For 23 years, GoDaddy has actually been particular in offering anybody, anywhere, a method to offer their concept, item or endeavor a house on the web. We’’ ve widened our offerings through the years from domain to site home builders to social marketing tools to online shops and beyond.
Through everything, we’’ ve constantly kept our clients —-- the daily business owners all over the world who are sculpting their own courses by turning their dreams into truth online —-- at the center of definitely whatever we do.
So when we chose to establish a brand-new graph of who GoDaddy is and who we represent, we wanted to our clients for motivation.
Today, we’’ re happy to reveal our brand-new logo design, passionately called ““ the GO.”
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.Satisfy the GO.
Inspired by the guts, imagination and grit of our clients, GoDaddy developed a logo design that records the essence of entrepreneurial spirit, admires the value of mankind, and radiates a sensation of delight. The GO is a graph of where these 3 concepts fulfill:
.Entrepreneurial spirit.
The GO’’ s stroking arcs represent the indomitable spirit of daily business owners. And the word ““ go ” itself is GoDaddy ’ s rallying cry for folks to take the next or very first action in their entrepreneurial journey.
.Humankind.
Entrepreneurship need to be available to everybody, which is why GoDaddy aims to bring humankind into their digital tools for the advantage of all. The GO’’ s constant, overlapping stroke represents the connection all business owners share, and its generous interior area has space for folks of every stripe.
.Happiness.
Joy is a corollary to the love that fuels business owners to make their own method. The GO’’ s heart shape is a nod to this sensation, while its vibrant lines radiate the very same delight that business owners all over experience.
.From hair stylists and beekeepers to designers and financiers, the GO links folks from all over the world with its guarantee of inclusivity.
It’’ s suggested to advise business owners that no matter who they are, where they originate from or what phase they’’ re at with their endeavor , GoDaddy is here to non-stop cheer them on.
““ The GO states to our neighborhood that they can base on their own 2 feet and go do what they enjoy,” ” states GoDaddy Chief Brand Officer Cameron Scott. ““ When business owners see the GO, they understand they have somebody standing in their corner, promoting their every action along the method, to turn their concepts into truth.””
. The secret sauce to empower business owners 
GoDaddy’’ s brand-new logo design represents the business ’ s objective to empower daily business owners like John Melicor, owner of Urban Plant Shop near Seattle.
While the world moves far from human interaction, GoDaddy leans into it. Through a mix of innovation and mankind, we’’ re opening chances for small company owners worldwide.
On the tech side, GoDaddy continues to innovate brand-new tools like the current release of Websites + Marketing , which integrates a user friendly site home builder with effective marketing tools, consisting of integrated organisation assistance.
On the human side, the business is house to more than 6,000 GoDaddy Guides who connect with clients 2 million times a month and work all the time to offer devoted assistance every action of the method.
““ Regardless of where a business owner is at in their journey, from taking the primary step online to delivering a very first order to carrying out a brand-new marketing project, GoDaddy is here to assist them along the method with recommendations, assistance and all of the tools required to prosper,” ” states GoDaddy Chief Marketing Officer Fara Howard.
Whether they’’ re dreaming, releasing or handling their endeavor, the GO is a beacon of empowerment for daily business owners. It states their vision to prosper is our factor to be. Our clients are up for the obstacle and in it for the long run —-- the GO is a guarantee that we are, too.
Find out more about the development of the GoDaddy brand name and the GO.
The post GoDaddy cheers on daily business owners with brand-new logo design appeared initially on GoDaddy Blog .
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Read more: godaddy.com
At some point in this day and age, it’s likely you’ll find yourself with a domain you own, but no longer need. Instead of letting that domain expire, why not try to sell it? You could be sitting on your own private gold mine. Early retirement might not be possible with only a few domain names for sale, but you could still get some spending cash.
After all, if you were to end your business, you wouldn’t just throw away your extra products or materials — you’d capitalize on your investments and sell them.
In fact, there are people, and even businesses, who invest in buying domains on a regular basis. Whether you’re an investor with thousands of domains or just have one you no longer want to keep, you have options.
There are powerful tools available to help you get top dollar for your domain assets.
Still not convinced? Take a look at some of these top domain sales for 2019, courtesy of dnjournal.com:
Voice.com — $30 million California.com — $3 million Nursing.com — $950,000
You could be sitting on a gold mine. Will your domain be worth as much as these? Maybe not, but you never know! The best way to find out is to use some of these useful online tools to track domain names for sale. That way, you’ll have an idea of what your name might be worth.
Related: The top 25 most expensive domain names
Keeping tabs on domain names for sale
Before you list your hidden gem on the market, do some research and find a good target price range.
NameBio. The best single location for checking public domain name sales prices. You can even tailor your search to highlight similar terms found in your own domain name. You’ll be able to see firsthand how domains have sold historically, and these comps can give you a good estimate for your domain’s worth.
Estibot. This site attempts to give you an automated, free appraisal of your domain. Just be sure to use this in conjunction with outside research. It’s nice to have a quick answer, but watching historical trends and sales is always useful.
GoDaddy Domain Name Value & Appraisal. With over 20 years of domain aftermarket experience powering this tool, you can quickly and easily get a free estimate of what your domain might be worth on the domain aftermarket.
Using these tools, you can get a better understanding of your domain’s worth. At the end of the day, all domains are unique. List your domain at a price that you would be happy selling at.
Posting domain names for sale
After you’ve checked the tools and are ready to price your domains, it’s time to actually list them. At GoDaddy, you have the option to list your domain names for sale via Premium Listings and GoDaddy Auctions.
Premium listing
Premium domains are listed with a Buy Now price, and once they’re sold they instantly leave your account and move automatically to the buyer. They show up for sale on GoDaddy when customers come to search for an available domain name to buy.
The premium domain will also automatically list your domain on the GoDaddy auctions in most cases.
GoDaddy Auctions
When selling a domain name through GoDaddy Auctions, you can list your domain name a number of ways:
Create a minimum reserve price
Using the traditional, seven-day auction method, you can sell your domain to the highest bidder once it closes — so long as the final offer meets or exceeds your price (this is similar to eBay auctions).
Sell without a set price
Using an offer/counter-offer setup, you can entertain bids and negotiate pricing to suit your needs. The domain name will sell only if you agree to an offer price from the interested party.
Related: 5 tried-and-true tips for buying and selling domain names for profit
Afternic
If you really want to supercharge your ability to sell a domain, Afternic is the option you should choose. Even though this platform is typically utilized by professionals, it’s open to anyone — and the cost is the same as simply listing your domain names for sale with GoDaddy. It’s a no-brainer for someone serious about selling their domains.
Listings through Afternic will appear on more than 100 partner registrars throughout the world.
If they are listed with a Buy Now price, they’ll also appear as a premium listing at GoDaddy.
Better yet, a Buy Now domain will appear on more than 100 partner registrars all over the world in addition to GoDaddy. That includes nine out of the top 10 most popular registrars. And to top it all, managing your listing is easy. Don’t worry about having an account across all 100 registrars — update, manage and handle your listing with ease with Afternic, and watch your domain spread across the network.
Listing at GoDaddy is good, but listing at Afternic is better. Along with the increased exposure, you get access to Afternic’s sales team — experts ready and willing to field questions from buyers about your domain name. They even help to seal the deal! And since Afternic is owned by GoDaddy, you’re guaranteed to get the same great customer support.
In conclusion
Have any domain names that are hiding in your account? Do some research and see what they could be worth.
Then, head on over to GoDaddy or Afternic and start listing. Why wait? Start selling your domains today and put a little extra money in your pocket.
The post How to list domain names for sale appeared first on GoDaddy Blog.
Read more: godaddy.com
Rakuten, the “Amazon of Japan,” announced the launch of its new crypto exchange platform Monday, August 19, offering spot trading of crypto assets via a dedicated smartphone app. The e-commerce giant has been crypto-friendly for a while now, experimenting and investing in crypto payment systems since at least 2014, but with the launch of the wallet exchange service, Rakuten Bank users are now able to buy, sell, and exchange BTC, BCH, and ETH, as well as utilize fiat off-ramps to personal bank accounts. Other formidable forces in e-commerce are working hard to jump on board the crypto train as well.
Also Read: Another Self-Proclaimed Satoshi Fails to Sway Crypto Community
Optimism for Crypto
“Rakuten” means “optimism” in Japanese, and with all the effort the e-commerce leader has been pouring into blockchain and crypto development over the past years, that positive moniker makes sense. With a market cap of $14.5 billion, over 17,000 employees worldwide, and $10 billion in sales as of May, Japan’s internet commerce behemoth is ubiquitous in the land of the rising sun, and elsewhere.
In a press release from Tokyo yesterday, Rakuten Wallet Inc., a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, announced the start of its long-awaited crypto trading app and exchange service:
Through the smartphone app, customers can make transactions for crypto asset trading accounts, such as depositing/withdrawing Japanese yen and depositing/withdrawing crypto assets, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year…Three types of crypto assets can be traded: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
The app features a multisig-based “cold wallet” for user funds, and “There are no fees for opening or managing an account, purchasing or selling crypto assets, or depositing money,” according to the press release. While the company uses the term “cold” in describing the wallet, it is important to note that the actual meaning here is simply offline storage, and as such security is not solely in the hands of the account holder.
Application Process: Convenience In, Privacy Out
For those applying for a Rakuten Wallet account, the process is pretty straightforward. “Customers who already have a bank account with Rakuten Bank will be able to easily open a Rakuten Wallet account simply by entering the required information on the online application form,” the press release confirms.
However, privacy-minded crypto users may find the application off-putting. Japan is arguably the world leader in crypto regulation and adoption, with rigorous KYC and AML protocols implemented industry-wide thanks to Japan’s FSA (Financial Services Agency). The veritable dating game-style personal quiz prior to signing up is reflective of this reality.
Applicants must answer several questions even after opening a Rakuten Bank account including private details relating to one’s job, purpose for opening the account, and income. They must also state how many years they have been active in the crypto space. This is in stark contrast to private, P2P exchanges like local.bitcoin.com, where the only thing needed is an email address.
Rakuten’s Push Echoed by Amazon, Others
Establishing the Rakuten Blockchain Lab in 2016 after an earlier investment in Bitnet, a wallet/payments software firm in 2014, Rakuten is no stranger to crypto. In terms of the breakneck speed proliferation of Japanese regulations and crypto adoption, 2014 seems like light years ago to most. The Tokyo-based company is not alone, though, with other movers and shakers in the industry having also been putting in the time and research, and now seem to be making plans to jump on board with similar projects.
An official patent document from May reveals that Amazon is researching Merkle Tree solutions to proof-of-work challenges for unknown applications. Though Amazon does not directly accept crypto payments like Rakuten’s American site does, via the integration of the Bitnet portal, similar developments may soon be in the works for America’s retail juggernaut. Already the Amazon Coin digital currency is a reality.
Rakuten’s CEO, Hiroshi Mikitani, announced in early 2018 that the company was working on its own crypto token, “Rakuten Coin” to be integrated with the extremely popular Rakuten points system in Japan. Currently these points can be exchanged for bitcoin via the Japanese site.
Amazon has further created a stir in the media in past years by buying up crypto-related domain names such as amazoncryptocurrency.com, amazoncryptocurrencies.com, and amazonethereum.com. While this could be simple brand protection, based on the company’s recent research and investments, real speculation does seem warranted. Especially considering that other companies on similarly herculean tiers of mega financial success like Walmart, Facebook, and Google are all investigating and experimenting with blockchain and crypto as well.
