Domains

Got any tips on finding a good domain name?

You bet. While it's really easy to register a domain, having a good domain strategy helps you register the best domain name possible. Here are some hints:

Make it easy to remember. This is why many businesses get domains with their business names in them. Some people even choose their business name only after they have a domain they like.

Don't register one that's trademarked, copyrighted, or being used by another company. This can lead to losing the domain and legal problems.

Shorter is usually better because they're easier for customers to remember. It's also easier to get matching usernames for Facebook, Twitter and any other social media accounts you have.

Got a local business? Include your neighborhood, city or country in your domain so local customers can quickly see where you are. Check the list of geographic domain extensions — .berlin .nyc — to see if there's one for your area.

Avoid numbers or hyphens. Anyone who hears your web address won't know if you're using a numeral 5 or "five". If your business name has a number in it, register both versions — with the number and with the number spelled out. (Dashes are just asking for trouble and generally look unprofessional.)

Get more than one. As traffic to your website increases, you may attract then attention of copycats who'll snatch up similar domain names in hopes of drawing traffic away from you. Register similar or misspelled domains early so this won't be an issue later.