Most Internet-based professionals are well-aware of ICANN’s new Top-Level Domain (TLD) program. Therefore, many are considering getting involved to acquire a small piece of the $5 billion industry. You could have a brand looking to create an Internet presence or an entrepreneur looking to make your next million. Others include cities striving to develop a digital identity or perhaps a new way to use the names altogether.

Regardless of the intention, it is important to learn the way in which you can utilize the new naming system to introduce your business as never seen before. There are four specific tips that will be of great assistance:

1)      Think different

2)      Act now

3)      Commercialize you brand

4)      Elimination of language barrier

The first tip is to think outside-the-box and develop an innovative way to utilize this opportunity as it is not only about trying to be the next .com. The value of the idea comes with the vertical centric generic TLDs that will provide value to specific customers. For instance, .music could be launched specifically for the music industry. This is not meant to be a competitor of .com but holds significant value to the music industry.

The second guideline is to act now as the clock is limited. The application window will open January 12, 2012 for operation beginning 2013. If companies miss the application window which ranges from January 12, 2012 to April 12, 2012, it may be awhile before the window reappears.

The third point is to take this opportunity to commercialize your brand TLDs. There are a number of ways for brand TLDs to drive a huge return on investment. For instance, picture eBay procuring .eBay and selling the name to its 94 million registered users at two dollars per subdomain. This is a solid strategy and revenue generation model.

The fourth idea is that TLDs will now be available without a language barrier for the first time in history. 60 percent of the world’s population resides in countries where the native language is based on script other than Latin. Therefore, you could capitalize on the latest domain name technology. How much would the Chinese equivalent for .com be worth to a thriving Chinese community?

Although there is a large amount of controversy with regards to the new naming conventions, the TLDs will certainly kick start the global economy. The new extensions will create a whole new market of buying and selling and most importantly, innovation.

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Original: Tips for Top-Level Domain Applicants

DreamHost is a globally renowned web-based services provider that originally began their endeavors as a web host nearly 15 years ago, in 1997. Shortly thereafter the company became a domain registrar accredited with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Number s (ICANN). After more than a decade of providing domain registration services, DreamHost has amassed a network of nearly 2000 web servers in various data centers around the world. These powerful servers currently host nearly 1,000,000 websites, for tens of thousands of clients in hundreds of countries simultaneously.

DreamHost also pride themselves in providing completely environmentally friendly products and services, as most of the energy that powers their web hosting plans is generated from solar and wind energy. By using such alternative energy the company is able to pass savings on to customers, while also improving the health of our planet. The following paragraphs briefly review the domain registration and related services offered by DreamHost.com.

Domain Registration Services

Through their comprehensive website interface even the most novice webmaster and first-time customer can register, transfer, renew, and manage domains quickly and easily. Upon domain registration, DreamHost customers can log into their robust domain management control panel, which contains all of the primary administrative functions related to the domain name itself, the name servers it points to, e-mail account preferences, and domain forwarding settings. Fortunately, even webmasters on budget can register a domain name with the DreamHost for a relatively low price, especially when purchasing a multiple domains or TLDs at once. In fact, first-time DreamHost web hosting customers can even receive a free domain for life with all of their hosting plans. The company also offers additional administration services such as private registration, business registration, and domain certification.

Hosting Services

Since DreamHost originally endeavored into the online industry by offering hosting services, it is not surprising that they offer some of the most competitive pricing on powerful hosting plans. All of their hosting services are backed by a 100% uptime and an astonishing 97-day moneyback guarantee, which is the longest guarantee offered in the hosting industry, and is an indicator of the company‘s reliability and stability. DreamHost currently provides access to nearly every type of hosting environment, including but not limited to shared, VPS, dedicated, and reseller.

DreamHost Company Agenda

Aside from being a completely green web hosting provider, DreamHost is also fully employee owned, and strives to maintain a neutral carbon footprint through various forms of alternative energy. The DreamHost Company agenda is to provide superior support via live chat, e-mail, and phone, 24 hours a day. DreamHost staff and personnel are professionally trained to accommodate the questions and needs of their hosting customers, and are constantly being taught new hosting and server administration techniques to ensure the utmost professionalism and customer service.

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Original: DreamHost.com Registrar Review

Most webmasters and Internet users know that a domain name is simply the primary web address of a website. However, most people don’t bother to spend a couple of minutes to consider how domain names actually work. If you are an aspiring webmaster, developer, or are simply planning on managing your own network of e-commerce websites, then it is recommended that you have robust understanding of the domain name system (DNS), in order to have a full grasp on your industry and how it works.

