Domain name 'important choice for online businesses'

16:23 9th September 2009

One internet marketing expert claims picking the right domain name can be one of most important choices for an online business.

Diane Ratliff, online marketing expert and boss of YourFriendOnTheWeb.com, claims a domain name should be able to instantly conjure images about what type of content will be found on the website.

Writing for the Columbia Tribune, the expert claims it is a good idea to choose a number of domain names, such as those matching keywords or variations of the company name, so people typing it into the browser will be automatically redirected to the firms website.

Successful domain names should be short, easy to say and also simple to remember, she adds.

"Although domain names can be up to 67 characters long, shorter domains usually are better because they're easier to type and remember, and they fit more easily on offline media such as business cards," says Ms Ratliff.

"Experts strongly encourage the use of the .com extension because it’s the one people remember and it's the one web browsers default to if an extension is not typed in."

The oldest domain name on the internet, www.symbolics.com, was recently sold after being originally registered by the computer manufacturer in March 1985.

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