portfolio

testimonials

e-commerce

search engine optimisation

download (pdf)

Buying a web name

Probably the first thing you think of when you decide to buy a website - your web name is the most important element of this process, without it your web pages simple will not work.

Key points to remember

• make sure YOU own your web name
• buy your web name from a UK supplier
• buy a .co.uk web name*
• check that no other business is trading under a similar web name**
• keep it short (domain names can be of any length up to 67 characters)
• Use hyphens to help search engines find keywords, ie: acme-plumbers-kent.co.uk
• Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and dashes. Spaces and symbols are not allowed.
• Domain names are not CaSe SeNsItIvE

Myths and fallacies

• I need to buy loads of web names to get to the top - WRONG
  [you can only submit one web name per website to a search engine]
• web names automatically renew - WRONG
  [web name suppliers contact you a few weeks before renewal is due by email]
• I can't get ownership of my web name from my previous web designer - WRONG
  [.co.uk web names can be recovered via NOMINET]

Tips

• make sure your web name is unique as very few browsers use the URL address field - they search for your website using a search engine.
• if you have a long web name? also purchase a short web name for your emails (they have to be typed in correctly).

* if your business trades in the UK using a .co.uk search engine a .co.uk web address will work more efficiently.

** if another company is already trading under a similar web name you want to use be warned - Intellectual Property law is expensive - do not go there even if you think you are in the right!!!!

Buying a web name can prove difficult so we can help you not only buy your web name but advise you on the best type of web name. There are plenty of scams out there so talk to us first if you haven't purchased your web name yet.

It is very important that you (the business owner) legally own your web name.

This will help:

We recommend easily.co.uk, UK based and free support telephone lines

web name search - check availability for your business

Note: do not buy into the hosting or email option offered to you, just purchase the web name. Contact us for FREE advice BEFORE you buy your web name

What happens next?

When you've purchased a web name you will be issued with an account name and password. This gives you access to your account settings. The first action is to change the 'named server' tags so that they point at our servers, we can then get a holding page up and running and activate your emails.

We supply you with the named server information, but we can also change the named servers for you free of any charges (most clients ask us to do this).

Other useful websites

• www.nominet.org.uk UK web name registry
• www.whois.net International web name look up service
• www.archive.org Check if you web name has been used before
• www.dogpile.com Multi-search engine search
• www.labnol.org Check ad-sense activity and if the web name is blocked
• www.siteexplorer.com Find out how many pages link back to your web name
• www.companieshouse.gov.uk Check you company name is not already registered

follow us on linkedin

ICO registered
FSB members

general pages
home :: contact :: terms :: company :: legal : privacy/disclaimer : site map

all text and imagery copyright © Oast House Media Limited 2012
Data protections: ICO registered

Credit card payments accepted [subject to PayPal fee]
*applies to Kent based customers only