Choosing a Domain Name

Get Yours Before It's Gone!

The first step in having a website of your own is to register one or more domain names. If you know (or even suspect) you'll want your own website one day we strongly recommend that you register your domain name NOW before it is taken by someone else.

Register your domain name here.

Many .com domain names have already been taken (even personal names) so for a low yearly fee it makes sense to register your domain name as soon as possible and keep it until you're ready for it.

Your domain name will essentially become your business name and branding, so choose carefully. A lot of professionals simply register their name:

www.TeresaFreed.com

Some include more information:

www.EdithMaynardWatercolors.com

www.JoyceGraceArtist.com

Some use part of their name:

www.AndrewsFineArt.com

Whatever you choose, have some back-ups in mind in case your first choice is taken. And, if you're not quite sure what you want, it's inexpensive enough to register more than one. You may want two anyway - one for your website and one for your blog. You can always let an unused domain name expire and go to someone else later, after your business concept has jelled and you've decided which domain is right for it. Better yet, resell it on the secondary market. You'd be surprised what you can get for good domain names.

Get www.yourname.com If It's Available 

If your name is available as a .com domain name, grab it, in addition to whatever business name you're considering. If you won't be using it for your artist website or blog, you're sure to think of a way to use it later. However, artists are marketing themselves as well as their work. So, your domain name and business branding should be your name, or contain your name.

Whenever possible, choose a domain name with a .com extension. While .net and .org are popular, .com is easiest for people to remember. 

Also, if your choice is already taken, or is long and hard to read with the words all run together, consider using hyphens. For example:

www.jenniferarmbrusterwatercolors.com

could also have been:

www.jennifer-armbruster-watercolors.com

Try typing out your choice with everything running together and see if it makes sense:

www.warrenkressstore.com

Notice how your eye gets confused by "sss". This might be a good place to use hyphens, or to choose another name. Also, keep in mind that no punctuation can be used in a domain name, although you can clarify a domain name by capitalizing the first letters wherever it's in print:

www.WarrenKressStore.com

One point to keep in mind is that hyphens are often hard for people to remember - and they make it a little harder to verbally convey your domain name. For example, during a phone conversation with someone who is anxious to visit your site, you'll find that "sally smith .com" easier to understand than "sally hyphen smith .com" or "sally dash smith .com". 

The ideal choice for a domain name is for the words to be short and memorable, readable when strung together, and with a .com extension. Names are so unavailable these days that you may need to compromise on one or more points.

Your Domain Name Should Match Your Business Branding

Remember, you're choosing a domain name to coordinate with your business cards and art business name - your business branding - so choose carefully. You'll be living with it for a long time. 

Register your domain name here - FineWebsites Domain Registry.

The prices are good and the service is excellent and FineWebsites Domain Registry has 24/7 phone support if you have questions.  Once your domain name is registered, they will "park it" for you until you're ready to direct it to a website or web page.  

You will create an account at FineWebsites Domain Registry with a user name and password when you register your domain, so keep that information in a safe place.  You'll need to log in later when you want to direct your domain name to your website.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Regardless of where you register your domain name, you're likely to receive a letter by postal mail several months from now from another domain registrar that is trying to lure business away from your registrar. The letter will make it sound as though your domain name is about to expire if you don't renew it right away. In reality, it could be several months away from expiration, and the price they will charge you most likely is much higher than what your original registrar charges.

MOST REPUTABLE DOMAIN REGISTRARS WILL NOT CONTACT YOU BY POSTAL MAIL. You'll receive notification to the email address you used when registering your domain name when your domain is to expire or otherwise needs your attention.