A web site could be your shop window on the world. When you consider the price of advertising a web site will be one of the least expensive marketing tools you will ever own. 

Potential customers, around the world, need goods and services 24 hours a day 7 days a week, your web site gives you the potential to satisfy that need. Use your web site to publise and promote your business and products. Putting your web site address and email address on all of your marketing materials and stationary will encourage business partners, clients and the public to find out more about your business and products providing them with the opportunity to arrive at informed business decisions.

Purchasing a domain name is the first step toward your company having a web presence. A domain name  uniquely identifies your web site on the Internet, it is owned by you.

Below are some tips to choosing a domain name, if you need any help making a decision please feel free to contact us.

Select a Domain Name that Reflects Your Web Site

Although choosing a domain name that reflects your company name may seem like a good idea it may be a better one to choose a domain name that reflects the focus of your web site. If your web site is about providing riding holidays then a domain name like www.ridingholidays.co.uk might be a better choice than a domain name based on the stable name.

Select a Domain Name that Contains Your Web Site's Keywords

Another consideration of great importance are your keywords. Try to select a domain name that contains your most relevant keyword phrase as some Search Engines attach great relevance to them. A keyword phrase is two or more words that best describe your web site. If your web site is focusing on providing riding holidays, your best keyword phrase will be "riding holidays".

Select a Domain Name that will be Easily Remembered

Choose a domain name that will be easily remembered, www.ridingholidays.co.uk is good example, it contains the most relevant keyword phrase and describes the web site in explicit detail.

Select the Best Domain Name Extension

Although dotcom is, probably, the most memorable domain name extension it may not be the most appropriate if you are not a global business or do not have global aspirations. A dot-co-dot-uk domain name extension may give a clearer message to visitors about your intended audience or market.

Avoid Using Non Alphabetic Characters in Your Domain Name

Try to use only characters from the alphabet in your domain name, using numbers and characters such as dash and underscore can lead to confusion. Choosing www.a1products.co.uk could lead to visitors going to www.aoneproducts.co.uk instead, potentially a rival's web site!

Avoid Using Abbreviations Within Your Domain Name

Your domain name must be easy to remember and to type (without the risk of typos). It may work for the likes of IBM and HP but www.wrkfrmhome.co.uk may be a more risky choice.

Avoid Using Long Domain Names

Your domain name must be easy to remember, and to type, the longer the name the greater the risk that it will mis-typed or partially forgotten.

Take your time and select a quality domain name that will grow with your business. It will be well-worth your time and effort in the long run.

Create a list of potential domain names, the chances are that your first choice will already be taken. Hopefully, one of the domain names on your list will be available. You can check the availability of UK domain names at Nominet by using the WHOIS checker.