best asset you can ever have. It can make your business stand out in the crowd, or just

float aimlessly in space.

The need to provide immediate clues to an online business led to the prevalence of

generic domain names. Generic names instantly provide the user with an idea of what a

business is all about, what to expect and look for in a site. For instance, Etoys.com is a

toy store.

The temptation of the generic name has been so powerful; that some companies even paid

ridiculously high prices to get the name they want. The domains Loans.COM and

Wines.com were both bought for $3 million each. Telephone.com was acquired for $1.75

million, while Bingo.com sold for $1.1 million.

However, generic names do not necessarily create the “buzz” that you’d like surrounding

your website. Branding has always been about proper names: McDonald's did not name

their store Hamburger. Hertz is not called Car Rental. FedEx is not Mail Carrier. Kodak

is not Photographs. Microsoft is not Computer Software.

For better branding results, your domain name should be memorable and easy to

remember. Remember the following tips when creating a domain name.

 The domain name should be short

 The domain name should be simple

 It should be suggestive of your business category

 It should be unique

 It should be easy to interpret and pronounce

 It should be personalized

 It should not be difficult to spell

It should not be difficult to remember