Yahoo Domain Names

Businesses are fooling themselves if they think they can continue to conduct business without a website.  This is because in today's age, having a website makes many think a company is 'official.'  But a website by itself doesn't mean anything without a decent domain name.  Granted, a company can try to cut costs by using a free domain name or a third level domain name offered by free web hosting companies, but visitors won't view their site as being genuine.

Long, complicated domain names are associated with affiliate marketing or even scammers, so businesses need to try and stay away from them as much as possible.  The best solution involves getting a normal domain name from a reputable domain name company.  One of the best domain name companies around is Yahoo Domain Names.

Yahoo Domain Names is a great alternative for individuals who do not know much about domain names or website hosting.  In fact, with Yahoo Domain Names, a person can get a domain name free should they decide to buy one of their hosting packages.  The cheapest hosting package available is $11.95 a month plus a startup fee of $25.  With this along with any other Yahoo Domain Name hosting package, webmasters get an online website builder.  Basically, all they have to do is enter in their information and the site is created for them instantly.

Another reason one should choose Yahoo Domain Names is because of their domain name locking system.  This helps prevent hijackers from stealing the domain name.  With Yahoo Domain Names, the process of domain name locking is as simple as clicking a button.  Webmasters can check to make sure their domain name has been locked by looking up their Whois information.  If it says Status: Registrar-Lock, (which it will since Yahoo Domain Names was used), then they can feel assured that their domain name is safe from unauthorized individuals.

Thirdly, Yahoo Domain Names offers private domain name registration.  Without private domain name registration anyone can find a webmaster's basic contact information.  This is because ICANN has designated that webmasters have their contact info posted in a database that is accessible online.  With Yahoo Domain Names, a person can use Melbourne IT's contact information as their own.  Any inquires made to the ICANN for a webmaster's personal information will simply point to Melbourne IT.  This feature is essential in making sure a webmaster is protected from spam email and even worse, identity theft.

Lastly, Yahoo Domain Names offers 24/7 technical support.  Many webmasters overlook the importance of tech support when managing their domain names, but it is still important, especially if one is a newbie.  This is because domain names sometimes point to 404 error pages if something goes wrong.  With 24/7 tech support, Yahoo Domain Name users can pinpoint what is exactly causing the problem and get it fixed immediately.

In conclusion, if a company is having trouble deciding both where they should get their web hosting and their domain name, they should consider Yahoo Domain Names.  Yahoo Domain Names is affordable, offers great features and most importantly is trustworthy.  Many other domain name companies may not even deliver a domain name, but Yahoo Domain Names has too much of a reputation to even think about doing such things. 

Transferring Domain Names

In the olden days of the Internet, domain name registration was handled by Network Solutions.  However, after a while, the government decided that it wasn't fair for one company to have sole control over the domain name market.  Therefore, it opened up the business to other companies.  Since then hundreds of domain name companies, ranging from sole proprietorships to corporate enterprises have capitalized on a market that generates millions in revenue each year.  So, for webmasters, this means there's no shortage of companies to choose from when they register their domain names. 

Yet, what happens if they register with one domain name company, but decide later they want it to be operated by another company?  Fortunately, they can get their wish through the process of domain name transferring.  This is when a webmaster gets another registrar to handle their domain name.  All payments are forwarded to the new registrar, as the old registrar is no longer in the picture, (at least when it comes to the domain name).  If the registrar is handling a webmaster's hosting, they still need to make the necessary payments to make sure their website stays in tact. 

The actual process involved with a domain name transfer will depend on the registrar a webmaster is working with.  For instance, if they charge a payment for domain name transfers, this fee must be received before anything can be done officially.  Otherwise, the process begins as soon as a webmaster makes a request to do so.  Some domain name registrars will require a webmaster to send a notarized letter informing their intent to transfer.  Others may allow the request to be done online.  Once the registrar authorizes the domain name transfer, it will take 1 to 7 business days for the process to be completed. 

Sometimes a domain name may not be transferable.  This could be for a variety of reasons such as legal issues with the domain name itself or the original domain name registrar.  An example of the former could be trademark problems.  For the latter such legal scenarios that could cause problems include bankruptcy and/or issues with scamming.  There is also a possibility that a domain name registrar simply refuses to transfer the domain name.  

How can a person prevent these types of problems?  The best solution involves reading any fine print the original domain name registrar offers.  A person should also check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure the domain name registrar doesn't have any outstanding legal issues associated with it.  

