What's In A Name?

The Value of Registering Your Domain Name
by Michelle Roy;

Your Domain Name is your Internet Address. If you want people to find you easily on the Internet, you have to have a name that is easily remembered. You need one that is simple, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to brand. There is also huge value in registering your company name as your Domain Name.

If we think of the Internet in terms of age, we can agree that it is young. It still has a lot of growing and developing to do before it even comes close to hitting its prime. This means we still have a chance to jump on the bandwagon and enjoy a little of our own online success.

The Internet has already done so much to open up world markets. The idiom "the global village" is not just a cool catch phrase. It is the perfect saying to describe the Internet today. The next online wave is going to be further development of "the local village" whereby the local market is opened up to consumers on a much bigger level.

Experts predict that in the next five years people will be doing most of their shopping via their computer. Imagine being able to buy your groceries in a one-stop-shopping store (online) and have the computer check for the best prices from all the various stores in your local area. Then drop off your items at your door within the hour! Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, its already happening. People are even ordering pizza online!

Nielson Media Research's latest estimate states that there are 92 million adults online in North America, with women accounting for 46 percent of users. The study found a 40% increase in the number of people buying online over the last nine months, with the number of women making online purchases increasing by 80%. According to the Association of National Advertisers, 44% of US companies are selling online now, and 36% more expect to do so in the next 12 months.

We cannot sit back and wait for all this to happen though. The best way to get ahead, is to get ahead of the trends. Get a great Domain Name while you still can. Then, once you set up your site you can start offering people incentives to visit you online. Offer online deals, free give-a-ways, anything that will attract attention. Work your way up to having a full-scale operational online company.

But remember, your first and most important step is to get a great Domain Name. You need something simple that is easy to remember. If the name of your company is Herb's Fresh Fruit and Meats (for example) then you should register a name that matches your business name. Your customers already know your store by that name so they'll find you easily on the Internet under the same name. If you decide you'd also like people from around the world to visit your site then you may need to register a more general name and URL Forward it to your business's name.

Just remember that your name is your Internet Address. It is how people will find you on the Internet. Having a Domain Name that is easy to remember, to pronounce, and to spell will show your customers that you are Internet savvy.