Japan Still Skeptical of Exchanges
Though the Rakuten announcement is big news for crypto enthusiasts in Japan, some remain skeptical. With massive losses of funds at Mt. Gox, Coincheck, and most recently Bitpoint, customer confidence in Japan-based exchange services has suffered. Even lesser known issues relating to regulatory changes have left a sour taste in the mouth of many. Tokyo-based exchange Bitflyer, for example, froze user accounts in 2018 with no clear notification, citing “general maintenance” and the need to comply with official regulatory audits. Some users had crypto frozen on the exchange for weeks, with little to no assistance from customer service.
Rakuten’s Positive Push
Japan’s troubles of the past notwithstanding, Rakuten Wallet is pushing forward, with its Android app already available and an iOS implementation expected sometime in September. The service is set to be available 24-7, 365 days a year, except for maintenance periods. Fees only apply for withdrawals of Japanese yen and crypto assets. According to the press release “The app also features many useful functions that allow customers to effectively manage their crypto assets, such as confirmation of assets deposited in Rakuten Wallet, the purchase and sale of crypto assets, and real-time chart rate confirmation.”
The optimistic foray into crypto is perhaps to be expected from the group that is already an online mall, credit card company, Japan’s largest online bank, and owns an actual baseball team. With Rakuten riding the crypto wave in the East, and spreading integration worldwide, it can’t be too long until other giants follow suit.
What are your thoughts on Rakuten’s announcement? Let us know in the comments section below.
Images courtesy of Shutterstock, fair use.
Did you know you can buy and sell BCH privately using our noncustodial, peer-to-peer Local Bitcoin Cash trading platform? The Local.Bitcoin.com marketplace has thousands of participants from all around the world trading BCH right now. And if you need a bitcoin wallet to securely store your coins, you can download one from us here.
The post ‘Amazon of Japan’ Rakuten Launches Crypto Exchange Service appeared first on Bitcoin News.
Read more: news.bitcoin.com
Another person has attempted to claim the title of Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin. According to a blog post published on August 18, this new person aims to expose his “real-life identity” through a series of written memoirs. The final ‘reveal’ will allegedly give the public the true answers to the decade long mystery. Despite the attempt so far, the cryptocurrency community is not buying the story and the huge effort stemming from the website, Satoshi Nakamoto Renaissance Holdings, has been quite feeble. Some community members are not pleased with some elements of the story either.
Also read: Bitcoiners Brace for More Performance Art and Another ‘Satoshi Reveal’
Another Person Hopes to Convince the World He’s Satoshi With a Few Blog Posts
The latest person to claim to be Satoshi had published a slew of press releases explaining that he would be publishing a series of posts leading to the ultimate reveal. News.Bitcoin.com reported on the story when the press release came out and explained how most people assumed it was a marketing tactic to get people’s eyes on something else. It still might be a marketing effort or ruse of some sort, but the person truly attempts to claim the Satoshi Nakamoto monicker. In addition to the declaration, the person wrote a 3,300-word blog post about the origins of Bitcoin and his pseudonym. The post says it was written “as told to Ivy McLemore,” the PR team behind the so-called ‘reveal.’ It was also edited a few times since it was published at 4 p.m. EDT, when the word “cyberpunk” was changed to the word “cypherpunk” on two occasions. The blog edit was a pretty foolish mistake as the two words have different meanings.
The post was published at 4 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. It was also edited multiple times and the original can be seen on Archive.org.
The so-called creator of Bitcoin said he’s always been a believer in freedom and that’s why he began the blockchain journey. In the post, he explained that Hal Finney was his “closet ally and mentor” and the technology was not designed overnight. “Bitcoin was created through circumstantial requirements, but its current exposure cannot be attributed to design,” he noted. The author then veered off into a tone that’s similar to the Australian Craig Wright’s recent blog posts. The new Satoshi claimant said that the creation of Bitcoin led him to hide so he couldn’t be tied to something deemed illegal by governments. “At its conception, Bitcoin was worth mere cents,” the author remarked. “Later, when its usage was hijacked for illicit means, I made decisions and set off a chain of events to create distance between my creation and myself.” In order to further highlight the alleged misappropriation of the technology he invented, he added:
Today, when Bitcoin is understood by the advances of technology, but at the same time is being hijacked by greed, I feel I have a duty to work hard and make my creation better and take its vision to the next level.
The series of blog posts that aim to expose the self-proclaimed Satoshi’s “real-life identity.”
After discussing the origin of how everything transpired, the blog post explained how the author came up with the name “Bitcoin.” The name stemmed from a Pakastani bank called “BCCI,” a financial institution shut down in 1991 by the Bank of England for money laundering. His father worked for United Bank Limited and he got a unique perspective of the banking system. The financial crisis of 2008 was the “final push for Bitcoin to be created” and he was also dealing with difficulties obtaining a bank account.
“I didn’t like the way banks controlled and utilised other people’s money and I wanted to at least try to change this. I felt like a failure and was humiliated by the banks so I made it my mission to invent something that would enable a common layperson to access money without involving the big banks,” the memoirs detail. The term Bitcoin came from the BCCI name, as so: “Bank of CredIT and COmmerce INternational.” The author also stated:
I wanted to empower the poor person, empower the little man, and create something that was accessible as the people’s money – the people’s bank with no boundaries, no nationalities, and no discrimination – where nothing was controlled by the government and where no one dictated and destroyed people for the sake of misplaced politics.
No need to wait til Tuesday, seems like these two jokers are behind it
MR BILAL KHALID
MR MUNIR ASLAM MALIK pic.twitter.com/XLJe9DVmad
— SeekingSatoshi (@jimmy007forsure) August 18, 2019
Using Hal Finney’s Good Name and the New Vision
The last part of the blog post is one reason why people didn’t appreciate this so-called reveal because it involves the now deceased Hal Finney. Using Finney’s good name to promote a marketing ploy would be vile and disgusting to say the least. Before explaining the alleged relationship with Finney, the so-called inventor clarified how Chaldean numerology was used to create his moniker and he emphasized that numerology was a way to encrypt many of the decisions he made during the development of Bitcoin.
and using hal finney death for a PR stunt is absolutely digusting !
— Xavier59 (@TheCryptoBird) August 18, 2019
As far as Hal Finney was concerned, the author gives a lot of credit to the renowned cryptographer and the man who received the first bitcoin transaction. He considered Finney his “closest ally” and referred to him as the “Steve Wozniak” of Bitcoin, which means Finney did a lot of the leg work. “I always looked at how it would be successful commercially with a vision to change the financial world while he looked at the technical aspects,” the writer expounded.
Of course, a good portion of the crypto community thinks the entire story is a farce and they believe this is just another “Faketoshi” trying to steal some thunder. The website BCCI’s domain credentials and the company registration show two people behind the business – Bilal Khalid, and Munir Aslam Malik. Both names are very common in Pakistan and the blog post notes that Satoshi flew to Pakistan regularly from the UK. The blog announcement also says he changed his legal name in the UK, soon after the technology was up and running. There’s not much information on these two individuals online, minus a few connections to BCCI and a few other domains. There are other websites that are connected to the BCCI name which include tdwnpro.com, 5ato5hi.com, insidecaf.com, and onlinemarketing.net. The domain “5ato5hi” shows a lot more information about this debacle as the website’s home page says “Satoshi Nakamoto: A Round Peg in a Square Hole.”
The website 5ato5hi.com.
The website’s “about” section shows the business is awfully fascinated with the word “blockchain” and clearly shows the creator of the website thinks blockchain will disrupt “42 business verticals.” There’s the “Blockchain Operating System” which claims to be a distributed ledger framework that will become the “default operating system (OS)” for personal, business, and enterprise users. The associated websites and the ‘revealing’ story are all very tacky as all of the published material has been riddled with grammatical errors, misspellings, and using the word “cyberpunk” and changing it to “cypherpunk” after the internet called out the mistake. So far, many crypto proponents assume that the man who will step forward will be Bilal Khalid. “Hey Ivy McLemore, just so you’re aware, Bilal Khalid is not Satoshi Nakamoto. Have fun promoting his ‘reveal’ whilst your name gets dragged through the mud,” Monero’s Riccardo Spagni tweeted after the reveal post published.
The website 5ato5hi.com. No One Believes the New Satoshi But People Love Fictional Satoshi Stories
Of course, the latest ‘reveal’ got attention as people do love the fan fiction behind Satoshi Nakamoto stories. It’s safe to say that a lot of observers will visit the URL to read the next blog post installments which plan to publish on Monday and Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT. The next post will continue to cover his strong belief in Chaldean numerology. But the second installment will also “reveal all facts” related to his alleged 980,000 bitcoins. People will have to wait until the third published post to find out his “real-life identity” and decide whether or not his claims are legitimate.
So far, just like the pushback Craig Wright has seen, no one considers this new ‘reveal’ valid. Bitcoiners think the website, Satoshi Nakamoto Renaissance Holdings, is simply a tasteless marketing ploy. A lot of people also think the author’s writing is not at all similar to Satoshi’s old posts on Bitcointalk.org, and the self-proclaimed Satoshi over accentuates a U.K.-based undertone and says the word “whilst” quite a bit. However, the website has been getting a lot of traffic. The site’s server was down multiple times yesterday due to a traffic overload after the un-edited version of the blog post published.
What do you think about the so-called Satoshi reveal? Do you think it’s just another marketing ruse? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the mentioned companies, and websites associated with this story. Bitcoin.com or the author is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. This editorial review is for informational purposes only.
Image credits: Shutterstock, the Satoshi Nakamoto Renaissance Holdings website, 5ato5hi.com, and Twitter.
Did you know you could win big with Bitcoin gambling? Choose from a range of BCH games including BCH poker, BCH slots, and many more. All games are provably fair—good luck.
The post Another Self-Proclaimed Satoshi Fails to Sway Crypto Community appeared first on Bitcoin News.
Read more: news.bitcoin.com
Why should you care about domain authority?
By now, you realize just how important it is for your site to be visible in search engines.
Search engines like Google are the primary mode of discovery for billions of users, so if you can get your site at or near the top rankings for relevant keyword phrases, you can secure an ever-growing stream of new traffic to your website.
But many online business owners neglect a fundamental element of search engine optimization (SEO) strategy: domain authority.
Learning how to increase domain authority and using a good domain authority checker can dramatically improve your overall SEO results.
In this guide, you’ll learn the intricacies of how domain authority is calculated, why domain authority matters, and of course, the strategies you need to be successful in improving it.
Related: Beginner’s guide to search engine optimization for small business websites
What is domain authority?
Let’s start with a basic outline of what domain authority is and how it functions.
Domain authority is a cumulative score of trustworthiness for a given web domain.
When search engines formulate search engine results pages (SERPs) they usually look for two things: relevance, or how appropriate the content is for the given query, and trustworthiness, or how valuable and reputable the content is.
Domain authority is useful for gauging how reliable a website’s content is; the higher the domain authority for a site, the more likely its content will be to rank highly in SERPs.
Google doesn’t explicitly publish these scores, nor does it document how these scores are calculated. Instead, SEO experts (like the smart folks over at Moz) have come up with their own estimated formulations for domain authority. The scale usually runs from zero to 100, with zero being brand new sites with no authority and 100 being the most trustworthy sites on the web.
