Build a Home Based Business from scratch selling products online using Drop Shippers.

Register a Domain Name

Now you’re going to register a domain name, so it is important you have satisfactory results for all of the tasks above. Failure to have these results could mean spending money on a domain you can’t use. Even though buying a domain name is quite cheap these days, you need to be aware of a couple of things.

Although this has not been proven, it has been suggested that search engines, particularly the big ones like Google and Yahoo, will look to the length of domain registration when working out the level of rank to give a site. Meaning, if you only register a domain name for one year, it is quite possible the big search engines will not class this a serious endeavour. However a domain registered for 5 years (or even 10) will certainly say to them that the business owner is serious about their business.

The most popular place to get a domain name is www.GoDaddy.com . If you’re planning on buying a complete e-commerce package, then you may not need to buy a domain through Godaddy (see next chapter) as some will offer this as part of the package. But you will still need to read on and follow the steps on choosing the best domain name. Click on the link and you’ll be brought to their home page where you’ll be given the chance to register a domain name. On the left hand side you’ll see a link called ‘Register a Domain Name’ where you can follow a process of finding a domain name that hasn’t been registered yet, and also opening a simple account.

First off, you need to think of a good domain name that will capture the general theme of the business and also if possible contain a major keyword phrase. You will not always get this but if you can, all the better. If we use the camping example, your domain name really needs to have the word camping in it somewhere, as this is the general theme.

Usually the obvious ones are already taken so it requires a bit of imagination and patience until you find something you can use. Campingforall, campingforeveryone, campingsite, thecampingsite, thecampingking, and so on. I think you get the idea.

Eventually you will find one and Godaddy will say ‘This domain is available’. After clicking ‘continue’, you’ll be asked if you want to purchase other extensions. I suggest only buying a .com extension. Do not bother with ‘.info’, ‘.net’, or any of the others, as most people are comfortable with ‘.com’. Your next step is to open an account, and finally to buy your domain name. I suggest buying it for 5 years, but if not then at least 2. Don’t bother with a 1 year purchase just in case the search engine rumour is correct.

Tasks:

1. Register a domain name (unless you do it when signing up for a package).

Finding a Host