web hosting

How to Obtain a Memorable Domain Name

As each day passes, it becomes more difficult to obtain a popular domain name. Studies have shown that over 20 thousand domain names are registered on a daily basis. With all of these domain names being taken, a memorable domain name is very hard to obtain.  Gone are the days of obtaining main-keyword domain names such as “Domain.com” or “Keyword.com”. Simple domains like this are nearly impossible to obtain, unless of course you are willing and able to spend exuberant amounts of money. However, there are ways one can obtain a memorable domain name without lots of cash.

Obtaining a Popular Domain With Little Funds

One way you can acquire a professional domain name is by searching the database of infinite expired domain names.  Many times there are domains that have expired that would suit your keyword perfectly. Everyday new domain names expire that can potentially represent authoritative websites in your desired niche. Buying expired domain are not only more cost efficient, but it gives you the opportunity to gather a group of visitors that may have previously visit the expired domain. In some cases you may find yourself on the fortunate side of anothers misfortune. Domain names expire when the webmaster is unable to pay the renewal fees. Sometimes a domain owner may fall victim to an accident, or may simply be unable to maintain their website, leaving you to pick up where they’ve left off.

Where to Find Expired Domain Names

Finding the right expired domain is a task that requires plenty of diligence and searching. Settling for the first domain name that is available is not necessarily the best route. However, it may be advisable to rack up on as many domain names as possible, giving your business more visibility. If you are searching for that one domain name that is going to give your site the reputability you’re seeking, then you may need to enlist the help of an auction sniping software. Since domain names are sold at auction most of the time, it can be hard to squeeze in the last bid, thereby securing your chances of obtaining the perfect domain name for your online business.

Domain Name Sniping

However with auction sniping software, you can set a maximum amount of money that you would like to bid, and the software will automatically bid for you in set increments of time and money. For example, you can place the maximum bid of $500, and  the software will automatically place bids in increments of $10 every 30 minutes, or to the specifications you desire. In fact there are also sniping softwares that are made especially for domain name sniping, that will notify you when the best domain names are available as soon as they expire, based on your keyword preferences.

The Power of Branding: What’s in a Name?

Acquiring a good domain name nowadays can be very difficult, as it seems like all of the good names have been taken. In the beginning of the domain name game, you could acquire any name you wanted without failure, now as corporations buy domains by the thousands it has become nearly impossible to find a name that will suit your business perfectly. However, it is important not to give up on your search for the perfect domain name. The name of your website will be your online brand. Having a memorable and authoritative brand is very important because it will give you a presence in your niche.

Building an Online Reputation Through Branding

You may think that the name of your website does not matter, however this couldn’t be further from the truth. Even the best search engine optimization experts on the planet cannot give you what a good domain name can. The first thing people will mention when they talk about your website is the domain name. With countless millions of websites online, it is very important to have a name that is simple to remember.

Every domain name is completely unique, therefore it can be seen as your online fingerprint. The entire identity of your online business will be decided primarily by your domain name. Simply having a good domain name will make your site appear to be more credible, and it can even make the search engines favor your site more, depending upon what keywords your domain names contain.

Finding The Right Domain Name

Thousands of domains are purchased each day, and every moment you let pass without purchasing your dream domain, is another opportunity for your competition to purchase it first. Some individuals and companies purchase domain names by the hundreds just to turn around and sell them for ridiculous prices to people that need them in the future. If these companies can make a living off of finding good domain names, then surely you can find just one to represent your online business!

Finding the right name can be a very difficult process, but before you resort to paying an exuberant amount of cash to retrieve your desired domain name, you should consider your options. If you lack in the creativity department you could use a domain name generator software that will automatically generate concepts for you. You could also enlist the help of freelancers. There are many creative minds online in forum communities that would be willing to lend a helping hand for just a few extra dollars You could hold a contest in one of these forums and specify what you are looking for in a domain name. This is a good way to brainstorm with other people from all walks of life.

Don’t Hesitate

If you have an idea for a domain name now, then I would strongly suggest that you purchase it now before someone else does. You never know when the domain name will no longer be available.

Your domain name is a very important part of your online business, in fact without a memorable name your entire business could fail based on this factor alone! Remember this the next time someone asks you “What’s in a name?” Give them this answer: “Success!”

How Much is A Domain Name Really Worth?

In an economy where businesses are failing at alarming rates, domain name auction sites are cashing in. New domain name auction sites are popping up everywhere offering domain names that were once selling for $6-$10 at staggering prices. The question many of us ponder is, “How do they do it and who is actually going to pay that much for a $6 domain name?”

For an internet marketer, a seasoned domain name is worth its weight in gold. It comes complete with all the things an internet marketer would pay money for and spend time (often lots of it) to attain. Let’s take a look at a few of the things that may come as part of the package when you happen upon a great expired domain:

Traffic – Even though a domain is expired, it will still show up in the search engine results. The older that domain name is, the more search results it is likely to be associated with. An internet marketer could potentially save thousands of marketing dollars by simply buying an expired domain name for a product that falls in the same or a similar category as the one they currently offer. Traffic from website text, blogs and videos for the expired domain will now be directed to you, the new domain name owner.

Reputation – If you do your homework, you could benefit from the reputation for quality and service that was built by a now-defunct business. A good example of this is in the mortgage and real estate industry. Many brokers who had great domain names are no longer in business after being around for decades. People are still being directed to their expired domains as a result of seasoned search results. The important point here is to remember to do your homework. Every broker in the industry did not have a good reputation.