We’ll get more into how domain authority is calculated and how to increase domain authority later. But for now, understand that it takes into consideration a mixture of content quality, domain history and inbound link profiles.
Domain authority applies across your entire domain, so every page of your site shares the same domain authority rating.
You might also want to consider page authority, which is similarly calculated, except it applies at the page level. For example, you could have a high domain authority, but if one piece of content you published has a significantly higher page authority than your other pages, it’s going to perform comparatively better in organic search results than the rest of the pages on your site.
Related: Everything you need to know about domain names
Why is domain authority different from other SEO tactics?
The first SEO strategy most webmasters learn is how to optimize for strategically relevant keywords.
The basic idea here is to include important keywords within page metadata, and notably, in the body of your content, to increase their likelihood of ranking for queries with similar wording.
Website owners who follow this strategy while ignoring other SEO tactics are often perplexed to learn that their search rankings aren’t improving as expected.
Focusing on domain authority is distinct from keyword-based tactics for several important reasons:
The authority factor
Remember, search engines need to see both relevance and authority to regard you highly for SERPs. As the name suggests, improving your domain authority is critical for improving the “authority” side of the equation.
Without it, even the best keyword optimization strategies are going to fall short because search engines will have no way to measure whether or not that content is trustworthy.
Sitewide application
Your domain authority applies to your entire site, including any subdomains you have and any and all pages of content you produce.
This makes any investment in your domain authority valuable for every other SEO tactic you execute.
It’s a rising tide that lifts all boats.
Growth and sustainability
Domain authority is hard to increase because it depends on so many factors, but once you start increasing it, it’s relatively easy to preserve that momentum. Over time, your domain authority will get higher and higher, boosting your relevance almost permanently.
Short of following black-hat SEO tactics, there are few ways to decrease your domain authority, so you’ll likely continue reaping the benefits of your domain authority investments for years to come.
Related: What is a meta description?
Why is measuring domain authority useful?
With the help of a domain authority checker, you can numerically measure your site’s domain authority, on a scale of 0 to 100. Why is this useful?
For starters, it’s a good indicator of the overall health of your SEO campaign. Your domain authority can increase thanks to better on-site content, more inbound links and other factors, so if you see your DA ticking upward, it’s a good sign you’re doing things right.
Additionally, it’s a useful measure for competitive analysis. Understanding that your top competitor has a higher domain authority than you can help you identify some of the specific tactics that set them apart. It can also help you determine when it’s worth fighting a competitor for a contentious keyword phrase, and when it might be wiser to back off.
Related: How to find inspiration from your competitors (without stealing their ideas)
How is domain authority scored?
Now let’s investigate how domain authority is scored.
Inbound link profile
There are several minor factors that play into your domain authority, but the biggest factor is your inbound link profile. Google’s search algorithm relies on a system known as PageRank, which basically calculates a site’s trustworthiness based on the number and quality of links pointing to it.
A site with many links pointing to it will typically be seen as more authoritative than one with few links pointing to it.
However, there are many other factors to consider. For example, links from more trustworthy sources pass more authority than links from new or untrustworthy ones, and it’s better to have links from many different sources than it is to have many links all from one source.
Accordingly, link building is one of the best ways to increase domain authority.
Related: How to get backlinks to a small business website
Other factors include:
Site structure
Sites that are properly structured for search engines to crawl are automatically going to be considered a higher domain authority than sites that aren’t. If Google can’t even see your site, you won’t have an authority score at all.
On-site content quality
Google has built-in algorithms that are able to calculate content quality, or at least estimate it. Using evaluations like natural language recognition, Google can reward sites with better-written material.
Domain history
Older domains tend to carry more authority than newer ones. This isn’t a make-or-break factor, so don’t let it discourage you if you’re starting a new site from scratch.
Note that domain authority is best used as a comparative tool, and might not have a one-to-one relationship with search rankings — in other words, a site with a higher domain authority won’t universally outrank a site with a lower one.
Domain authority checker tools
So how can you measure your domain authority? The best way is with an online domain authority checker. These are some of the best tools available:
Moz’s Link Explorer
Moz is the company that defined domain authority initially and set the zero to 100 scale. You can use its Link Explorer tool to calculate the DA of practically any domain and analyze the links pointing to it at the same time. You’ll be limited in how many queries you make unless you pay for full access.
Small SEO Tools
Small SEO Tools has a more basic domain authority checker, but it should give you all the information you need within seconds. All you have to do is plug in the URL you want to check, and you’ll see its DA, page authority and more.
SEMRush
SEMRush is a paid search analytics tool, but you can make 10 free queries when you create an account. With it, you’ll get access to measurements like domain authority, page authority and SEO-related data like search rankings and organic traffic.
Editor’s note: Do you need some expert help with search engine optimization (SEO)? Check out GoDaddy’s SEO Services today! After a free consultation, we’ll work with your business to help you rank higher and earn more traffic.
How can you increase domain authority?
Now let’s get into how to increase your domain authority. Let’s assume you’ve structured your site in a crawlable way, and that you have no real control over the length of time your domain has been active.
1. Produce high-quality content
Your first step is to produce high-quality content for your blog on a regular basis.
High-quality content is not only going to directly increase your domain authority, but it’s also going to serve as an anchor point for the links you build for your domain.
High-quality content is free of spelling and grammatical errors, has a diverse vocabulary, natural speech patterns (i.e., no keyword stuffing), and links to other valuable sources.
It’s also important to publish new content regularly since Google disproportionately favors new content. Aim to produce at least one high-quality post per week, if not more, but remember to prioritize quality over quantity.
Related: Editorial calendar — The content, keyword and SEO connection
Earn inbound links
![Chain Links Represent Inbound Links for Domain Authority]](https://blogcdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/chain-links-represent-inbound-links-for-domain-authority.jpg)
Your next step is to earn more inbound links for your site.
This is the best way to increase your domain authority, but it’s also the trickiest. That’s because Google is acutely aware of the possibility that webmasters are building fraudulent or manipulative links for the sole purpose of increasing their domain authority and search rankings.
Accordingly, your link building strategies need to be focused on providing value to web users while simultaneously pointing to your site.
The safest approach is to popularize your best content in the hopes that other writers will see it and cite it in their own work.
For example, you can distribute your content on social media, complete with original research and statistics that other content producers will link to.
However, it’s often more reliable to build links on your own. If you want those links to be relevant and valuable to web users, the best way to do this is through guest posting with external publishers. The basic idea is to write an article that the publisher (and their audience) will find valuable, and find a way to relevantly link to your on-site content in the body of that article. For example, you might cite your own original research or link to a guide you’ve written for further reading.
Related: How to start guest posting for your business
Link building strategies
Link building is a complex strategy that takes years to truly master, but these introductory tips can help you if you’re just getting started:
Prioritize content quality. New link builders often get carried away trying to link to their work no matter what, but it’s vital to prioritize the quality of your content above everything else. If your articles seem slapped-together or poorly researched, you aren’t going to get featured.
Always link in a relevant, valuable way. Your link can’t be shoehorned in, or it’s going to be removed or look spammy. When linking to your on-site content, always make sure it’s done in a way that’s valuable to readers and relevant to the topic at hand.
Keep seeking new publishers. Subsequent links on the same publisher will yield diminishing returns, so always keep seeking visibility on new publishers.
Point to many different articles. Keep your page authority in mind, and try to build links to a variety of internal pages.
Work toward obtaining links from high DA publishers. The higher the domain authority of the referring domain, the more authority you’ll gain from a link built on it. High DA sites often have high standards for the content they publish, so consider starting with low DA sites and gradually working your way up.
Avoid link schemes. Many sites will promise to increase your domain authority quickly, or build you lots of links in a short period of time. These are usually link schemes, and they’re going to do more harm than good. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Start building domain authority
It’s practically impossible to rank higher in search engines unless you spend time focusing on improving your domain authority — and there are plenty of secondary benefits to authority-boosting strategies as well.
Rely on link building and content development to be the pillars of your strategy, and keep an eye on your competitors so you continue to improve.
This article includes content originally published on the GoDaddy blog by Christopher Ambler.
The post What is domain authority and how can it enhance your search visibility? appeared first on GoDaddy Blog.
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Often, all it takes is a little money to get the ball rolling for a young (or new) company. But what options are out there to acquire the necessary small business funding that a startup needs to put things in motion and actually begin growing?
Fully understanding the choices available — as well as the process of how to raise capital — are the factors that set many successful young businesses apart from their counterparts.
And while these startup funding options aren’t always intuitive, it only takes a bit of effort to absorb and understand them.
Small business funding guide
This comprehensive guide was created to act as that bit of effort. It aims to help entrepreneurs and small business owners get up to speed on myriad funding options for new and fledgling ventures.
Before we dive into the specific small business funding options, though, we’re going to take a close look at 5 recommended preliminary steps to take prior to exerting energy raising capital (because everyone has to start from somewhere).
Solidify your business plan. Know your numbers. Begin to build business credit. Establish or strengthen your business’s online presence. Do your research.
Then, we’ll take a deep dive into 10 small business funding strategies (with pros and cons of each) to help you better understand the choices at your disposal, so you can get the financing needed to succeed.
Bootstrapping and personal loans. Crowdfunding. Small business financing via angel investment. Equity fundraising. SBA loans. Other types of small business and startup loans. Small business grants. Business credit cards. Business credit lines. Equipment financing.
We’ll round out this guide with some additional startup and small business funding options to consider.
Ready? Let’s make it rain!
Editor’s note: This content should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation.
Preparing to raise capital: 5 key steps
Raising money may feel like a daunting prospect if you’ve never done so before, but it’s a process that becomes less intimidating with a bit of preparation. Follow these five steps, and you’ll be in good shape when it comes time to meet with banks, investors and other potential contributors of small business funding.
Solidify your business plan
If you’re an established business owner, you already understand the value of a fine-tuned business plan. But if you’re new to the entrepreneurial game or creating your first startup, it’s important to not overlook this key step in the small business funding process.
While viable business plans are comprised of numerous components, there are certain ones that are more critical than others. To create a business plan compelling enough to inspire startup funding, make sure you hash out these four key elements:
Element 1: Your value proposition
If you’re to have any hope of rounding up startup funding from investors, you need to have a well-thought-out value proposition. Understanding what your product or service brings to the table and being able to clearly explain this to others is essential.
If you’ve made it to this stage, you likely have a good idea of what this value element is. But have you explained it in writing before? Have you given anyone the “elevator speech” — the abridged version of what value you’re bringing to the market with your startup?
Related: What is an elevator pitch and why your business needs one
Element 2: Customer segments and relationships
Unless you’re pitching the next Google-type product, there’s a good chance you won’t be marketing your business to everyone (if you are, best of luck). Since you’ve already hashed out a sound value proposition, you should have a rough idea of what segment of the population might be interested in your product.
Do your research ahead of time, so you have some concrete, quantifiable data to share here.
Writing out your target demographic — including details like projected age range, gender, geographic location, education level, etc. — will help investors assess whether the potential is there or not for your business.
You also want to highlight how you plan to interact with this demographic, because this will (ideally) reflect a better understanding of your audience as well as your ability to connect with them.
Related: Why a target audience matters — and how to find yours
Element 3: Revenue streams
What’s your strategy for making money? It’s possible you have several in mind. For instance, maybe you intend on facilitating in-person sales, online credit card processing and even recurring ACH billing for a membership program you have in place.
Make your methods exceedingly clear in your plan.
