketing, product and service ideas for many years.

Domain Names 101

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obtaining domain name you really want, rather than settling for a .com domain name that is just so-so.

Where should I register my domain?

I have been dealing with domain names for quite some time now, so I've dealt with many domain name registrars. An important factor that you may not consider right away is how much control you have over your domain name(s). The key is going with a company that has a well known reputation. Reputations speak for themselves. The company you choose should have outstanding customer support and a simple control panel so that you can easily control your domain name settings.

For domain name registration, I recommend two companies. 1) www.GoDaddy.com , and 2) www.eNom.com *. Both of these companies have outstanding reputations, plus offer best control panels I've seen. The last thing you want is to be overwhelmed by your domain name. If it so happens that you don't like registrars I've recommended, feel free to do your own research, and find a company that works for you and your business.

The Aftermarket

Unless domain name you want to register is very unique, I wouldn't count on it being available for registration using .com extension. That's not to say that it's not for sale, however. After you try to register your name, and you find that has already been registered, go directly to web address on net, and see what's there. Sometimes there will be a developed website, sometimes there will be nothing but an error page, and sometimes you will find that domain name is for sale by owner. You can then attempt to contact current owner to purchase domain on aftermarket.

Domain names are generally more expensive on aftermarket, so expect to pay more than you would if you were registering domain name through a company like GoDaddy.com. Keep in mind domain name market is competitive. The cost can be tremendous depending on demand for name. If you are just starting out, using an alternative extension would be a better option for you. Those will a larger budget should seriously consider investing in their first choice domain name if option is available.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that your domain name is your web presence. You want people to remember your domain name, and never forget it. Try to choose something that represents your website or business, while being memorable and pleasant to say aloud. People tend to forget cumbersome domain names with too many words. Try to keep it as short as possible, if possible and let it flow.

I chose DomainBash.com because it related to domain names, without being restrictive. It is also unique which allows me trademark or brand name. Combining a more common keyword, in this case “domain” with another word that is less commonly used “bash” is always a good idea if you want to include keywords in your domain.

If you have any questions relating to this article, and you still don't feel prepared to register a domain name, please feel free to contact me, and I will help you in any way that I can.

Jennifer Chiera

Webmaster/Domain Name Speculator/Investor

DomainBash.com