Discover How to Buy a Top Level Domain Name Using Two Simple Techniques


by Michelle Driver - Date: 2007-02-07 - Word Count: 1896 Share This!

In a recent article, I wrote about the importance of choosing a domain name that is highly descriptive of the product or service you intend to promote. If you've taken the time recently to do an availability search for a top level domain name (.com or .net domain name) that is descriptive of your product or service, you probably already know that most "highly descriptive top level domain names" are already taken and how increasingly difficult it now is to find one. Even so, don't give up all hope because in this article you will discover two simple techniques you can use to secure a top level domain name that is highly descriptive of the product or service you're promoting or intend to promote. Be aware, however, that sometimes, even using these techniques, you still may not find a suitable top level domain name. If this turns out to be the case, don't fret, because in this article you'll also discover the alternative to choosing a top level domain name.

Anytime you're on the verge of making a rewarding discovery is an exciting adventure, so hold on to that excitement and lets get going. In a moment you are going to discover two simple techniques that' ll help you locate and purchase a top level domain name. You'll also discover the "alternative to choosing a top level domain name." There's an old saying that "they're not making any more land." Well, I'm here to tell you, "they're not making any more top level domain names either," so you better grab them while you can.

In response to the growing scarcity of top level domain names (.com and .net domain names), registrars, appeasing the increasing demand for domain names, have introduced the "alternative to choosing a top level domain name." Registrars are now offering domain names with numerous other extensions. For example, you can now choose extensions like .info, .us, .mobi, .tv, .ws, .cc, .name, .de, .jp, or one of the many others that's available for purchase form the domain name registrar.

However, before even considering the above "alternative...," we will, first, take a look at two techniques that will help you find a top level domain name (.com or .net). Keep in mind when starting your start that there is going to be a certain amount of work required to find a highly descriptive domain name, that's because many of them have already been purchased. To keep yourself motivated and combat the frustration that can ensue when you keep entering different combinations of domain names, only to find that they are already taken by someone else, keep the following fact in mind. Search engines will always rank your site higher (send you more traffic) when there is a clear relationship between your domain name and website theme (the main purpose of your website); provided, your website is SEO optimized. Because more traffic can translate into more sales, putting forth the extra effort to find a top level domain name (.com or .net) is well worth the frustration.

There's just no getting around the fact that when it comes to searching the Internet, surfers are predisposed to give priority to websites with a .com or .net extension. Now don't get all depressed if you already have an extension other than a .com or a .net because I assure you, regardless of the extension, with the right marketing you can still make still make money on the Internet and your business can succeed, as well as anyone else's. It's just that surfers are predisposed to choose a .com or a .net; It doesn't mean they want visit your site. Perhaps surfers feel that a .com or .net extension has more credibility because the .com and .net have been around longer and are more original. Whatever the reason for their predisposition, though, you can prove the its validity to yourself, right now. Go to your browser and type into it any domain name that comes to mind. Chances are almost certain that you'll enter or at least have a strong tendency to enter the extension .com or .net at the end; that is, provided you don't let what I've said here influence you to deliberately enter some other extension into your browser. Since there is always an exception to most anything though, it's possible that you are predisposed to type some extension other than .com or .net. If that happens to be your preference, that's okay; but the fact is, regardless of your preference, the majority of surfers are going to be predisposed to type .com or .net, so wouldn't you agree that it's to your advantage to have a top level domain name. After all, more traffic eventually can translate into more income. My point here is merely to point out that when available, it's best to choose a .com extension and then from there, a .net extension, is you can find one that highly descriptive.

Let me mention, however, that there are times when you may want to deliberately choose a domain name with a suffix other than .com or .net, but venturing there is something that should be left to the seasoned pros, not someone just starting out in an Internet business. The reason is that seasoned pros usually have more money to spend, enough so, that they can market a domain name with most any extension and make it go. Whereas someone new to the market usually has a small or non existence budget that would severally hamper them in trying to promote a domain name with an extension other than the .com or .net. Let me quickly emphasize, however, that there are creative ways to promote any domain name, regardless of its extension, or having a large budget; but most beginners usually are not familiar with these methods. So, if you are a beginner, try your best to get the .com or .net extensions when available, as these extensions will more readily build trust in the minds of your visitors and, provided your product or service is good and worth the asking price, a .com or .net domain name will help you will make more sales. And believe me when I say, while sales are important to everyone, they are especially important to the beginner entrepreneur who usually is operating on a tight or non existent budget. To him/her a sale means much more than to someone who is already making dozens and even hundreds of sales a day.

