Strange Duck - Tech Talk in Plain English

If you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, self-employed, or an artist - you really should have your own domain name.

Having your own domain name says a lot about you. The first thing it says it that you’re willing to invest the $6.99 US* a year in your business.

Yup - that’s how little some domain name registrars charge for registering a domain name.

Along with proclaiming your commitment to your venture, and thus upping your credibility, having your own domain is the cheapest way to promote your business. Every email you send will market YOUR business name - instead of your Internet Service Provider’s. Why spend time building someone else’s brand when you can be building your own?

The third best reason why you should invest in your own domain name is that it will stay with you no matter where you go. That means it doesn’t matter if you move and have to change Internet Service Providers (your ISP, like Rogers or Bell in Canada, or Comcast or Verizon in the US) - it won’t affect your email, so you don’t have to notify anyone or worry about losing important contacts.

The fourth reason is that it’s better for search engine optimization. If your name is in your domain, it’s a much stronger match.

Want to look professional and show people you are in business and not so cheap that you won’t fork out the $6.95 on your own domain name? Then get yourself a real email address and start building your brand.

Here are 3 popular and cheap domain name registrars:

• Go Daddy - $6.95/yr.

• Netfirms - $5.99/yr.

• 1and1.com $6.99/yr. Free if you buy a hosting package with them ($3.99 a month but they don’t have one-click installs of Wordpress.)

Want to buy a .ca address cheap? This is tougher - some prices are still way out there. But you can try here.

• 10dollar.ca

• Payless Domains

If you want to make sure the company is Canadian, the complete list of registrars is at CIRA

Tip: If you own your domain name but pay a lot more than $6.95 a year, as was common a few years ago, you can try to negotiate a better deal with your domain registration company. They know competition is tough now, so are usually willing to do that versus losing you.

If they won’t budge, you can transfer your domain to a new domain registration company. There’s no reason to pay lots of money anymore.

Also - as was mentioned briefly above, if you know you are going to set up a web site, some web host companies throw in a free domain name if you buy a hosting package with them. Check out some of these web hosting companies.

Next: Why you should host your site on your own domain name.

And coming soon - how to set up your email. For all the people who have bought a domain name - please use it! Nothing makes me go crazy more than people having a URL, but not using the email address that come with it because they can’t figure out how. Such a waste! Sniff.

Tags: domain name, registration, registrar, branding, email, business setting up, small business marketing