Understanding the Levels of a Domain Name

A domain name is comprised of three different levels, each one serving to represent a different aspect of the domain. The first level, commonly known as the domain extension, is the TLD (top level domain). The TLD is basically the part of the domain name that occurs directly after the primary domain name. For example, in the domain name “www.examplewebsite.com”, the TLD would be .com. Popular TLD’s include .com,.org,.net,.info,.biz and .tv. However, most people don’t realize that there are nearly 200 different types of TLD’s available for registration, with the majority of these TLD’s being ccTLD’s (country code top level domains). An example of a country code top level domain would be .com.au (intended to be used for commercial Australian domains). A complete listing of every TLD currently offered for registration can be researched on the website of the Internet assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

Websites and IP Addresses

In basic terms, a domain name is simply a linguistic representation of an IP address. Every device that connects to the Internet is assigned an IP address, whether it be a cell phone, laptop, or a web server (which hosts your website). An IP address is simply a number that is separated by dots, which usually appears similar to the following –165.124.28.88. Every website also has its own IP address. It is even possible to access a website by typing in its IP address in the address bar of your web browser. However, it is much more difficult to remember a string of segmented numbers than it is to remember a simple name. Thus, the domain name system was invented, and is explained briefly below.

The Domain Name System and How Domain Names Are Registered

When you register a domain name, you are actually leasing it for a limited period of time (most registration lengths range from 1 to 10 years, depending on the registrar). A domain registrar is a company that is accredited by the appropriate governing authorities to distribute and register domain names within the domain name system. Many web hosting providers are also domain name registrars, and will even provide free domain registration services and/or a domain name for life when you purchase one of their hosting plans. The domain name system is actually the largest digital database on the planet, containing the registration and administrative details of hundreds of millions of domains at any given time.

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Original: A Closer Look at Domain Names and How They Work

The domain name of your website is not only important to the opinions of your site visitors, it also has a significant impact on the success of your Internet endeavors in relation to various factors, including search engine optimizing, monetizing, and reselling your site. Search engines utilize a plethora of algorithms and techniques to detect the overall value and authority of a website and its pages, in order to provide the most valuable content to visitors based on their input. Thus, some of the more important aspects of search engine optimization and domain selection include keyword optimization, quality content, efficient search engine optimized web design, and off-site optimization (which includes building backlinks). The following information discusses three reasons why it is imperative to select the right domain name for your website.

Initial Search Engine Optimization Efforts

Keyword optimization is perhaps the most important aspect of selecting and registering a domain name. Domain names that are contain exact matches for specific popular keywords that are commonly searched for within search engines are much more likely to receive residual web traffic with minimal effort from the webmaster a website owner. In other words, if you register a domain name that contains a keyword or phrase that is commonly searched for, then you have a much higher chance of receiving an immediate boost of traffic with minimal initial effort. On the other hand, domain names that do not contain keywords are unlikely to receive traffic from search engines without a significant amount of tweaking, customization, and link building efforts.

Reselling Sites for Profit

If you ever decide to resell your website for profit in the future, having the right domain name will allow you to demand (and receive) the highest asking price. In fact, the majority of website buyers will only consider purchasing a domain if the domain name meets a certain set of criteria (which usually includes containing a popular keyword or phrase). It is well-known that websites with shorter domain names which contain popular keywords statistically sell for higher prices than unattractive domain names, regardless of the search engine optimization attributes and content contained on the website. If you want to maximize your chances of reselling your website for profit in the future, and demand the highest asking price, then you’ll want to select an ideal domain name.

Recognition and Branding

Your domain name is essentially the brand of your website, and is ultimately the phrase that your site visitors will remember when attempting to return to your site. If you want to effectively brand your website and create a significant amount of recognition for your products and/or services, then you’ll want to choose a domain name is memorable, contains commonly used phrases or keywords, and has a popular TLD (domain extension) such as .com,.org, or .net. Most people associate web addresses with these three TLDs, and are therefore more likely to return to a website if such a domain extension is used.

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Original: Three Reasons Why It Is Important to Choose the Right Domain Name

Registering a new domain name is the first step in building a successful website and online business. Thus, learning how to find and register the best domain names efficiently is an essential aspect of becoming a professional webmaster and website owner. Following five tips should help even the most novice webmaster register a successful domain name.