Note that if you’re planning on opening a business considered risky by banks, you’ll need to work on opening a high-risk merchant account to ensure your revenue continues to actually keep streaming into your coffers.
It’s an encouraging sign to investors that you have your payment processing needs sorted out, and makes your ability to eventually pay them back much more apparent.
Related: 5 keys sections to include in your business plan’s financial projections
Element 4: Key activities and resources
Do you have any competitive advantages or ways of tapping into your industry’s market that set you apart from other businesses? Maybe you plan on simply doing something in a more efficient way than your competitors.
Such details will play a large role in how much your business plan resonates with interested listeners.
Also bring to light what resources you currently have to work with and how they can be wielded to help your customers. Things like human resources, additional capital, intellectual property — these details are valuable, and give your business plan some weight.
If you’re starting from scratch here, that’s OK, but having some type of resource to leverage makes your business instantly more compelling.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that while a business plan is crucial for small business financing and startup funding efforts, it holds more value than just that. Specifically, it acts as a guide that you can constantly turn to during those less stable early stages, plus it can help you in day-to-day operations.
Know your numbers
Some founders shy away from the financials, and put most of their energy into their product or service. While that enthusiasm and passion is ultimately what drives them to run their own business, none of it is possible without a solid understanding of the books.
Even if you decide to separate yourself a bit from the financial side and outsource your funding efforts, you should still learn how to read the statements and projections.
Potential lenders and/or investors will expect a clear explanation of your venture’s key metrics (e.g. gross margin, net income, cash requirements, monthly burn rate), use of proceeds, growth projections and, in the case of investors, their estimated ROI.
Numbers are the key to making a compelling case for your business.
Without them your chances of acquiring the small business funding necessary to thrive will greatly diminish.
Begin to build business credit
When you first enter the entrepreneurial world, you soon realize that personal credit can only get you so far as an owner, and that building business credit is imperative to your long-term success.
Taking time to build business credit during the early stages of your startup means that you’re setting yourself up to get approved for the loans needed to expand later.
And while this step is a gradual one, over time it will solidify your financial standing with banks and investors, as well as establish your business as a trustworthy organization to work with.
Plus, as you build business credit your interest rate for loans will gradually decrease. By understanding how business credit works, you can put your business in a better position financially.
The four credit bureaus for businesses
There are four credit bureaus that assign business credit scores:
FICO assigns a Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) score from 0 to 300. Dun & Bradstreet assigns a PAYDEX score from 0 to 100. Equifax assigns three scores: a payment index from 0 to 100’ a credit risk score from 101 to 992’ and a business failure score from 1,000 to 1,880. Experian assigns a business credit score from 0 to 100.
If you’re in the market for a business loan, the FICO SBSS score is popular with banks for pre-screening, and most require a minimum score of 160. Without any business credit history, the highest possible score is 140, so you can’t rely on great personal credit to obtain a loan.
But remember, lenders could choose to pull any of your business credit scores, so it’s in your best interest to work on all four of them.
How business credit scores are calculated may be complicated, but building your business’s credit doesn’t need to be.
Follow these strategies to help collectively build business credit across all four bureaus.
Strategy 1: Set up an LLC or corporation
You can only build business credit if your business is legally a separate entity from yourself, meaning you’ll have to establish an LLC or a corporation.
While it’s easiest to form an LLC or incorporate your business in your home state, some business owners choose to do so in another state with more favorable business laws for their particular business model.
To further establish your business as a distinct entity and not a sole proprietorship, consider putting together an LLC operating agreement. It’s not required in most states, but having one looks good to investors and creates operational parameters in the event of disputes.
Strategy 2: Make payments on time
Every credit bureau uses your business’s payment history as a factor in determining its credit score. Needless to say you shouldn’t miss or postpone paying your bills, or else all that energy you spent to build business credit will largely be wasted.
If you needed further incentive: Dun & Bradstreet bases its PAYDEX score entirely on payment history, and to get a 100 (their highest score), you’ll need to make payments 30 days in advance of the due date. If that’s too much of a challenge for your particular enterprise, paying on the actual due date results in a score of 80, which still falls in the bureau’s low-risk range.
Strategy 3: Keep your credit utilization below 30 percent
Equifax, Experian and FICO all use credit utilization as a factor in calculating business credit scores, so it’s another factor worth monitoring and addressing.
Credit utilization is the amount of debt your business has compared to the amount of credit it has available. However, what credit bureaus weigh most heavily are balances on revolving lines of credit.
Let’s say that you have multiple business credit cards, and their credit limits add up to cumulative $50,000. If your total spending amounts to $10,000, your credit utilization is at 20 percent.
To effectively build business credit, it’s essential to keep your utilization down.
Strategy 4: Track your credit with each bureau
Unfortunately, free credit reports are a consumer luxury rather than an entrepreneurial one. However, purchasing them through each credit bureau for your business once or twice a year is still a worthwhile investment. Doing so allows you to check your various scores and check for errors.
You might also discover that your business’s credit history is missing information about payments to certain suppliers and lenders. Not every company reports payment information to the credit bureaus. If some of your payments aren’t reflected in your business credit report, you can contact these particular companies and request that they start reporting them.
Establish or strengthen your business’s online presence
Whether you’re running a small mom-and-pop bakery or are aiming to take the world by storm with a revolutionary SaaS platform, you’ll want to have a well-curated online presence. At the time of writing this piece, there were nearly 4.2 billion internet users across the globe. Not using this to your advantage is a big mistake.
You don’t need to run a monster website to receive small business financing, but there are several actions you can take that will increase your chances of impressing lenders and getting the cash you need.
Get a professional domain
A business without a legitimate domain name tied to it does not look great to prospective investors.
Thankfully, this is something that is easily rectified — all you need to do is research available domain names, and buy one that falls within your budget and makes sense from a branding standpoint.
Go ahead — give it a try:
SEARCH
Related: How to buy a domain name
Purchase email addresses for that domain
Domain registrars often provide packages where you can get professional email addresses that include the domain name. This is a smart idea for several reasons.
In terms of startup funding, a business email is simply more authoritative than a generic email account.
Your professional email shows that you’re serious.
Additionally, this type of email address is more likely to stick in the mind of an investor and customer. At the very least, you want your email address to make an impression when communicating with anyone contemplating an investment in your company.
Related: How to use a custom domain name for email
Create a website
You can bet that potential investors, like potential customers, will search for your business online. Having a professional-looking website will likely give you a leg-up in securing small business financing.
And it doesn’t require a big investment of time or money.
Sure, having a highly customized website that covers all the online needs of your business is the dream, but early on, a simple website that covers all the basics will suffice.
You can use an easy DIY website builder to create an effective, professional-looking website in under an hour.
GoDaddy’s Website Builder makes it a snap to create a beautiful business website.
Related: How to start a website from A to Z
Do your research
If you really want to know how to raise capital effectively, it will take time and research.
You might already have some great leads on investors and are feeling optimistic, but keep deep-diving into competitor analysis, hashing out your business plan further, and learning more about the unique angles and resources available to your particular business.
For instance, if you’re a female entrepreneur, there are some excellent business loans for women that you can explore. Likewise, a number of venture capital firms specialize in startup funding for female founders.
Look into angel investors and fundraising organizations in your city, because many such individuals and groups prefer to support local startups.
Taking every angle when approaching the startup funding process will increase your chances of finding suitable contributors.
Of course, the internet hosts plenty of information about small business funding opportunities — even providing them in the form of online platforms that exist solely to source capital.
Finally, doing your due diligence will help assure you’re actually pitching to the right people (i.e. interested ones who share your values). For instance, if you found an opportunity presenting your ideas for a SaaS company to a group only interested in medical technologies, it would be a waste of your time (and theirs).
Investors who have a track record working within your specific industry or at least profess a strong interest in your business model will help you get the startup funding you need.
Be sure to research the investment portfolio and culture of each group you’re appealing to, and then try to find a champion or mentor within that group who seems well-suited to fighting the good fight in the name of your startup.
How to raise capital: 10 small business funding options
There are many ways for industrious entrepreneurs to procure the small business financing they need these days — but which way is the best? The answer is not so simple, and each way comes with pros and cons that you’ll need to consider before going all in on one (or several).
These 10 small business funding options provide an overview of the main choices out there, and give you an idea of how to raise capital successfully.
1. Bootstrapping and personal loans
Bootstrapping
Originating from the expression “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps,” bootstrapping involves financing your business entirely with your own money. You’ll start out using your savings, and once you’re earning a profit, you can reinvest that money into your business.
Pros
Since you’re only using your money, you avoid paying any interest. Plus, you won’t put your credit score at risk like you would with a credit card or loan. (That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t build business credit as a bootstrapper, however).
You’re also keeping ownership solely in the hands of yourself and your partners, rather than investors who might not have the same vision as you do for the future of your business. If you’re worried that others might steer your company off course, then this may be the best small business funding option available.
Cons
A major drawback with bootstrapping is that your resources are simply limited — whatever you’ve got saved in the bank is all you have to work with. Exclusively bootstrapping could end up slowing down the expansion of your business, and turn what could be quick growth into a taxing slog.
Who should consider bootstrapping?
Bootstrapping is the American dream, and as such provides everyone an opportunity to try and run a business their own way. If you’re a freshly minted graduate out of college with hardly a dollar to your name, though, bootstrapping is going to be much more of a grind than if you have a sizeable savings account and have accumulated various assets.
Also, if you’re not prepared to be frugal — with everything —bootstrapping might not be the best choice for you. With resources all coming from your own checkbook, you’ll need to minimize expenses at every possible turn.
Personal loans
If bootstrapping 100% isn’t practical for your particular business model, you can try pairing your own finances with a personal loan. As an aspiring startup, your financial history is likely limited, making the process of getting a business loan more difficult. But you can get a personal loan to help inject some cash into your company’s development.
Pros
Your business won’t be considered in your loan application, so if you’ve built a strong credit history over the course of your life, you’ll be in good shape to get a personal loan. Interest rates for those with excellent credit ratings average around 10%-12%, but could be even lower depending on the lender.
Cons
If your credit history isn’t respectable, you probably won’t qualify, and even then the rate might be too extreme (upwards of 30%).
Also, the amount you can borrow is much more limited in comparison with a standard business loan, unless you’re already exceptionally wealthy with a pristine credit report. If you’re looking for a six-figure lump sum to kickstart your business, a personal loan isn’t going to get you there.
Who qualifies?
To qualify for personal loans that have competitive rates, you’ll ideally want good or excellent credit, which requires a FICO score of 690+. And just because you qualify doesn’t mean you’ll want to take the loan at the rate offered.
2. Crowdfunding
If your personal bank statements are looking a bit lean and you’re struggling to qualify for various types of loans, hope is not necessarily lost.
One interesting small business funding strategy that has exploded in popularity recently could be your ticket to business growth. Are you ready to give crowdfunding a try?
While many people think of crowdfunding platforms as places where you go to cover the cost of a family member’s surgery or help support a friend’s dream of building homes in impoverished countries, they can also be excellent places to attract startup funding.
With crowdfunding, you’re essentially asking the public to fund small pieces of your business in return for discounts, material goods/products and other established perks.
Pros
Crowdfunding is a great way to create hype in the early stages of a business, and it also helps you gauge the demographics who may be interested (or not) in your product or services.
Not to mention, in the event that your campaign fails to reach its desired goal, there’s a lot less to lose than if you have to default on a loan.
Cons
Your business ideas could get poached if you haven’t taken the proper measures to legally safeguard them through patents and registered trademarks. You have to go into the process prepared, or else you might get burned.