In conclusion, if a person wants to switch domain name companies, there is the option of doing a domain name transfer.  If it is successful, the domain name will work as it originally did, with the only difference being who is managing it.  However, if a domain name cannot be transferred, a webmaster must stick with the original registrar or consider a URL redirect service.

With a URL redirect service, the original domain name becomes masked by a new domain name.  It is not as good as an official domain name transfer, but it is still better than nothing if transferring is not an option. 

Third Level Domain Name

A domain name consists of three levels.  The first level is the word or phrase that makes up the initial domain name.  The second part of the domain name is the extension.  Examples of common extensions include .com, .net or .org.  The third portion of the domain name, called a third level domain name is an optional part.  Like the first level domain name, it consists of a word or phrase to describe whatever webpage it is pointing to.  However, unlike the first level domain name, a third level domain name cannot access a webpage by itself; it must contain the first level domain as well as the extension in its syntax. 

Third level domain names are often used by free web hosting companies to help create distinction among the websites of their customers.  If third level domain names weren't used, customers would have not be able to access their website in a user-friendly way.  Some third level domains may have the first level domain word or phrase first.  An example is Geocities, where a person would have to include 'Geocities.com' before the third level domain name.  Other third level domain names may have the first level domain name last.  This is the case with Netfirms, where 'Netfirms.com' comes after the third level domain word or phrase.  

For customers third level domains come at no extra cost.  This is in contrast to getting a regular domain name which can range from $6.50 to $35 per year.  Additionally, it may take time before the domain name is active.  This can be up to 7 days, especially if one is transferring a domain name.  Conversely, third level domain names can be setup instantaneously. 

However, third level domains are far from perfect.  Since they require the first level domain name as part of their syntax, they can be quite cumbersome for a website visitor to remember.  A person can pretty much forget about getting traffic if they promote a third level domain name in various forms of offline media, such as in circulars or on business cards.  In these situations it definitely behooves a webmaster to go on invest in a first level domain name of their own.

So, does this mean third level domain names aren't worth anything to webmasters?  Well, if a webmaster uses hyperlink marketing, they can still find value in a third level domain name.  What is hyperlink marketing?  It is simply when a word or phrase is linked to a URL rather than the URL itself.  It is commonly used in emails, viral e-books and on websites themselves.  A potential visitor never even sees the third level domain name, since it is masked by a hyperlinked word or phrase.  And hopefully, they will like the site so much they will bookmark it, rather than trying to remember the full URL. 

In conclusion, third level domain names offer affordability to both web hosting companies and their customers.  They also offer convenience since there's no waiting time associated with their setup.  However, if they are used it's best that they are hidden in hyperlinks, since most website visitors would prefer to type in first level domain names. 

Scam Domain Names

Do you think buying something as simple as a domain name means that industry is free from scams?  If you do think again, since everyday hundreds of people get milked out of their money thinking they are going to get a perfect domain name.  Granted, fraudulent domain name companies haven't received as much press as 'work-at-home' companies or other businesses of that nature, but they are still just as deviant.  The two main ways a domain name company goes about scamming its customers involves either selling the domain name at a ridiculously high price and/or not delivering the domain name as promised. 

The typical price of a domain name ranges from being 0 dollars to around $35.  However, if a domain name company is shady they could charge a price that is much higher.  This fee could range from $300 to over $2,000.  And, unlike legitimate web hosting companies that might charge such a fee, domain name companies of a shady vein do not offer other services such as web hosting or marketing assistance.  Their sole sale is of the domain name.  

The second way fraudulent domain name companies scam people is by not providing a domain name at all.  This happens a lot with so-called 'free' domain names, but can also happen with paid ones of any price.  The normal turnaround time for domain name forwarding ranges from 1 to 7 days.  If this timeframe has passed and a customer has not received a domain name, they probably won't receive one.  

What does a person do if they discovered they've been scammed?  Well, if they fall for the first scam where they pay hundreds for a domain name, they may not be able to do much, if the company does indeed deliver the domain name.  At most they could try to get a refund, but this is a long shot since companies that shady probably won't allow for such things.  

On the other hand, if a domain name hasn't been delivered at all, a person can first file a complaint with the Internet Crime Center, (also known as IC3).  This organization has a partnership with the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.  So, if they think a domain name company has acted in a fraudulent manner, they could use these entities to help conduct criminal investigations against them.  