Here are the two techniques that will help you find a top level domain name that is highly descriptive of the product or service you're promoting. Keeping in mind that a highly descriptive domain name is one that's coordinated with your website theme (the purpose of your website), lets start with the ""plural variation" technique. To give an example of how you can use this technique, say for instance you want to create a website about " hamburgers" If that were the case, you would start your search by choosing a domain name with the phrase "hamburger(blank)" or a similar variation (of course, you would need to omit the brackets and insert a name, For example, hamburger(blank) would become hamburgerdelicious or whatever name you insert). If you found that "hamburger(blank).com or a similar variation were not available, you would then try the "plural "variation technique." To use the "plural variation," you simply make the variation plural. For example, instead of hamburger(blank), you could try hamburgers(blank) or hamburger(blanks). Usually though when the singular version is taken, you will find that most of the plurals versions are also taken, but not always.

The second technique is "substitution. To understand this technique, say for example you did a check on the domain name homebusinessprofit.com and found that it wasn't available, using "substitution." you could try a variation of the name using the numbers 2, 4, and so on. For instance, using the number 2, you could try homebusines2profit.com, and if that name was also taken, you could try using homebusiness4profit.com and so, using different variations, until you hopefully found one that's appropriate. However, when using numbers to find an acceptable domain name there are two things you should avoid. First, do not make the domain name unnecessarily too long, and do not use numbers to begin a domain name. Second, while numbers are acceptable inside a domain name as shown in the above example, you should never use a number to begin a domain name.

Here's another example, using the "substitution" technique. Say for example you have the domain name, "homebusiness4profit.com" from our above example, by using substitution, if that name were already taken, you could try the variation homebusiness4Uprofit.com or homebusiness4U.com or a similar variation. Although you could use any number or letter in the "substitution technique," I've chosen the number 2 and 4 and the letter U because the number 2 could mean to, too, or two. The number 4 could mean for or four. The letter U could mean you. Continuing with this example, when you verbalize the name "homebusiness2profit.com, it would sound like home business to profit dot com, when you verbalize homebusiness4profit.com, it would sound like home business for profit dot com, and Homebusiness4U.com verbalized would sound like home business for you dot com.

Using these two techniques, "substitution" and "plural variation," and a little creative imagination, you may be able to secure a top level domain name (.com or .net) that is highly descriptive of the product or service you intend to promote. Oftentimes the search can become a frustrating experience, as you enter numerous variations of the domain name of your choice, one after the other, only to find that someone else has already purchased it. However, the effort spent is well worth the reward of finding a top level domain name (.com or .net).

Yes! It does require work to find a top level, highly descriptive domain name, so be prepared to keep yourself motivated to put forth the needed effort by reminding yourself of the fact that search engines, regardless of the domain name extension, will always rank your site higher (send you more traffic) when your domain name is highly descriptive of your website theme (the main purpose of your website); provided, of course, your website is SEO optimized. Even so, for reasons stated already, its always your best choice to choose a top level domain name (.com or .net). However, if one is not available, the solution is to use the "alternative to choosing a top level domain name" and find a highly descriptive domain name using the other available suffixes, namely, the .info, .us,.mobi, .tv, .ws, .cc, .name, .de, .jp, or one of the many others that's available to purchase from your favorite domain name registrar.

Why You Should Select and Register Your Domain Name Using 4 Easy Steps
Copyright © 2007 Michelle Driver

Michelle Driver makes it easy to start your own home based business as a domain name and hosting reseller. Learn how to quickly increase your income in the comfort of your own home by visiting: http://hostdomaincom.com/resellers.html

If you are in a hurry to register your domain name, use this link: http://hostdomaincom.com
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