Who is most suited for crowdfunding?
If you have a business idea and can’t seem to qualify for startup funding, you might want to give crowdfunding a shot. Also, if you’re an effective navigator of the internet and know how to drum up supporters through social media and other consumer channels, it could be a great solution for you.
3. Small business financing via angel investment
Unlike crowdfunding, which focuses on micro contributions from the masses, angel investment is centered around the idea of finding one or several “angel” investors — accredited business types who hope to grow their net worth by providing startup funding to intriguing ventures.
Pros
Angel investors are no strangers to small business financing. They’re veterans, likely in the industry or market your business falls under, and they have deep pockets. Suffice to say, a single angel investor can easily contribute more money to your bank account than the other small business funding options outlined in this guide if you inspire them to do so.
Angel investors also didn’t get to this point in life without accumulating business savvy.
Their contributions to your company’s development will go beyond startup funding. They are now invested in your future success, and they’ll do what they can to ensure their ROI.
Plus, if your business fails altogether, they aren’t going to be chasing you down to repay them. They aren’t a bank, and they understand the risks associated with small business funding.
Cons
Tracking down angel investing can be an expensive endeavor, because even making a simple pitch includes gathering and preparing your business information, hiring lawyers and accountants, actually pitching and then following up — some of which involve out-of-town travel.
In the last couple of years many angel platforms have moved online, but the documents and processes involved are still costly.
Then, once you’ve procured angel investment, you’re looking at a relationship in which you owe a very high return, simply because financing a startup is a risky proposition. If your company fails, they lose their investment— or if you have future investment rounds, their investments are subject to dilution.
Who should embrace angel investing?
If you’re trying to launch a startup with a brilliant business idea but are miles away from realizing your idea due to a severe lack of funds, angel investment might be for you. Also, if you operate in a competitive industry where a veteran mentor could give you an advantage over other businesses, an angel investor can help you take that next step.
Just don’t forget about the strings associated with this form of small business funding.
4. Equity fundraising
Did you know that as a private company, you’re able to sell shares or ownership in your company? With Title III of the JOBS act (passed in 2016) allowing anyone to invest and gain equity, equity fundraising is now suddenly a viable way to approach small business financing.
Pros
Similar to crowdfunding, equity fundraising is a great way of building a devoted following before your product or service is even launched.
However, whereas crowdfunding has an established end point (whenever the goods are delivered, discount provided or service rendered), equity fundraising keeps investors in the game.
This means that the your business suddenly has hundreds (or thousands) of minor shareholders who are incentivized to help your brand succeed long after you launch.
Plus, unlike angel investing where a single investor has immense sway over the direction of your company, small shareholders who contributed money through equity fundraising have much less power.
You’re still in the driver’s seat of your own company, which is an appealing prospect for many.
Cons
Sorting out equity when you have hundreds (or thousands) of small investors can be a major legal headache, and might end up costing you money in lawyers or business advisers that you hadn’t accounted for in your business plan.
Also, even though you’re not listed on a public stock exchange, you’re still subject to the rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
If you plan on embracing this small business financing method, you’ll want to talk to a lawyer first.
Who is best suited for equity fundraising?
Owners who have a very clear vision of how their business will progress into the future are best suited for equity fundraising. Such a startup funding method keeps influential figures (in the form of angel investors) out of the equation, and keeps you in a position to call the shots.
Also, companies that could benefit from the help of “brand ambassadors” (in the form of minor equity holders) would also appreciate equity fundraising. Businesses need help to succeed, and forming a small coalition of investors interested in making that happen can be a boon for your company.
5. SBA loans
Loans available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) are aptly named SBA loans, and if you’re wondering how to raise capital without dealing with investors, this may be just what you’re looking for.
Minimum requirements depend on your particular business and its location, but will typically include a good business credit score, a clear future projection of generating income, possible collateral, and a variety of other factors.
Pros
SBA loans have been coined the “Holy Grail” of small business loans by certain entrepreneurs across the United States — and for good reason.
From a cost perspective, SBA loans are the often best choice for small business financing because they offer the lowest interest rates (5% to 9%) and fairest terms (many of them lasting up to 25 years at the same interest rate).
You can also apply for large loan amounts — like, in the millions — that can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital.
Cons
The issue most businesses encounter when going the SBA loan route is actually qualifying for one.
While SBA loans are the most traditional small business financing option, they’re also the most difficult to obtain because they demand very specific requirements.
For instance, business owners must have excellent personal credit, demonstrate a “sound business purpose,” adhere to a variety of other eligibility guidelines, and even assess their precise business size according to SBA regulations to determine what dollar range they qualify for (if they even qualify at all).
Who should use SBA loans?
The question might be more aptly phrased as “who can qualify for an SBA loan”? If you’ve been operating for several years and have a proven track record of growth, you’ll be in much better shape to apply and receive an SBA loan than someone looking for startup funding.
If you’re trying to use an SBA loan as a startup or young business, you’re going to face much more of an uphill battle. It’s not an impossible feat, but you’ll need to prove you’re a risk worth taking on.
Related: How to get a small business loan in 7 steps
6. Other types of small business and startup loans
Outside of traditional SBA loans, other primary loan options include:
Microloans Traditional term loans Short-term loans
Here’s a quick overview of these three small business financing options offered by banks, credit unions and online lenders, as well as their associated advantages and disadvantages.
Microloans
While the name implies a small quantity, don’t be fooled — you could borrow up to $50,000 through a microloan. According to Fundera’s Meredith Wood, these types of loans generally start around $500, and SBA microloans average about $13,000 each. Terms last up to six years, and interest rates usually range from 8% to 13%.
Although there are many lenders that offer microloans, the most popular way to find a lender is through the SBA’s Lender Match program.
This program also offers business training, and in some cases requires you to complete that training before it will process your loan application.
When applying for a microloan, expect the lender to ask for proof of income, financial statements and your business plan to show how you intend to use the loan. The lender may also require references.
Pros and cons
If a business credit card doesn’t fit your needs but you can’t qualify for a loan, microloans serve as a nice middle ground. They’re also easier to obtain than business loans, and the interest rates are reasonable.
However, since they generally run through official channels like the SBA, qualifying for one can be more challenging than for other loan types. Also, the amount of money you can get from a microloan is (understandably) not enormous.
If you were looking for a huge boost of capital to get things rolling, a microloan isn’t going to cut it.
Traditional term loans
When most people think of a loan, they’re likely thinking about a traditional term loan. The structure is simple: You take out a loan at an interest rate determined primarily by your credit score and credit history, and incrementally pay it off until it’s fully covered.
Pros and cons
A major advantage of traditional term loans is their timing flexibility — giving borrowers upwards of five years to pay back the loan in full via predictable monthly payments at a fixed rate.
They will also help you build business credit over time, which helps other financing endeavors later on.
However, getting a traditional term loan can end up costing you more time and energy than a short-term loan, plus you’ll likely be required to put up collateral (especially if you’re new to the game). If you’re looking for startup funding, this might not be your ideal solution.
Short-term loans
Short-term loans have payment periods that usually last between six and 18 months. They are also offered by credit lenders, banks and the SBA.
Pros and cons
Approval for short-term loans can theoretically happen in a single day, which means you can get your business’s cash-flow going in a pinch. Overall, they’re less of a hassle to set up than traditional term loans and SBA loans, which makes them appealing to many business owners.
However, with this convenience comes higher interest rates and early repayment penalties. Just be aware of what you’re getting into before signing the dotted line.
7. Small business grants
Small business grants are divvied out by a variety of organizations, meaning there are a variety of types that you could potentially qualify for. Some of the main categories of small business grants include:
Federal State and regional Corporate Specialty (veterans, women, minorities)
Related: 5 questions entrepreneurs need to ask when searching for small business startup grants
Pros
Small business grants are one of the most coveted forms of startup funding, because who doesn’t like the idea of getting “free” lump sums of money for their startup venture?
Plus, qualifying for a grant isn’t hinging on your excellent business credit or your stellar growth rate, making it extra appealing for those involved in the world of startup funding.
Cons
Some entrepreneurs refer to landing a small business grant as capturing a unicorn due to its seemingly impossible nature. While there’s no shortage of small business grants out there for you to apply for, most of them are highly restrictive in who they cater to.
If you’re running a standard small business, have no idea how to raise capital, and were hoping that a small business grant was your golden ticket, you’re likely out of luck.
Who are small business grants for?
They can really be for anyone, but they’re especially useful for women, minorities and veterans due to the numerous grants set up for these particular groups.
If that’s not you, however, there’s still hope.
Local and regional small business grants are sometimes available for various reasons — whether it’s to try and stimulate the economy of a downtown area with some new businesses, or to help beautify a more decrepit part of the city, these opportunities do arise. You can check out the U.S. Economic Development Association for more information regarding regional small business grants.
8. Business credit cards
Looking to build business credit and simultaneously get some of your startup funding out of the way? A business credit card can help you with both.
It’s recommended that anyone getting involved in the world of startups or small business apply for a business credit card, because there’s no other way to establish great business credit.
Pros
If you’re looking for short-term financing, a zero-percent annual percentage rate (APR) business credit card is among your best small business funding options. The zero-percent APR lasts for an introductory period, with most ranging between six and 15 months — making it an excellent deal if you can stay on top of paying your bills. Plus, there’s no collateral involved.
Business credit cards also earn you either reward points or cash back, making it a good idea to use one for all your business spending. That way, you’ll be able to maximize your return and build business credit at the same time.
Cons
Credit cards are never good for long-term financing because they tend to have higher interest rates than loans.
They are not an all-in-one small business funding solution for savvy business owners, but rather a complementary resource that operates in conjunction with other financing methods.
Also, you’ll need a good credit score to qualify for those zero-percent APR offers, and when the introductory period ends, the card issuer will charge you interest on your current balance. Make sure you have a plan to pay your card off before the APR goes up, or else you’ll be paying the price.
Who should use business credit cards?
If used responsibly, every business owner should consider applying for a business credit card. It’s invaluable to build business credit over time in the event you ever need it, and it’s something that can get you through minor funding bumps instantly without the paperwork.
Related: 5 ways business credit cards can help startups
9. Business credit lines
Not to be confused with business credit cards, business credit lines are another small business funding option available to enterprising owners in need of financing options. While they may operate similarly to their plastic counterpart, there are distinct differences.
Pros
Business credit lines operate like business credit cards, but with fewer usage restrictions — making them similar to a loan in terms of flexibility. If you established a line with a bank or an online lender, you’ll have a steady source of funds to shell out at any moment to pay for things like payroll, inventory or even future projects.
They can also be used to build business credit, generally have lower APRs than credit cards, and can be accessed by everyone from startups to established small businesses.
Cons
It costs money to establish business credit lines (there are often annual fees), and they are more difficult to qualify for if you’re running a startup. Startups may have better luck with online lenders than banks, since the banking system has a strong aversion to risk.
Also, there are limits to credit lines, whereas loans can often end up being much more substantial sums of money.
Who should use business credit lines?
If you’ve been running a company for even one year and prefer the idea of only borrowing money when you need it, a business credit line might be right for you.
Plus, it gives you a chance to build business credit in a way that may seem more official than using the company credit card.
10. Equipment financing
Without some amount of working capital, you’re going to find it difficult to buy the things you need to start your business. And although you may be focusing on more product-centric spending in the early stages, if you have a physical office you’re going to need equipment.
