When it comes time to make a domain purchase for your business the name you choose can make or break the early success of your online venture. Choose wisely and it can give an early boon to your Internet business. Choose the wrong one and it could confuse your visitors, loose you sales or even have you ignored by the search engines.

What's In a Name?

The ideal domain name should give instant insight into the products or services your business offers. A business that sells educational toys would be better off buying a domain name such as 'educationaltoys.com' or 'smarttoys.com' instead of a less specific 'toypalace.com'. When your domain name specifies your products it makes it easier for you to grab the attention of your target market.

The Long and Short of Domain Names

In the world of domain names there are two general categories which most domain names fall into. Some choose the route of a longer, more descriptive domain name, as shown above, while other business owners try and cash in on a short and catchy domain name. There are merits to both types of domain purchase if you use them correctly.

A long tail keyword, simply put, is a string of words used together to form a specific search phrase. The term "small business loans" is a good example of a long tail phrase. By using a long tail keyword that describes your business when making a domain purchase you greatly increase the chances of your website ranking well in the search engines for that exact phrase.

The ability to rank faster and higher for a search term that specifically describes what your business offers can mean the difference between soaring sales or an online failure for your business. So, as a business owner trying to establish his presence on the internet, buying domain names that describes your business and helps you rank well in Google is a boon to be grabbed.

On the other hand many successful businesses have made a name for themselves, literally, by choosing odd yet memorable one word domain names. Companies such as eBay or Twitter have branded themselves and made their unusual names synonymous with their services.

This domination of their respective niches isn't achieved by a smart domain purchase alone. A lot of effort must go into marketing for it to become a household name. While choosing a long tail keyword gives you an edge in the search engines initially many argue that a shorter and easier to remember name may pay off in the long run if you have the marketing talents to back it up.

What to Avoid During Your Domain Purchase

Finding a really good and available domain name is becoming more and more difficult each time another one is created and registered. In desperation for a suitable domain name some business owners make poor choices in their domain purchase that can adversely affect their business. The use of hyphens between words is one of the quickest ways to make your domain name look unprofessional, not to mention how much harder they are to remember or say aloud to potential customers.

While buying a domain name with a .com extension is highly recommended for businesses the benefits of a professional looking .com domain name is usually undermined when hyphens are thrown in. Instead you would be better off making a domain purchase with the acceptable .net or even .org extension instead.

It Gets Better with Age

Want to give your new business in instant boost? Then out with the new and in with the old domain names. It's not widely known but purchasing an older, expired domain name can often give your business a head start. Search engines such as Google prefer older domain names to new ones when judging the respectability and importance of a website attached to that domain. As an added bonus these older domain names often come with built-in backlinks earned from their previous life.

Backlinks, along with a rating system Google uses called PageRank, are likes votes of confidence for that particular domain. When you purchased expired domains all these "extra goodies" automatically come with the package. Purchasing an expired domain may cost you a little more than a new one but it is considered a wise investment in your business' future. Yes, you will still need to market your new business but you'll have a leg up you didn't by buying a new domain.

In the end it takes careful thought and research to come up with a domain name that will best suit your online business. Your domain name should make a statement, be it keyword orientated or short and catchy. Your domain purchase will be your business' face to the online world so choose carefully before hitting that "add to cart" button.