How to Choose a TLD

The TLD (top level domain), also known as the domain name extension, is the string of letters that appears after the primary domain. For example, in the domain “example.com” the TLD would be .com. When registering a domain you should choose a TLD that fits your budget and preferably has the capability to rank highly with search engines. Some of the more popular TLD’s include .com,.org, and .net, all of which cost approximately $8-$10 per year for registration (depending on a variety of factors including the domain registrar) and are the most popular domain extensions.

Utilizing Popular Keywords

Ideally, you’ll want to register a domain name that already contains popular keywords or key phrases, which are frequently input into search engines, and therefore generate a lot of residual organic traffic. By registering a domain name that contains a popularly searched for keyword or key phrase, you can minimize the amount of effort required to build a gradual stream of traffic to your website. In fact, in some cases you can rank number one for popular search terms just by registering a domain name that contains the exact keyword.

Register Multiple Variations of Your Primary Domain

When registering a domain name, it is best to consider registering multiple variations, such as spelling errors/typos, multiple TLD’s (domain extensions), varying syntax (with and without hyphens and/or numbers), and with additional words. Often times, if you register multiple variations of your primary domain name with the same registrar simultaneously you’ll be able to receive a significant discount. For example, you may purchase “www.example.com”, and received an offer to purchase “www.example.net” and “www.example.org” for an additional five dollars per year for registration.

Take Advantage of Free Domain Names

Most web hosting providers offer a free domain name (some of them even offering a free domain name for life) when you sign up for one of their web hosting plans the first time. If you are a novice or aspiring webmaster and you do not yet own any domains where web hosting plan, then you’ll want to take advantage of such free domain names as a way to acquire a risk free and investment free domain name.

Register with Private Registration

Whenever you register a domain name with a domain registrar, all of the administrative contact details used our stored and cataloged in a public database that can be searched by anyone for free at any time. This database is known as the WHOIS database, and it contains the personal contact information of the site owner, including the name, e-mail address, phone number, physical address, and a plethora of other information that you may want to keep private.

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Original: Five Tips for Registering a Domain

Choosing the right domain nae for your web site is undoubtedly one of the most important steps in any successful online endeavor. The domain name will be the face of your site and will ultimately be responsible for the branding of your site’s online persona. Unfortunately, many people choose a domain name because ‘it sounds goods’, or for because ‘they like it’, rather than using tried and proven methods to choose a name that will bring success in the long term with minimal effort. Did you know that choosing the right domain name can send your site to the top of the search engine for specific keywords even if there is only one page of content on the site! By following using the following three key aspects of a successful domain name you can ensure that you’re not regretful of you decision in several months.

1. - Contains Keywords

This is by far the most important aspect of a domain name, as it can directly be responsible for the site ranking number one for a chosen keyword with only one article on the entire site. Thus, many people utilize keyword research tools to find the best keywords and then base their domain name buying decision on these keywords. This is an alternative approach to the ‘authority site’ method that involves buying one site that is not related to any keywords and then create a presence in a specific niche with sub-domains and a categorized site. If you want fast and easy success then you should choose a domain name that contains commonly searched for keywords, as this will ultimately result in automatic traffic from the search engines.

1. - Is Memorable’

If you followed the previous tip then your domain name should already be memorable as it is a popular keyword, however it is not always possible to obtain a domain name tat contains a keyword in the niche of your liking. Dealing wit a niche that you’re comfortable with is very important if you want your site to be successful, as you may lose interest if you don;t like the niche you’re in. Thus, if you cannot find a popular keyword, try finding a domain name that is memorable but still relevant to your niche, this will ensure that whatever traffic you cannot gain form the search engines will be compensated by word of mouth and the memories of your site visitors.

1. - Has A Popular Extension (TLD)

In general, if you want your site to be successful with minimal then you should not buy a domain name with the TL (domain extension) of .biz, .me, .tv. or any other less commonly known domain name, there are two reasons for this. First the search engines typically rank .com, .org, .net and .info domains the highest, and second, a lot of people will not remember the extensions and will accidentally type in one of the more popular extensions, often bringing them to a competitors site. Although it is possible to rank highly using one of the less popular domain extensions, if you want to go straight to the top you need a commonly high ranking TLD.