You can be certain that these costs pile up quickly if you’re not paying attention.
You’ll find equipment financing options online if that’s a route you’d like to go. Here are some pros and cons of this strategy.
Pros
Many of the alternative online lender types who provide equipment financing are ready to take most clients, even those who lack any significant business credit history. Since the equipment itself acts as collateral, creditors have less stringent lending standards.
This means you have a much better chance of getting approved when your business is in startup funding mode.
Plus, lenders are generally willing to finance up to 100% of the equipment’s value. If you’re in need of a small business financing method that’ll allow you to go get that car you need for your new venture, equipment financing can help.
Cons
It may be easier to qualify for an equipment loan than many other types of small business funding, but in the end it’s the lenders who are getting the best end of the deal. Interest rates range anywhere from 8% to 30%, depending on several factors, making them a potentially more expensive way of handling your money needs early on.
Who should consider equipment financing?
Equipment financing is ideal for startups, as well as businesses who struggle dealing with banks and more stringent lenders out there like the SBA.
Before you explore this option, remember that it’s possible your startup doesn’t need equipment right away. Be sure to not prematurely finance equipment, or else you’ll be wasting money paying interest for goods you’re not even using yet.
Additional startup and small business funding options to consider
Although we distilled a list of the top 10 small business financing strategies, there are still a variety of other ways to get the startup funding (or any type of funding) you need for your business. Here are a few more ideas to think about:
Enlist a commercial finance broker
Although they don’t act as a direct means of how to raise capital, commercial finance brokers can help you narrow down your available options.
A broker will shop around and discuss possible financing methods with you, and they’re often good at finding you better deals.
A broker could help you save a huge amount of time and by leveraging their experience and expertise effectively. However, since brokers aren’t regulated closely like money lenders are, you should be careful before hiring one, and make sure their reputation is stellar.
Use invoice financing
Invoice financing lets a business obtain an advance based on the value of late, unpaid invoices.
If late-paying clients are affecting your cash flow and choking up your business proceedings, invoice financing is a potentially great solution.
Specifically, it allows you to free up cash that you’ve been owed for an outstanding period, and lets you focus on your actual business rather than hustling delinquent clients.
The way it works
A factoring company will assess the quality of your invoices before deciding on the potential risk involved with lending. They will then advance you a sum worth a certain value of your invoice, collect payments from your clients, and then take back the fee they’re owed before returning any remaining money.
Consider a merchant cash advance
For most business owners, payment processing is an unavoidable part of running business. Did you know that your payment processor likely has merchant cash advances available at your disposal? By giving your provider percentages of your future sales, you can get funding quickly.
Pros
Since the advance is agreed upon between a payment processor and their own client (you, the business owner), there is no collateral involved in the process. It’s also fast, doesn’t include fixed monthly payments, and can get you money when banks and lenders turn you away.
Cons
Merchant cash advances have higher APRs than traditional term loans (not to mention SBA loans). They also lock you into the same payment processor until your contract expires, which could range from months to even a year and a half or more.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the one golden solution to your small business funding woes, chances are you won’t find it. The right financing method for your business is likely a combination of the 10+ options listed above, and there are many factors that play a role in determining which pairing (or grouping) is best for you.
The most you can do is be prepared, do your research and explore the choices available to you at this moment in time.
Certain financing doors might be closed to you for now, but they could open in the future.
Understanding what’s out there can help you ascertain when that time comes, so you can get the funds necessary to succeed with the best possible interest rates (because nobody likes to pay interest). Best of luck financing your venture!
This article includes content originally published on the GoDaddy blog by the following authors: Meredith Wood, Mary Juetten, Roman Shteyn, Dan Hughes, Kristian Rivera, and Edward Wade.
The post 10 small business funding options — from angel investment to traditional loans appeared first on GoDaddy Blog.
Read more: godaddy.com
What’s the importance of understanding how to buy a domain name? For entrepreneurs in the process of starting a new venture, getting a domain name is one of the first steps you’ll take to build an online presence.
You need to buy a domain name for your business so you can create a website, which will allow your ideal clients and customers to find you online.
A domain name is a big part of your business identity so it’s important to buy a domain name that will accurately represent your business and that’s easy for people to remember.
Related: What is a domain name?
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about buying a domain name. We’ll cover:
The steps involved in buying a domain name. How to choose a domain name registrar. How to search for a domain name. Tips for choosing a domain name. Mistakes to avoid when selecting a domain name. Additional considerations when you buy a domain name. How to register a domain name. Conclusion and next steps.
Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
How to buy a domain name in 3 steps
Buying a domain name may seem like a daunting process. After all, there are so many domain extensions and domain name registrars to choose from, it can be quite difficult to know where to start. However, once you know what is involved in buying a domain name, the process becomes pretty straightforward.
There are three steps that you have to follow to buy a domain name:
1. Choose a domain name registrar where you will register the domain name.
You should choose a reputable registrar company that satisfies several criteria to ensure your domain name is in the right hands. We’ll explore those criteria below.
2. Search for your desired domain name and see if it’s available.
Domain names are a hot commodity, which means your first choice might not be available. Fortunately, you’ve got plenty of options.
3. Register your desired domain name with your chosen domain registrar.
Once you choose an available domain name, you’ll be ready to register it for a specific amount of time. We’ll show you exactly how to do that, too.
Let’s go through the above-mentioned steps one by one.
How to choose a domain name registrar
The first step toward buying a domain name for your new venture is selecting a domain name registrar.
There are several factors you’ll want to consider when selecting your domain registrar, but before going into those details, let’s break things down a bit and explain a few different terms that you might come across as you’re searching for the right domain name registrar.
Registrar refers to a company, such as GoDaddy, that manages the domain name registration process. Different domain extensions (such as .com) are managed by their respective registries, but those registries don’t sell domains directly to users (aka registrants). That’s where the registrar comes into play.
Like a middle man, the registrar works with the registries in order to deliver domains to end-users.
So, now that you’re a bit more familiar with how the registry/registrar relationship works, let’s take a look at what to consider when selecting your domain registrar.
ICANN accreditation
ICANN (or the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the governing body over domain name registrars. They provide guidelines and enforce rules that all accredited registrars must follow.
This is important, as it normalizes the domain name registration and management system (such as domain transfers, domain WHOIS updates, etc.). It also allows the domain customer a route for further assistance if they feel that their domain registrar isn’t abiding by the rules set out by ICANN.
Since your domain name is your online identity, this additional layer of governance is vital.
Most registrars are accredited with ICANN these days, but if you’re not sure, you can check through ICANN directly.
Complete control over your domain
There are some registrars that only provide partial control over your domain.
This could include the registrar adding their own contact information to portions of your domain details (which can make transferring your domain to a different provider much more difficult), or even preventing you from making critical updates to your domain settings (such as the ability to point your domain to your desired hosting provider).
Your potential domain provider should be able to tell you their policies on this before you register your domain name, so don’t be afraid to ask if you’re going to have full control of your own domain before you register it.
Quality 24/7 support
What’s the benefit of having full control over your domain name if you’re not able to get support for any questions that might have come up?
Choosing a provider with multiple avenues and availability for support is important.
It’s vital your domain name operates as expected. It’s the address for visitors reaching your site, and the last thing you need is to miss out on potential traffic because of a hiccup with the registrar.
A quality support team might even be able to assist you with choosing a domain. They can suggest available options, which will help you to make an informed decision about your domain name.
Pricing and domain options
Domain names aren’t generally going to be a huge expense. Most of the common domain extensions are available for in the ballpark of $10 to $20 per year. But something that you might want to consider are additional options for your domain, such as bulk registration, domain privacy, theft protection, etc.
But what do those options mean? Let’s take privacy, for example. While privacy isn’t required for your domain, it can go a long way in protecting your personal contact information.
Domain registrars are required to provide valid contact information for registered domains on WHOIS searches.
While there is a benefit to having valid contact information available there, the unfortunate downside is that spammers and scammers love to gather email contact information from WHOIS directories. In other words, privacy on your domain is a great way to protect your personal contact information. Make sure it’s available with your domain registrar before purchasing a domain.
What about additional extensions? While many businesses choose .com domains for their primary web address, there are tons of interest-, industry- and geo-specific domain extensions available that you might find more appealing.
Not all domain providers will have a wide selection of domain extensions, so if this option is important to you, make sure they’re available through your selected registrar.
Related: Domain extensions guide
Not all features are going to be as important for some users, so select a domain registrar that meets your needs and has the options that you are interested in.
How to search for a domain name
Once you have found your preferred domain name registrar, it’s time to search for your domain name. (We’re going to cover lots of tips for choosing a great domain name after we go over the logistics of conducting a domain name search.)
Your domain name shapes your online business identity and helps you connect with your target audience. Think of your domain name — the address that people type in to get to your website or use when they send you a professional email — as either the name of your business online or as a fundamental element of your overall branding.
Your domain name is the anchor for your business’s identity on the web.
As such, you shouldn’t put off registering a domain name for your business.
Because it’s so central to your online identity, it’s best to buy a domain name in the initial stages of naming your business.
That way, you can check on domain availability BEFORE you settle on a business name.
How to search for domains at GoDaddy
The world’s biggest registrar, GoDaddy has searching for domains down to a science. GoDaddy has an easy to use domain search feature for mobile and desktop users, as well as a few other options for securing just the right domain name.
Simply follow these steps to register a domain name with GoDaddy:
1. Visit GoDaddy.com
Open up your preferred browser and go to GoDaddy.com. Once the home page loads, you’ll see a search bar where you can begin your domain search.
2. Enter your domain in the search bar
Enter your preferred domain name, and click Search. At this point, one of two things will happen:
If your domain name is available, great! You’ll be presented with the opportunity to add it to the cart.
If your domain name isn’t available, you’ll be prompted to search for a new domain name or select a different variation.
The good news? Even if your domain name is already taken, GoDaddy’s suggestion tool will list new ideas, with different extensions or variations, that you can review.
If you like one of the options, great! If not, enter a few of your other domain options into the search bar until you land on one that’s available.
Pro tip: Don’t shy away from different domain extensions. While .com is still one of the most widely registered domain endings, the availability of hundreds of new domain extensions gives you the opportunity to register a domain that perfectly represents who you are and what you do.
Go ahead, give it a try:
SEARCH Other ways to search for domain names
Now that you know how to search for a domain name through GoDaddy, there are a few other channels you can use to find the perfect domain for your business.
By extensions. Depending on your business, you could find the perfect domain extension for your niche. If you want to browse by domain extensions, all you have to do is visit GoDaddy and search for available extensions by keyword, options available now, categories and more.
At auctions. Whether you’re looking at an expired domain name or are simply interested in purchasing a domain someone else already owns, GoDaddy Auctions is a great place to start. Searching for a domain name here is simple. Just enter your keywords or browse the listings to see what’s available.
On Afternic. Domain sellers can post their domains on Afternic and have their listings sent out to more than 100 platforms worldwide. That makes Afternic a great resource for searching for a new domain name. All you have to do is enter your new search idea on the home page, and Afternic will take care of the rest, directing you to a page with available domains for sale.
With that said, here are some top tips for choosing a domain name and which domain naming mistakes you should avoid.
Tips for choosing a domain name
Finding a domain that’s available, valuable and relevant is important to online success, which is why registering a domain name requires strategy.
Your domain name should accurately represent your business as well as be easy to remember and promote.
