Domain Names: Thinking Ahead

In the development of an ecommerce site it is conceivable that there is a roll out plan for your features and product lines. More than likely your initial foray into ecommerce is a microcosm of where you want to be sometime in the future.

When you are selecting domain names for your site it may make sense to consider the future of your site. Is it conceivable that the site will be spit in the future to concentrate on a specific product line or products that meet a specific need?

If, in the planning stages of your site, you have determined there may be a multiplication of webs sites you may want to purchase a suitable domain name now. The cost for the domain in minimal and may provide the assurance you need the site name will be available for you when you are ready to implement the next phase of your marketing plan.

If you do decide to go with a unique domain name you should consider purchasing the domain name with your actual business name in it.

Most people are so used to the phone book where the business can be located through the use of following the business name alphabetically. Don’t be surprised if there are those that simply guess that your domain name is simply the name of the company. For these consumers it can be a little frustrating to open up the browser, type in the name and come up empty.

With brick and mortar stores you try to find the best available property with an address that is familiar to your customers. If the site doesn’t work well, most businesses will move to a more visible location. This is the same scenario at work with domain names. A good domain name brings traffic - a bad domain name keeps people away. Work at keeping your domain short, on target and easy to remember.

More than 24 domain extensions are available. Obviously .com and .net are to the two primary extensions, however other extensions were added to provide the opportunity for flexibility in domain name choices.

Once you are ready to launch your new website be sure to distribute a press release both online and in print publications announcing the debut of your site. This is a key in online marketing. You decide what you will sell, you plan your strategy, you implement the design and then you do the hard work of marketing the site through every reputable means possible.