Gabriel Machuret | SEO consultant

When looking for a domain name for your internet business, it’s important to ask yourself whether the new name is going to build or damage your new venture. There are critical things that you have to consider and research thoroughly before registering your choice of domain name.

First things first, a domain name is what makes your life on the internet easier and fun. Each computer on the cyberspace is identified using an IP address i.e. four sets of numbers that allows 2 or more computers to communicate via a network. For instance, the IP address for Google.Com is 216.239.39.99. Entering this IP address in the address bar, or keying in www.google.com will get you to Google’s home page. Sadly, human beings have a problem memorizing our phone numbers leave alone a lot of digits for different websites.

This is where domain names come into play – they help people remember how to get a website. You would be inclined to think that selecting a domain name is simply a matter of selecting a unique name that people would memorize easily. The biggest problem with this approach is that many lack the funds required to turn a name into a brand name, hence rely on the search engines. Selecting a good domain name starts with the major keywords you choose to focus on in the website. Before you establish your online business, you have to conduct some research to determine the keywords that generate the most traffic and the number of websites wanting the same keyword.

This research will help you determine the keywords and phrases to focus on. You ought to select a domain name that includes your keywords, as it will be helpful later on in your quest to get high search engine rankings. Keep in mind though that if you put your keywords in the domain name but do all else wrongly, the domain name will not miraculously propel you to the top listings.

Selecting a keyword rich domain is the first smart move you’ll make. You might want to use hyphens in between your keyword rich domain name to get a rankings boost in the search engines. If in your particular business category you are dominant, for instance the way Kleenex has dominated the tissue paper world, you can use the company name, but if not, you would rather use a keyword rich domain.

The above given technique is best suited for first time business ventures but if you’ve already registered a domain name and have started your online business, you would just have to save these techniques and use the info next time you wish to start an online business. If it’s your first time, you might want to register a domain name that is as keyword rich as possible.