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How To Secure Your Chosen Domain Name.

The Internet, and more particularly, domain names have become the modern day equivalent of the old 'gold rush' and this is a simple guide show you how to secure your own personal nugget.

One of the most important considerations when starting a new business is the name under which you are going to trade. In times gone by, this was as simple as making sure that nobody locally was already using something similar. Today, you also need to consider whether there are any acceptable domain names left!

1. Check availability

- Go to freeparking.co.uk. Freeparking.co.uk are just one of hundreds (if not thousands of similar providers. We we have used them ourselves and have found them to be extremely easy to use and competitively priced! (Do double check though!)

- If you are in business already, your existing company name is clearly a good place to start.

- Search for either your country extension (.co.uk or .co.nz etc) or .com, .net, .org or .biz Google seems to have a preference for these. Most of the other more obscure extensions should be avoided unless particularly appropriate to your business.

- Check prices! .com is generally a little more expensive than a .co.uk for example.

- If there is nothing suitable, consider relevant keywords (for example B&Q use diy.com)

- If you are starting a business from scratch you could consider a less obvious/made up name - it hasnt done the likes of Google, Zoopla, or Yahoo any harm! This may mean that you have to work harder to build a brand.

2. Reserve it quick!

- Even if you do not need it immediately, if you find the right domain, snap it up!

- By purchasing the domain name independently from hosting/webspace means that you retain control at all times. It is easy to point/re-direct the name as and when you need to.

- If you are likely to use/need others - search for and buy those too. The cost to buy is so cheap, it is probably better to risk losing a few £s or $s rather than lose the ideal domain.

It is as simple as that!


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