Choosing a domain name that points out your value proposition (what makes your business special), vertical (what space you operate in), or geographic area can help you drive business and stand out from the competition.
Consider what do you do and where you do it
Your domain name should be indicative of your venture. To start, list out the following information to get a better idea of what you can possibly incorporate in your domain:
Business industry (e.g. bakery) Services (e.g., catering) Products (e.g., cupcakes) Geographic location (e.g., New York City) Words that describe your business (e.g., delicious, decadent, custom, sweet, supreme)
Use that list to brainstorm a variety of short, memorable and representative domain names. Be sure to check out industry- and geo-specific domain extensions including .catering and .nyc.
Keep it short and simple
It’s an obvious strategy, but registering a domain name that is short and memorable isn’t as easy as you might think. The fewer words or characters your domain name has, the more likely your customers will spell your domain correctly and find your site. This method might require some creativity, but it will pay off.
On the “simple” front, make sure your domain name is easy to spell and avoid using numbers and hyphens.
Do some research
Research your potential domain name on social media and trademark databases.
The key to building a successful brand online is consistency so it’s advisable to keep your social media handles the same as your domain name.
Also, take some time to run your domain name through the trademark database.
Determine value
Domain names are valuable. People buy and sell domains every day for more than the normal registration price. Another helpful data point to check is GoDaddy’s Domain Appraisals tool. It can give you an idea of the potential value of your domain choice.
Why is this important?
More valuable domains tend to make very good choices for business names.
They fit many of the important factors that help contribute to online success in naming, such as popular usage, memorability and branding.
Related: 10 tips for choosing the perfect domain name
Mistakes to avoid when selecting a domain name 
Photo: missresincup via Compfight cc
Your domain name is your business’s unique identifier on the web, so it’s super-important that it makes the right impression. If you avoid these five domain naming mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to making that happen.
1. Don’t fart (or, avoid an embarrassing mishap)
True story: A metal artist named Frank signs all of his artwork with a single letter “F.” He searched for a domain name that exactly matched his business name when planning to start his website for F Art Gallery.
The gallery’s domain sounded great when written with the appropriate spaces — but not when typed into a web browser. Sure, fartgallery.com was memorable — but not likely the kind of memory Frank wanted to leave with potential customers.
When you think about your website address, think about it as a sequence of words and letters in a sequence, rather than as separate words. You’ll save yourself some embarrassing looks when people see your new domain on a business card or email address.
2. Don’t show off (or, try too hard to be clever)
The point of doing business online is to make it easy for people to find your website and take whatever action you want them to take — check out your products and services, call you for estimates, buy your widgets, whatever.
If you want people to easily find you, don’t make it hard for them to remember your website address by choosing a domain name that takes liberties with language simply for the sake of being clever.
Also, consider the international spelling of words. If you use a word like “colour” and your business is primarily doing business in the U.S., expect to lose potential customers typing your domain with the American spelling of “color.”
Clever is cute, but using a clever spelling of a domain makes it harder to market your business online.
3. Don’t stunt your growth (or, name yourself into a corner)
When choosing a domain name, it pays to think ahead.
For example, you might want to avoid including the one product you sell now in your domain name if you plan to expand your product line in the future. Likewise, including a location is your domain name is a smart move if you’re planning to do business locally but could stunt your online growth if you’re planning to expand to new areas.
Give yourself room to grow.
4. Don’t be antisocial (or, pick a domain that’s not available on social media)
Check social media before settling on your new domain. As mentioned earlier, the ideal situation is to claim social handles that mirror your domain name.
Related: How to claim social media handles — and why you should do it now
5. Don’t sell yourself cheap (or, avoid premium domains)
Another true story: An entrepreneur went looking for the .com version of a business domain and it was already taken, but for sale on the domain aftermarket for $2,500 — a price he considered too high to shell out for the ideal domain name. He decided to go with the .net version because it was available at a normal price.
Within a few years, the business exploded; their product was everywhere. This happy entrepreneur then decided to invest in the .com version of the business’s domain name.
Here’s the catch: A lot of people had been typing .com instead of .net when searching for the business’s website. The impressive number of “hits” to the parked web page attached to the premium .com domain had spiked its price to $15,000.
A simple decision to save money turned into a $15K mistake.
So, if you know you want a domain for your business and it’s available as a premium domain, save up and invest in the perfect domain at the beginning. You can save yourself money in the long run.
Additional considerations when you buy a domain name
Before you rush out and register your domain name (we’ll cover exactly how to do that in a minute), there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind — the cost of the domain and domain privacy.
How much does a domain name cost?
The cost of your domain name will depend on a couple of factors:
The extension you use. Where you buy the domain name — a reputable registrar, a private seller or an aftermarket service? The length of time you’re registering the domain for as well as additional options chosen such as domain privacy, etc.
In general, regular domain names range between $10 and $20 per year, depending on the extension and available discounts or special promos that registrars have active.
If you’re looking into buying a premium domain, you can expect to pay upwards of hundreds of dollars. However, there is no definitive answer nor a minimum range for premium domains.
The best way to get a feel for the domain cost is to enter the potential domain name in GoDaddy’s Domain Appraisals tool and to browse sites like Afternic and GoDaddy’s Domain Name Aftermarket.
Should you add domain privacy (private registration)?
Another consideration to keep in mind is to decide whether you want to add domain privacy or not. Domain privacy allows you to hide your private information so nobody can see it when they perform a WHOIS lookup. This is useful as it protects your information from getting scraped and used by online scammers and spammers.
You can easily add domain privacy during the domain registration process.
GoDaddy offers full domain privacy and protection packages for both individuals and businesses. This service protects your private information, prevents domain-related spam, and it can also safeguard your website from accidental loss of domain due to expired credit card, potential hacking attempts, and deter domain hijackers.
How to register a domain name
Wow — we just covered a lot of territory. Now it’s time to get out there and register a domain for your business.
How to register a domain name with GoDaddy
If you’re ready to make your mark on the internet but are not sure how to actually register your domain name, here’s a step-by-step process for registering your available domain name with GoDaddy.
1. Enter the domain name in GoDaddy’s domain name search bar.
2. Click Add to Cart. 3. If desired, register additional extensions to protect your online brand. Click Add to Cart for each additional domain name. 4. Click Continue to Cart. 5. Select a domain privacy plan, or click No Thanks.
6. Decide if you want to attach your domain name to a free starter website.
Keep the box checked for “Start your website for free” if you want to attach your domain name to a free trial of GoDaddy’s Website Builder. Uncheck the box if you want to pass.
7. Decide if you want to attach your domain name to a professional email address.
Choose from three professional email plans or keep the box checked to No Thanks.
8. Click Continue to Cart. 9. Sign into your GoDaddy account or click Create Account.
You’ll be prompted to enter your billing and payment information. GoDaddy offers several payment methods so choose the one that’s most convenient for you. You will need to provide your billing address but if you’ve chosen domain privacy in the previous step, that information will not be visible to the public.
10. Review your order under My Items and click Complete Purchase.
Consider registering your domain name for a longer term to save money in the long run and prevent accidental domain expiration.
Congrats, you now understand how to buy a domain name and are the proud owner of a new online identity. It’s time to get your brand on the web!
Conclusion and next steps
Buying and registering a domain name for your business might seem daunting, but once you know what’s involved in the domain registration process, the whole experience becomes much easier. Let’s quickly recap how to buy a domain name:
1. Select your domain name registrar
The first step is to find a reputable domain name registrar that you’ll use to register your domain name. While there are many domain name registrars out there, you need to make sure that your chosen registrar meets several criteria:
They are an ICANN accredited registrar. They provide 24/7 quality support. They give you complete control over your domain name. They offer affordable domain names, several payment methods, and additional options such as domain privacy, bulk registrations, and additional extensions. 2. Search for your desired domain name
After you have chosen your domain registrar, you will need to search for your domain name and see if it’s available. For this part of the process, you will want to keep the domain naming tips in mind:
Keep it short and simple. Consider combining what you do with your location for a unique domain name. Consider registering additional domain extensions. Avoid domain naming mistakes such as choosing a name that’s too specific and doesn’t allow you to grow, not checking the domain name spelling, or trying to save money by not buying a premium domain. 3. Register your domain name
The last step is to actually register the domain name. GoDaddy makes buying your domain names a breeze so once you have found your perfect domain name, add it to the cart and then create your GoDaddy account. You will then enter your payment and billing information, add extra options such as domain privacy or additional extensions, and complete the purchase.
Next steps
Now that you have your perfect domain name, it’s time to take the next steps toward creating a memorable online identity for your brand.
Get a professional email that matches your domain name
If you opted not to take this step during the domain buying process, give it some thought now. An email address that is attached to your domain name will add to your brand credibility and make you look more professional than a plain Gmail or similar email address.
Create a website
Your website will become your online home so it needs to have a professional design, tell people what you do, and allow them to easily hire you or buy from you. Read our guide on how to start a website for an in-depth look at your options.
Related: You’ve registered a domain name. What now?
This article includes content originally published on the GoDaddy blog by the following authors: Isaac Irvine, Genevieve Tuenge, Stacey Hartman, Nancy King, Maxym Martineau and Nick Fuller.
The post How to buy a domain name in 3 steps appeared first on GoDaddy Blog.
Read more: godaddy.com
Whether it’s for a business or blog, or you just want your own slice of the internet, your domain is your digital address online. If your domain is your address, your domain extension is like your ZIP code in that it gives your website visitors a little more information about you.
In the beginning of the internet age, domain extensions were extremely limited. As Make Use Of tells it, “In 1984, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) established the first six domain extensions: .com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .org and .net. Shortly after, the first two-character country code domain extensions (like .uk and .us) were established. In 1988, .int was also introduced.”
Fast forward to today, and your domain and your domain extensions can be just as unique, and utterly fantastic, as you are. How unique? Let’s put it this way, there are more than 1,000 top-level domains for internet addresses online.
Related: What is a domain name?
Your guide to domain extensions
We’re going to take a deep dive into domain extensions in this article. Here’s what we’re going to cover:
What is a domain extension? How can domain extensions help with business branding? Can domain extensions improve SEO? What are top-level domains? What is a gTLD? Understand the options for naming and branding your business with domain extensions. Using domain extensions for creative marketing and customer engagement. Using geographic domain extensions to connect with local customers. Using industry-specific domain extensions to show what you offer at glance. Conclusion and next steps.
In this post we’ll cover what domain extensions are, what you need to know before you commit to one, how your choice can help you with branding, and so much more. Let’s get started, shall we?
What is a domain extension?
In case we’re speaking Greek to you, let’s explain what domain extensions are.
A domain extension is the combination of characters following the period in a web address.
For example, in GoDaddy.com, the .com is the domain extension of the GoDaddy domain name. The five most common domain extensions are .com, .net, .org, .co and .us.
How can domain extensions help with business branding?
Consider for a moment the time and research you put into your last car purchase. Just like you wouldn’t blindly buy a vehicle, you also shouldn’t fly blind when buying the pieces that make up your online presence.
After all, much like people will make assumptions about a person by the car they drive, your public will judge you by both your domain and your domain extension — so you must choose wisely.
If they see a .org attached for example, they might think it is a community driven or nonprofit website. If the domain ends with .edu, well, that tells the visitor it’s most likely an educational website, or associated in some way with a school or academy.
The domain extension you choose should reflect what your brand stands for.
We’re going to talk a lot more about specific domain extensions for specific industries further along in this article.
Can domain extensions improve SEO?