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Original: Key Aspects of a Successful Domain Name

Leaning effective search engine optimization is perhaps one of he most important aspects of becoming a professional webmaster, especially if you want a lot of web traffic from minimal results. There are a countless factors that affect a site’s page rank and its subsequent search engine traffic levels. Perhaps one of the most important factors of SEO is the structure and keyword optimization of the domain. Domain names are often chosen based on a variety of factors, most of which involve the likelihood of the domain to attract immediate search engine traffic with minimal effort. Ideally, every webmaster dreams of buying a domain that will start attracting web traffic from the moment it is made active, however most of the time the process involves a bit more work than this. The following information thoroughly outlines the connection between domain names and search engine optimization.

Domain TLDs and the SERPs

To a novice SEO practitioner the abbreviations TLD (top-level domain) and SERP (Search Engine Results Page/Position) may sound intimidating and completely foreign, but to an intermediate to advanced webmasters these terms are all in a day’s work. The TLD of a domain name is simply the letters that appear after the final dot of the name, I.E. .com or .org. There is a reason why .com names are almost always at the top of search engine results; because search engines favor certain TLDs – .com, .org, .net and .info in particular. Aside from the overall content of the site, the TLD you choose will have a direct affect on your position in the SERPs for particular keywords.

Domain Keywords and the SERPS

Most domain names are registered because they contain keywords that are often searched for by web surfers, as these sites will generally receive more search engine traffic with less effort. If you want to have the best results in the SERPs then you will need to make sure your domain name contains a valuable keyword. Even if you decide not to develop the site, if you can obtain a domain name that has a valuable keyword in it there is a good chance that you sell it in the future for a nominal profit. Independent studies have shown that domain names that contain keywords frequently rise to the top of the SERPs with the least effort.

Subdomains and the SERPS

Registering subdomains that are attached to your main domain with keywords is another great way to capitalize on keywords for SEO without developing an extensive amount of content. An example of a subdomain would be subdomain.domain.com. Subdomains are used to create entire sections within a main domain that pertain to a specific category of a niche. By micro-targeting your audience and keyword selection with subdomains you can effectively attract highly targeted traffic to your site. Subdomains are also a great way to keep all of your site content organized through various domain mapping methods.

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Original: The Relation Between Domain Names and the SERPs

If you have aspirations of creating a successful online business, then you’ll need to understand the art of branding. If you’ve ever paid exuberant prices for an article of clothing simply because of the name on the tag, then you have been a victim of branding. A brand can hold power over a market because consumer’s grow to trust and remember them.

Your brand is your identity, your reputation, your name, your business! The best way to establish your brand online is with a solid and memorable domain name. In the ever expanding world of Internet e-commerce, domain names are being sucked up by the thousands daily. Authoritative domain names go for millions of dollars in some cases, and it is becoming increasingly harder to find a successful domain name. The key is to think long and hard before you make your decision, because just when you think all of the catchy domain names have been taken, you may find a “domain in the rough!”

Don’t be discouraged by countless failed attempts. You may spend days trying to find the right domain name for your website. Just when you think you have come up with a name that no one could have possibly used yet, you find out it has been taken. This is all part of the process, and only when you understand that will you realize that the perfect domain name is right around the corner.

Good Domains Still Exist

You may have been told that all the good domain names have been taken, however this is simply not true. If it were true then the domain game would be dying, and judging by the statistics, the opposite is true! In fact, there are people that make their living just by coming up with good domain names and then turning around and selling them! If these people can sit back and do it all day long to make money, then I think you’re capable of coming up with just one. There really are a plethora of good domain names left, it will just take a little bit of critical thinking to find one that is suitable for your business.

Be Original

If your business name is something generic like “ John’s Auto repair shop,” then you have probably come to terms with the fact that it is going to be nearly impossible to find a domain that includes your business name. Well, there is a solution. Why not come up with an online business name that is completely different from your actual business name, in an attempt to establish an online branch of your business? Come up with a combination of words that is catchy and original, this will be the beginning of a successful brand.

Use Different TLD’s (Extensions)

If you’re unable to find a domain that ends with .com extension, you should try buying a domain with  another extension. Just because you are using a region specific domain extension or an extension like .biz, doesn’t mean your site isn’t going to get any traffic. In fact, many sites with these alternate extensions are at the top of the search engines. Make sure you try every possible extension before you move on to the next idea.