Next, the jilted party needs to consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  Although this organization doesn't have as many legal/governmental ties as the Internet Crime Center, it still has a lot of power.  This is because many people turn to the BBB before they decide to do business with a company.  By filing a complaint with them, a person that has been scammed could protect others from undergoing these same difficulties.  

Finally, there's the option of reporting the fraud to the credit card company or payment processor.  If a credit card company determines fraud has occurred, webmasters will at least get their money back.  If payment processors such as Paypal think fraud has occurred, they will proceed with freezing the account of the domain name company.  When this happens they cannot do further business until they clear up the discrepancy. 

Misspelled Domain Names

When it comes to search engine keywords, there are some that are potential gold mines that are being ignored.  These are ones in which a word or phrase is accidentally misspelled.  Usually, the search engine will link to results that contain the correct spelling, but it will still show any websites associated with the misspelled keyword.  If one of these websites catches the eye of a surfer, they may visit it.  This is why many webmasters will not only create websites around misspelled keywords but also pay money to bid on them in pay-per-click search engine advertisements.

But misspelled keywords can help in another venue of Internet marketing... one's domain name.  When a popular misspelled keyword is included in a domain name, the search engine bots will be more likely to notice the website.  Granted, it won't get listed with the properly spelled keyword, but even traffic from a misspelled keyword is better than nothing.  A person will just have to decide whether they want their website to be branded with a domain name that has an improper spelling.  

So, how exactly can a webmaster make such a determination when they are deciding on their domain name?  Well, first they need to look at what their website is for.  If they are just doing affiliate marketing or Adsense promotion, it doesn't matter as much if their domain name is branded properly.  This is because they are not promoting their own business.  However, if they are using a website to promote a company, they will want to try to keep their domain name as professional as possible.  

Secondly, a webmaster needs to see if there is profitability in a misspelled keyword.  Even though a misspelled domain isn't as harmful to a webmaster promoting affiliate sites, they don't necessarily want to make it a first option, especially if the misspelled keyword in the domain name doesn't get much traffic.  To determine a misspelled keyword's profitability, a person can look it up in a keyword analyzer.  In fact, some paid keyword analyzers, (such as Word Tracker), even have features where a person can see which specific types of misspelled keywords are worth taking advantage of. 

If a misspelled keyword fits both of these criteria, a webmaster may want to consider putting it in their domain name.  From there they will need to decide if they want that keyword to be included in the content.  If it is then there's an even greater likelihood search engine bots will index the website according to the misspelled keyword.  However, if it's not there's still a chance that the website could be indexed according to the correct keyword, though if this ranking is low, it may not be a preferable option.

The webmaster will ultimately have to decide whether their content still looks 'professional' with the misspelled keyword.  Some words, (such as mesothelioma), are so hard to spell, that a person may not even notice improper versions of it.  If this happens they won't have any issues seeing it so many times in the content, since they didn't really know how to spell it right themselves. 

In conclusion, including a misspelled keyword in one's domain name could be an excellent way to covertly get website traffic, at least if a webmaster knows what he or she is doing.  If they don't a misspelled domain name could cause a person to think negatively about a website.

For this reason webmasters must take caution in which misspelled keywords they choose for their domain names along with whether or not they continue to use it in their content. 

Making Money Selling Domain Names

Selling domain names can be quite profitable for webmasters.  This is particularly the case if the webmaster sells a domain name that has an existing line of traffic.  In these situations domain names can generate thousands of dollars for their webmasters.  There have even been domain name names that allowed webmasters to collect millions in profit.  With a little bit of basic knowledge, you can emulate such success for yourself.  This article will provide that information through an easy to follow step-by-step guide.

First, you will need to find a search engine keyword that is highly searched yet not used much by other websites.  You can do this by using a keyword analyzer.  The best keyword analyzers are those that you pay for, such as Word Tracker or Keyword Analyzer.  The reason why these are preferable over free ones is because they let you know how much competition you are facing with a potential keyword.  Free ones only tell you how much the keyword has been searched.  If money is a problem, try to get a paid keyword analyzer that is offering a free sample, such as Word Tracker.  You can upgrade to the paid version once you return profit from the sale of your domain name.

With your keyword chosen, you will need to get a domain name and web hosting.  Why do you need web hosting if you're going to sell just the domain name?  It's because you're going to need a website to drive traffic to that domain name.  Without a website visitors won't want to return to whatever domain name you selected.  This lessens the main element that gives a domain name profitability: traffic.

