I would recommend to all new businesses to find your domain name first, before you decide on a name for your company. These days it is essential to have a website. The less confusing your domain name is the better. If your business name is "The Best Business Ever", you decide since it's a long name to shorten your domain name by doing thebestbizever.com or tbbe.com, but those are confusing and may not be found by your customers. DO NOT SHORTEN YOUR BUSINESS URL. Even though it may seem long the best sollution is to go with the full business name thebestbusinessever.com.

As you are brainstorming a business name check for the domain name. If it's not available in the .com, move on. The harder you make it for people to find you online the less successful your online business will be.

I found this website that makes it VERY simple to look up a domain name to see if it's available. If the domain name is available it gives you a list of registrars that you can register with.

http://instantdomainsearch.com/

Another tip I have for registering a domain name (if you're planning on getting your site up soon) is to register it with the host you plan on using. Some hosts will offer free domain name registration with sign up. BlueHost is one that offers this and so does . Start Logic.

Ez Web Hosting offers a wizard that can help you choose a domain name, I haven't used it, but it could be helpful. Here's the link to the wizard http://www.ez-web-hosting.com/whois...php?do_wizard=1

Hope this will help anyone who is on a search for a domain name or looking to register one!

Labels: business name, domain name registration, website