Page Rank and Links – If you buy an expired domain while it’s hot and fresh, you’ll reap the benefit of the Google and Alexa page rank that it carried. You will also enjoy the back links from other sites that were once associated with the now-expired domain name.

Increased Profitability or a New Revenue Stream – An expired domain can be profitable in more ways than one. There is the obvious increase in sales that come from the traffic associated with an expired domain. But for some, selling and trading (or flipping) expired domains has become a new business venture.  There are lots of websites that sell internet marketing guides on how to market expired domains easily and quickly.

Content ideas – If you were at a loss for content ideas, you may be able to work with the previous domain name owner to borrow some of their content ideas. One millionaire internet marketer used this strategy very effectively. He found a domain name that he wanted and bought both it and the sales copy from the owner. He paid a few thousand dollars for it but made millions. That domain name was definitely worth its weight in gold.

These are just a few of the considerations that are calculated into the pricing of an expired domain name. As the percentage of the world’s population that buys via the internet continues to rise, we are likely to continue to see expired domain name prices rise too.

Should You Buy Domains in Bulk?

If you feel that you need more than one domain, you may want to consider purchasing them in bulk.  This is the case whether you are an investor, or just someone who wants a greater value for their dollar.  So what’s in it for you?  Many benefits, as we have outlined below:

Cost Savings

The most obvious advantage to buying domain names in bulk is the cost savings you will enjoy.  Okay, we all know that domain names are not very expensive these days, going for less than $10 at most registrars.  However, almost all services provide generous discounts to customers who make their purchases in bulk.  Even twenty or thirty cents can add up to a several dollars and result in a great value for your money.  Depending on your requirements, you may come out with a deal that is equivalent to a couple of free domain names.

Time Savings

What is the next best thing to saving money?  Saving time.  After all, registering each domain one by one can be very time consuming.  By choosing to purchase in bulk, you can simply register all of your domain names at one time and be done with it.  Not only will this help you save time on the registration process, but also on renewals.  Consumers are more pressed for time than ever these days.  If you run an online business or maintain a couple of websites, you probably know this all too well.

Reduced Maintenance

Far too many domains are lost because the owners simply do not know they are up for renewal.  Of course it is there responsibility, but a more efficient management system would make this far less likely to occur.  Domain registrars offer all sorts of features to make sure you can secure your web presence by renewing your registration on time.  No more creating a spreadsheet and performing tedious manual maintenance. You can now purchase bulk domains and rest easy by knowing that managing and renewing them is a piece of cake.

Important Factors to Consider

There are some things you need to know before purchasing domain names in bulk.  For example, how many domains do you have to purchase to qualify for a discount?  Is there a certain minimum or maximum required?  These factors and others must be considered before giving the registrar your hard earned money.  The overall value you obtain will largely depend on the company you sign up with.  Even bulk purchases can turn out to costly if the registrar can’t be relied on.

Conclusion

If you require multiple domains for any variety of reasons, you can save yourself a lot of money and grief by purchasing those names in bulk.  Take note that finding the best deals may require you to get a little investigative.  Sometimes these discounts are not advertised and therefore, you may not find out unless you inquire about them.  In the end, purchasing domain names in bulk could turn out to be something that not only helps you save time, but also helps boost your bottom line.

The Benefits of Country-Specific Domains

When going to register a domain name, you probably look for something with a .com TLD or decide to settle on .net if your first choice is not available.  This is very understandable being that both of them add more professionalism and credibility to your web presence.  While neither of these extensions make a bad choice, there are several reasons why you may want to consider registering a country-specific domain instead.

SEO Benefits

There are many cases when the major search engines will provide higher search engine rankings for web pages that have country-specific TLDs.  For example, if an internet user from Canada is searching for software consulting services in that specific country, the site at mysoftware.ca may rank higher than another website with a .com extension selling the same product.  This type of domain can also help increase your visibility through directories commonly referenced by local web surfers.  Directories make a great way to enhance search engine rankings and build qualities links that lead to more traffic to your website.

Boost Customer Confidence

Having a country-specific domain can help increase confidence in customers as many of them feel more comfortable purchasing from local merchants.  For them, it makes it much easier to track their sales and follow up with any questions or concerns regarding the product.  Even though business is conducted across international borders everyday, some customers would just like to know that they are dealing with someone residing in the same country rather than one operating in a foreign locality.

Better Identify Your Audience

Another benefit to country-specific domain names is that you are better to identify where your customers are actually located.  This makes things more convenient for both you and the customer.  You can easily display products and services targeted at shoppers in that particular region and customers do not have to worry about choosing the geographic area they are located in.  Again, this gives your site that local feel and instills the confidence the customer needs to feel safer doing business with you.

Maximize Your Potential

When factoring in their distinct advantages, you may want to consider registering both a country-specific TLD and a traditional extension such as .com or .net.  This is a simple but strategic move that makes your business appealing to both international and national audiences.  You should never overlook the potential sales and business that can be reaped from a domain name and all it takes is another small investment for an additional name that could result in huge benefits.

Conclusion

There are many domain name extensions available and the ICANN seems to be adding new ones on a regular basis.  The country-specific variation represents a very broad category and as you can see, offers a wealth of benefits.  While you have a vast selection to choose from, you should always keep yourself open to such an excellent opportunity that could help you attract other markets and extend your reach online.