Small Business Design Resources

Someone Has My Domain Name – Now What?

As a small business owner, you surely put a lot of thought into choosing the perfect name for your business. Now that you’ve decided to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by a small business website, you will need to purchase a unique domain name to serve as your business’s online presence. The obvious choice is yourbusinessname.com—but what do you do if someone already owns “your” domain name?

You basically have two options for securing a domain name that has already been purchased by someone else:

1. Ask the owner if they’re willing to sell. Visit the URL you wish to have to see what the owner is using it for. In some cases, the domain will be “parked” or inactive, meaning that it’s currently undeveloped. You might be in luck if the domain name you want is parked or doesn’t direct to a website, because it means the owner doesn’t currently have a use for the domain and may consider selling it to you for the right price. Sometimes a parked domain will have a page stating it is for sale and providing a way to contact the owner. If not, you can look up the owner’s contact information with a WHOIS search. Most domain registrars offer their own WHOIS database search, or you can use a site like http://whois.domaintools.com. Even if there is a site already up on the domain name you want, you have nothing to lose by asking the owner if they’re willing to sell. If you feel uncomfortable contacting the owner yourself, you can pay to have a registrar do it for you. For example, two of the largest domain registration companies, GoDaddy and NetworkSolutions, will contact the owner and make an offer on your behalf for a fee. Keep in mind that there is still no guarantee that the owner will be willing to sell, and you’re out the fee regardless.
2. Wait for the domain registration to expire. The WHOIS data on your domain name will list the date the current owner’s registration expires. If the owner doesn’t renew their registration, you may be able to snag the name for yourself. There are a few things to consider if you decide to go with this method:
   • Domain registrars offer a grace period after expiration, usually around 35 days, before they put the name up for sale. This means that a domain won’t necessarily become available on the day it’s set to expire.
   • Many companies will let you “backorder” a domain name, where you pay a fee to be put on a waiting list in case the name expires. The fee is nonrefundable and you aren’t guaranteed a chance to buy the domain—the owner may renew, or you may have to compete in an auction against other people who have paid to backorder the domain.

Alternatively, you can always go with a similar name that is available or think outside the box to come up with a unique and memorable name that represents your business. Another option is to choose a different domain extension, such as yourbusinessname.net if yourbusinessname.com is already taken.

Quick Tip: Write Content for People NOT for Search Engines

We all heard the ever-popular phrase “content is king”. Yes, it’s still true that search engines like websites that have lots of content that’s updated often. But this doesn’t mean that what you write should be computer lingo. Your content should be directed directly to your target audience because they’re the ones who will be reading and engaging with your website.

Quick Tip: Use a Clean and Simple Navigation

Make browsing your website a pleasant experience, by creating a simple and user-friendly navigation. When the navigation is easy to use the users are comfortable using your website and can look through your website to find what they need.

How To List Your Business Website in More Places

If you read my recent post on understanding and improving the Google PageRank for your small business website, you know a bit about the importance of inbound links. In addition to improving your search engine rankings, having your business website listed on many websites simply ups the odds that customers will find you. Here are a few ways you can get your website address out there on the Internet:

Claim your search engine listings. Google, Yahoo, and other search engines allow business owners to claim their listings. This allows you to make sure your website address is listed and control the way the search engines index your business. You can use www.getlisted.org to see how your business has been indexed by the top search engines and find out which listings you haven’t yet claimed.

Submit your website to business directories. There are many business directories on the Internet besides those operated by the major search engines. Major national business directories include InfoUSA and YP.com; you can check out GetListed’s Resource Center or do an Internet search to find a number of other good directory options. Many directories will list your business and website information for free. Also look for local and industry business directories that might more directly target your audience, such as the local chamber of commerce or your trade association.

Make your website address part of your signature. Whenever you sign your name on the Internet, also include the address of your small business website. Many places offer the option to create a custom signature–from member-based websites to your own email–and you should always include your website address.

Comment in online forums. As a business owner, it’s always a good idea for you to stay active in your industry’s online conversations. Find online forums that are relevant to your business and take part in the discussions, making sure to leave your calling card—your website address—behind.

Build social networking profiles. Social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all have places for you to enter your business website. Link your profiles to your website, your website to your profiles, and even your profiles to each other.

Try article marketing. Write about topics relevant to your website and publish them on the Internet, with a link back to your website in the “about the author” section. Learn more about how to promote your website with article marketing and consider giving it a try.

Quick Tip: Stumbleupon is a Cheap and Effective way to Advertise

Take advantage of cheap, yet effective advertising via Stumbleupon.com. With Stumbleupon.com you can create an ad for as low as 5 cents, set your daily limits and target your market to specific age, gender and/or geographic location. Best of all your ad blends in like any other website, so the Stumbleupon community just stumbles it like any other page on the Internet.