| Selecting the Perfect Domain Name | | | | - More cute than professional |
| The first issue I have with magician web sites is the | | | | Example 3 |
| improper use of domain names. Examine the following | | | | The third example shows the use of a web host |
| list of URLs and select the most professional one: | | | | without a domain name. With your own host you will |
| - (Example 1) | | | | have maximum flexibility over web design. The ability |
| - [ (Example 2) | | | | to use server side scripting and databases make this |
| - [ (Example 3) | | | | a good approach. The main problem is that without |
| - (Example 4) | | | | the domain name it still looks unprofessional. Even |
| Example 1 | | | | with the great looking web pages, it still appears to |
| Unfortunately the first site is too common today. It | | | | be DIY (do it yourself). A weak domain name is |
| is too long to be remembered. It is also too long to | | | | better than no domain name. |
| be accurately typed. Who knows what site your | | | | [ |
| potential visitor may end up loading into their | | | | Pros |
| browser. More importantly it is unprofessional. With | | | | - Full control over design |
| the low cost to register domain names and host web | | | | - Can use server side scripting languages |
| sites, there is no longer any reason to use this type | | | | - Can use databases to dynamically create web |
| of web site as a professional magician. | | | | pages |
| These URLs are usually found on business cards with | | | | Cons |
| perforations around the edges. If this applies to you, | | | | - Lacks your own domain name |
| then please listen to this simple advice. Please spend | | | | - Looks unprofessional |
| the small amount of money it takes to look like a | | | | - Hard to remember |
| professional or don't pretend that you are one. Your | | | | - No keywords in URL |
| potential clients are not impressed. They will not hire | | | | - URL has no tie to your USP (unique selling |
| you. This advice applies to both the web sites and | | | | proposition) |
| the business cards. Let's review the pros and cons. | | | | Example 4 |
| [ | | | | The final example is the best of the lot. The domain |
| Pros | | | | name ends in .com. It also has the keyword 'magic' in |
| - It's free | | | | it. It is reasonably short and memorable. It doesn't |
| Cons | | | | have any misspellings, hyphens or number4word |
| - It's free because your visitors are bombarded with | | | | substitutions. The "tiki" is part of the magician's |
| ads (Viva Cialis) | | | | character concept and is utilized in other marketing |
| - It's unprofessional. You look cheap because you are. | | | | efforts. It helps differentiate him from other |
| Don't Be! | | | | magicians. The web site is a retro sixties tiki lounge |
| - It's too loooooooooooooooooooong. | | | | approach. Very unique and very cool. :) We will |
| - It too hard to type out without mistkes. | | | | examine this site in more detail in later articles dealing |
| - Too many limits on designs and script usage. | | | | with effective web promotional strategies. |
| Example 2 | | | | Pros |
| The second example shows another trend. The good | | | | - Professional looking URL |
| domains are often taken. Magicians look to claim | | | | - Domain name uses keywords |
| some Web real estate by getting a domain name | | | | - Domain name uses USPs |
| with cute names by substituting numbers or | | | | - Easy to remember |
| misspellings to find a "suitable" domain name. The | | | | - Full control over design |
| main issue is that potential visitors may not | | | | - Can use server side scripting languages |
| remember your "cute" name and never find your site. | | | | - Can use databases to dynamically create web |
| It is better than the first URL, but not much. | | | | pages and other great uses. |
| This example shows another common strategy. | | | | Cons |
| Magicians will use a less common extension such as | | | | - Requires more time to maintain |
| .org , .biz or .tv. It is my belief that a weaker name | | | | - Requires a little money to register domain name |
| with ".com" is better than a stronger name without | | | | - Requires a little more money to host |
| the ".com". Most people don't understand about | | | | Conclusion |
| domain names. The general sentiment among your | | | | This concludes Part I of Web Design for Professional |
| potential clients is that .com appears more | | | | Magicians. If you have not already done so get your |
| professional than .biz. | | | | own domain name. Search Google for many cheap |
| [ | | | | places to do so. Email me if you are having trouble |
| Pros | | | | with your domain name or registering it. |
| - It's slightly better than the prior example | | | | The key points for selecting domain names: |
| - It contains some keywords (mostly misspelled and | | | | |
| numberized) | | | | 1. Try to get a .com domain name. |
| - It's your own domain name | | | | 2. Keep it reasonably short and memorable. |
| Cons | | | | 3. Avoid misspellings and word substitution (4 instead |
| - Doesn't use .com | | | | of for). |
| - Words are misspelled | | | | 4. Limit the use of hyphens. |
| - Numbers are substituted for words | | | | 5. Try to incorporate your USPs and keywords in the |
| - It uses too many hyphens | | | | name. |
| - Too long | | | | |