It's so exciting to start an online business -especially if it's a business that is driven by your passion. But I also know it can be kind of scary when you’re just starting out, so over the next few days I'm going to follow a step-by-step action plan that will help you get your business online quicker (and easier) than you imagined was possible.
Ready?
Let’s start with your business address.
In the case of a creative online business, your address is your domain name. That’s what people type into their web browser to find your site. I always recommend Domain.com for domain names because their service is exceptional and their pricing is competitive.
To get started, go to http://www.domain.com/, and in the search box in the middle of the page, type the domain name you’d like to buy. Hit “enter” and Domain will tell you if the name you want is available or not, and it will also suggest some alternatives you might be interested in. You may have to try a few different names before you find one that’s available.
Some things to keep in mind when choosing a domain:
•Stick to .com domains only – and never purchase the .org or .net (or anything else) when someone already owns the same .com. You’ll only lose traffic to the original .com domain.
•Avoid clever spellings (or deliberate misspellings), numbers, and dashes in your domain name – all that makes your URL hard to share with others.
•Keep your domain as short as possible – no one wants to type a really long address all the time.
Once you’ve found a domain you like, click “add to cart” and then “continue to registration.” Then just follow the prompts to set up an account (you’ll need this when you set up your hosting account in the next email) and pay for your domain. You can generally ignore all the added features Domain.com will offer along the way, though you might consider paying for several years at a time, just so you don’t have to worry about renewing your domain every year.
That’s it! Choose your payment option, and you’re now the proud owner of your very own domain. Congratulations!
But that’s just the beginning. Stick around for the post, and we’ll learn how (and where) to get the best deal on hosting, and how to connect your shiny new domain to an actual website.
Talk with you later,
Alease