Anyway, try to get a package that will include both web hosting and a domain name at the same time, since you won't have to worry about transferring anything later.  When you choose your domain name, make sure you include your selected keyword in its phrasing.  If you find that your selected keyword is taken as a domain name, try making alterations like saying "a1", "123" or "101."  For example, say the keyword "Careers" is taken as a domain name.  You could say "A1 Careers," "Careers 123" or "Careers 101."  Alternatively, you could try searching for a related keyword that isn't taken as a domain name.  Either way, keep trying until you get a memorable yet keyword-rich domain name that still has a .com extension.

Now, you will need to create a website for your domain name.  It doesn't have to be big... even a one-pager could do the trick, if you don't mind a website so simple.  Write an article related to the keyword you chose and create a simple site using Microsoft Word, (make sure you save the document as an .HTML file).  Sign up for Adsense and/or an affiliate program, so you can offer additional resources for your visitors.  You will also earn a commission if a sale is made or a clickthrough generated, (depending on the program you joined).

Once your website is uploaded, you need to focus on traffic-building.  You can get an initial boost by buying traffic, though make sure the company you buy your traffic from uses expired domain names rather than bots or even incentive traffic, (such as paid emails).  But even after this you will need to try to build up inbound links.  These are websites that link to you.  Post your site on any free site, such as directories, message boards or online classified ads.  Also, make sure you submit articles to free article directories.  Additionally, try to initiate link exchanges.  You can do this by emailing the webmaster or finding link exchange networks such as Link Market.

Keep building up your links until you get a steady stream of traffic.  If you get enough traffic, you will get an Alexa rating.  If the rating is pleasing, find a domain name appraiser and see how much your domain name can go for.  This will give you some idea of how much you can realistically get, but don't get discouraged if the number seems low.  Why?  It's because some people will care more about the traffic your domain name is receiving over the supposed SEO elements of it.

Either way, when you feel you are ready put your domain name up for auction.  You may even want to include your original website, though this is optional.  When the domain name sells, you will need to transfer it over to the new webmaster's account... your web hosting company can help you with this.

With your profit you may want to consider doing the venture again with an expired domain name.  This will get you a traffic boost without having to go through the actual process of traffic-building, (if you decide you don't want to do that). 

Local Marketing with Geodomains

A webmaster increases their chances of getting a high search engine listing by including a popular keyword in their domain name.  However, if a keyword is too popular, including it in a domain name means nothing, even if the website it's pointing to is also optimized.  This is why most Internet marketing gurus suggest that domain names as well as their corresponding websites use more specific keywords that aren't as competitive.  One of the best ways to do this is to include keywords based on geography.  When such a keyword is used in a domain name, it is known as a geodomain. 

Geodomains are highly used in the tourism industry.  For example, if a person visits Maryland.com, they will see a site that offers information on what a tourist can do if they are planning a trip to Maryland.  However, this should not dissuade other markets from centering in on a geodomain.  As long as a product or service can be distributed outside of the webmaster's location, they should not be afraid to use geodomains that target national or even international audiences.  

This is not to say that geodomain marketing isn't better for some industries than it is for others.  Why?  It's because the areas that people live in have their own cultural and sociological needs.  Even if one markets in their own country, people living in one state or province may not have as much of a demand for a particular product or service.  For example, consider a website that is marketing private boats.  If they use a geodomain that encompasses an area that is lower-income, naturally, their efforts won't result in many sales.  This is why it's very important that webmasters investigate the general characteristics associated with the location they would like to create a geodomain for. 

So, how can a person find a geodomain name?  Well, chances are state-based or country-based geodomains are taken at least for the most common domain name extensions.  If they can't get these types of geodomains with lesser known extensions, they can consider combining a geographical term with something else or look for a more specific geodomain.  When looking for something more specific, webmasters will need to consider making geodomains based off of cities, counties and even popular neighborhoods.  They need to do this both for their own country and for other countries, provided that their website can meet the needs of an international audience.  

In conclusion, a geodomain can be a good method for marketing, if a webmaster doesn't mind trying to appeal to a local audience.  Research will still be required to make sure a geodomain properly fits what is being promoted, but overall a webmaster will find that with the right geodomain, they will be able to generate more sales with less advertising expenses.

This is because the keywords used in geodomains are not highly focused on in the Internet marketing world, especially those that are very specific.  And when this scenario happens, a website has a greater chance of ranking higher in search engine listings.