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Original: Formulating a Successful Domain Name

.Tel domains are here and just a few short months after the launch, hundreds of thousands of them have already been registered by ambitious individuals and business owners.  It is important to know that this particular TLD differs greatly from other extensions in the way it is utilized and managed.   This is mainly because unlike .com and .net, it does not permit pointing to an A record.  What this essentially means is that you cannot integrate it with a website.  A major disadvantage perhaps?  Not exactly.  The TLD registry and ICANN want this one to function more like a digital directory wherein the objective of the DNS zone is to store contact information that may or may not be made available to the public.  Therefore, the .tel domain is more like your internet-based address book.

Although it might seem as if the .tel extension leaves you restricted, this TLD offers a number of advantages and many things can be done with.  Below are just a few of many noteworthy benefits:

.Tel for Your BlackBerry

The .tel TLD has been optimized for a wide range of mobile devices and this includes the popular BlackBerry.  This extension allows you to seek out other .tel domains to send notifications and updates to associates or save their profiles in your own directory.  You can also manage the domain via your BlackBerry and use it to integrate your synchronized data with the registry.

.Tel for Your iPhone

It is no surprise that mobile technology giant Apple has already found a way to leverage the .tel domain for is global community of apps users.  From the AppleStore, you can now download My .tel, an open-source application by Telnic that lets you manage your domain so it can find you using the GPS feature built into your iPhone.  You can also use the device to select keywords for your domain and publish or hide information you do or do not want to be available to your contacts.  With the My .tel app, you can manage virtually all of the privacy settings and options associated with your domain.

.Tel for Outlook

If Microsoft Outlook happens to be your preferred mail client, you can utilize the Telnic plugin that allows you to search through your .tel contact data, manage those records, add them to the registry and select the level of privacy you desire.  This feature has grown popular very quickly and you can now find many guides on the web explaining how to integrate your .tel domain with the Outlook client.

.Tel for Your Website

Although .tel can’t exactly be used as your web address, you can integrate with your website in other ways.  For example, you can add it to your existing site in the form of a contact page, which will be automatically updated whenever you change information form your BlackBerry or iPhone for example.  You can also customize your navigation in order to compliment the look and feel of your website.  This extension is certainly different, but such distinct benefits may pique the interests of many.

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Original: The Unique Benefits of .Tel Domains

Many people have the belief that a .com TLD is the only extension worth purchasing because it is the one most internet users assume when entering URLs into their browsers.  It is true that .com is very popular and makes the best first choice, but there are many individuals and businesses using other TLDs with great success.  What you have to do is think about how potential visitors and customers are going to access your website.  If you believe that most of them will type the nane of your company into their browser bar, obtaining a .com extension is a must.  On the other hand, if you can brand your website with .us or .net domain, it really will not matter how users go about finding you.  To prove that .com isn’t necessarily the holy grail, we will introduce you to some of the other options you have for TLDs.

.Org and .Net TLDs

When your preferred domain name is not available in .com, .org and .net make the next best options.  At one point in time, .org extensions where limited to non-profit organizations while .net was intended for internet and IT companies.  However, because there is no regulation, those intentions flew out of the window very quickly.  These days, anyone can obtain a .org or .net domain name to use for virtually any purpose.  The only real downside to these extensions is that some domain registrars charge a bit extra for them.

Country-Specific TLDs

Country-specific domains are supposedly designed for a website that markets products or services available in a particular country.  Examples of these extensions are .us (United States) .ca (Canada) and .de (Germany).  Some of these domains can only be registered by companies that operate in those specific countries.  Others are freely available to anyone who wants to pay the cost of registration.  For instance, most people don’t really that .tv is actually a country-specific extension because several television networks use it for their domains.  You should keep in mind that using such an extension may not be a good idea depending on where you are located.  Some might assume that your business is only available in that particular area, when it is in fact a global outlet.

Niche TLDs

There have been numerous TLDs introduced and proposed for various reasons.  Two examples are .biz and .info.  The .biz extension was designed for business purposes while .info is intended for sites that provide information on a varying topics.  Just like the TLDs mentioned above, there is really no regulation on how these are to be used.  Domains with these extensions can be quite tempting as they are often available when the more popular options are no longer around.  Even though they can still be used effectively, you may want to consider these extensions as a last resort.

Conclusion

Slowly but surely, other TLDs are making a name for themselves and serving great purpose to the fast growing community of internet users.  While .com remains the most desirable, these alternatives could become far more prevalent over the next few years.

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Original: Viable Alternatives for Your TLD