The short answer? Not quite yet.
However, as the .coms continue to flood the market, the newer and more unique domain extensions could rise to the top at some point in terms of search engine preference. This could happen because people like their brevity and will tell search engines they prefer domains with shorter domain extensions by way of clicking.
After all, domain extensions are a faster indication of what a domain offers, which can help a time-deprived user when they do a quick scan of results in a search.
Where domain extensions really come in handy for businesses, however, is in website visitation and conversion.
When a business has an easy-to-remember domain and domain extension, it’s more likely that people will visit it.
And, if they are searching for something specific online like diamonds, for example, a jewelry company with a domain name such as yourjewelrystore.diamonds might get more visitors than a business with a domain name like yourjewelrystore.com simply because of the specificity of their domain extension.
What is a TLD?
Spoiler alert: It’s the same thing as the domain extension.
The top-level domain, or TLD, is the last section of a domain name — the part to the right of the dot. In the domain name, example.com, the .com is the TLD (aka domain extension). The TLD is intended to communicate the purpose or location of a website.
There are several types of TLDs, but the three most common are gTLD, ccTLD and sTLD.
Country-code top-level domain (ccTLD)
Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are intended to be specific to countries, sovereign states and territories. They typically consist of just two letters such as .au for Australia, .fr for France, .nz for New Zealand, or .us for United States.
Many of these domain extensions have strict rules that prohibit just anyone from being able to register them.
One such restriction for some ccTLDs is that you are a resident of the country, territory or sovereign state you’re registering for. Codes like .us and .mx require you live or be located in these countries to register a domain with these extensions.
Exceptions include .co for Colombia and .ly (looking at you bit.ly) for Libya — anyone can register these ccTLDs. Similarly, .fm — the domain extension for Micronesia — is being unofficially used by FM radio stations, podcasts and related broadcasting businesses.
Sponsored top-level domain (sTLD)
Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs) have a sponsor that represents a specific community that is served by the domain. Think .gov for United States government sites, .post for postal services, and .mil for U.S. military websites. Like ccTLDs, these domain extensions have very strict rules for ownership.
The third type of TLD, generic top-level domains (gTLDs), perhaps hold the most branding potential for business owners.
What is a gTLD?
Generic top-level domains, aka gTLDs, are domain extensions that aren’t tied to country codes or regions, do not require a representative, and are not always restricted in terms of who can own them. (Some geographic domain extensions do require registrants to live and/or do business in the area represented by the geographic gTLD — more on that later.)
gTLD examples
Some examples of generic top-level domains include:
.loan: How perfect would this be for a bank or loan company? .club: Imagine your loyalty program or membership site with this fun extension! .work: This could be the perfect domain extension for an online job board, for example. .stream or .live: Does your business do live streams or live broadcasts of any kind? This could be just the right gTLD for you. .blog: Where my bloggers at? .guru: You’re already called a marketing guru or an internet guru or whatever type of guru, why not make it official? .miami: Let’s say you’re a travel agent who specializes in trips to Miami; what better way to announce your escapeto.miami or travelto.miami to the world?
These descriptive new domain extensions — such as .lawyer, .careers and .tips, just to name a few more — give you a new opportunity to register domains that perfectly represent what you and your business are all about.
With all the new generic top-level domains now available, the online branding possibilities are endless!
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Understand the options for naming and branding your business with domain extensions
As of 2019, there are now more than 1,000 domain extensions available. If you’re trying to find the right name and domain for your business, this could be good news for you. On the other hand, maybe all these options are starting to feel a little overwhelming.
Not being limited to a more traditional TLD like .com (although that’s still the most popular and recognizable domain extension) means you can get more specific than ever before.
We’ve addressed a few domain extensions above, but there are also others that might specifically intrigue business owners — including .app, .shop, .menu, .jewelry and even .pizza.
For instance, if you have a pizza shop named Mike’s Pizza, you might try to register mikespizza.com. This is a short, representative domain name. Alas! It’s not available (Remember, the .com domain has been around awhile so many short .coms have already been snagged). Check out a few of your other options:
Here’s another example: Before gTLDs, you might have resorted to a cumbersome domain name like PhoenixBikeShopOnline.com. Now, you can shorten that name to PhoenixBike.shop. Awesome, right?!
“These new gTLds are really hot,” said actor Oleg Taktarov, star of 15 Minutes, Rollerball and Predators. “They are fantastic for branding yourself or your business. People breaking into the [entertainment] business can easily market themselves with a .actor domain for their website and show the world that they are in the trade.”
Should you purchase a domain with one of these newer domain extensions to be your primary website address? How about to be an alternate domain name or to protect your turf? Let’s take the considerations one-by-one:
Branding and naming
As we mentioned earlier, taking one of these new domain extensions for your web address is more descriptive, and explains what you do in a simple and easy way. On the other hand, .com is so ingrained in our psyche that customers might not remember a web address that doesn’t end with a .com.
But, as more and more of these new extensions become available, we’ll all become more accustomed to alternate addresses.
A lot of them might become even easier for us to remember. Looking for a pizza for dinner tonight? Go to a .pizza web address.
A related question: If the .com you want isn’t available, should you grab a different domain extension or change the name of your business online?
Our vote goes to the new domain extension.
It’s better to have a domain name that truly represents who you are and what you do.
The bottom line: For now, a .com might still be the best way to go, if it’s available. But, if it’s not, don’t hesitate to get a new extension. Even if you already have a .com address, you might want to consider a new extension as an alternate, or vanity, web address and redirect visitors to whichever domain you prefer.
Protecting your brand
For those of you who already have a .com address, you might be wondering if you should scoop up your name with additional domain extensions so that you can protect your brand. After all, if you are mikespizza.com, you might want to register mikes.pizza rather than letting someone else take it.
Should you do it? Sure, you can do this, but don’t go crazy.
After all, unless you’re in the business of buying and selling domain names, owning too many domains can get pretty expensive year over year.
You really only need the addresses that are truly relevant to your business.
Protect your brand by purchasing your name with a new extension or two (maybe even three or four), but there’s no need to go overboard. You probably only need a couple of truly relevant ones.
Related: Using multiple custom domain names to control your online identity
Using domain extensions for creative marketing and customer engagement
If you haven’t guessed by now, domain extensions hold value for creative marketing campaigns and increased customer engagement. Strategically place them within your existing website, and they instantly become a valuable shortcut and marketable URL to drive visitors deeper into your primary website.
Domain extensions + brand marketing = creative genius!
Let’s look at some of the ways you can use domain extensions to create multiple landing points for your target customers, increase customer engagement, and support your marketing goals.
Loyalty programs
If you’re a marketer or small business owner, you can use the new domain extensions to brand loyalty programs.
Let’s say your business is Fresh Brew Coffee, a local coffee shop, and you have just launched a customer loyalty program. You register a .club domain name — like freshbrewcoffee.club — and link it to your existing website. You could also create loyalty cards with this easy-to-remember domain listed on them.
Related: 7 eCommerce customer loyalty program ideas
Building buzz
Say you want to create some buzz around a new product that you are launching. Your marketing campaign could include a domain and a site for the product using the new .buzz extension — yourproductname.buzz.
For Paris Fashion Week and its other Fashion Week websites, Access Fashion Media created .buzz domains to drive engagement, branching out beyond their original .com extensions.
Promote a sale
Does your business participate in Black Friday sales? If so, create a domain such as yourstorename.blackfriday or set up a custom domain for any big sale, such as yoursalename.sale.
Feature a contest
Offering a contest that you want to build excitement around? Create a domain such as yourcontestname.win using the .win domain extension. You can use the easy-to-recall URL to promote the contest in your social media networks and other marketing channels.
Collaborate on an event
Does your business participate in any collaborative events like “shop local” with other local businesses? If so, create a .events domain and website for the collaboration.
Work with your collaborators to promote the custom URL, such as youreventname.events, to drive traffic to an attached website that includes event details and a list of participating businesses with links back to their websites.
Make it your primary domain
Using a domain with one of the new domain extensions as your primary website address can be a great marketing move for your business — especially if the extension aligns with your product or service (which it should!).
There are so many domain extensions it’s still easy to get a short and memorable domain name that is truly representative of your business.
Events website business Confetti uses confetti.events as its primary domain. 
Find the official website for planning a tour of the Eiffel Tower at toureiffel.paris
Domain extensions and digital ads
We’ve established that domain extensions likely don’t impact SEO yet — but they could help with ad spend.
In an article for Search Engine Journal, SEO expert Bill Hartzer recommended considering using keyword-rich generic top-level domain names for Google AdWords campaigns.
He based his recommendation on positive outcomes from an AdWords test campaign that used the same keywords, ad copy and landing pages to send traffic to a .com domain and, at the same time, .diamonds domain. As he explains:
“At first, when we first ran the ads, we found that we got more impressions on the .DIAMONDS ads, and the .DIAMONDS clicks were cheaper. The clicks on the .COM ads were more expensive, but ultimately the .COM clicks converted better. Eight months later, however, we ran the same ads again, and found that the .DIAMONDS clicks were still cheaper than using a .COM domain name. But, it turned out that the .DIAMONDS clicks were converting better than they had before.
I’m now recommending that if you’re running Google AdWords ads, consider using a keyword rich new gTLD domain name. You should, of course, do your own testing, but you may end up paying less for clicks and getting more conversions.”
While it is still too soon to know exactly how the newer domain extensions will perform in search engine results pages from a branding standpoint in the future, having multiple domains using the newer extensions makes good sense. And, you might get an SEO boost eventually … so why not?
Related: 7 small business SEO tactics that you can do in-house
Using geographic and industry-specific domain extensions to connect with customers
Another big advantage of the available generic top-level domains is that you can use them geographically if you are a local business.
Geographic and industry-specific domain extensions can connect you with your ideal customers.
With extensions specific to geographic areas including cities, countries and continents — like .nyc — you can make it easy for local customers to find your products and services (i.e. your business) online.
Pride of place
Take, for example, the benefits of branding your New York City-based business with a .nyc domain extension.
Hard working, fast moving New Yorkers are proud to call the Big Apple home. If your business is located in one of the five boroughs and serves residents of America’s most bustling city, you might consider purchasing a .nyc domain name.
When you brand your website with a .nyc domain name, customers who want (or need) to shop local can rest assured that they’re looking at a New York business on the Web.
In addition to .nyc, a new wave of geographic domain extensions — including .vegas, .london, .quebec and dozens more — enable you to name your business online with a website address that’s connected to a specific place.
Be you, where you are
If you buy a .london domain name such as IansHats.london, for example, your customers instantly know that you’re the famous Savile Row haberdasher — not some imitator who just happened to buy up the domain name first. (We hope no haberdashers named Ian are offended by this example!)
And you don’t necessarily have to run a business to benefit from geo domains.
Maybe you just want to identify with a certain locale and share information on an easily recognizable website. Planning a bachelor party in Sin City? Set up TomsBachelorParty.vegas to keep all the deets updated. Want an online display case for your porcelain cat collection, the one overtaking the spare bedroom in your Quebec home? Consider PatsLesChats.quebec.
Related: What happens in .vegas, doesn’t stay in .vegas
Use industry-specific domain extensions to show what you offer at a glance
We’ve shared a lot of domain extension examples in this article so far, but now we’re going to get even more specific — industry specific, that is. Take a look at our examples below for the following industries:
Hospitality / Food and beverage Travel Schools Construction Media and news coverage Clubs Public service (ahem, running for office? You WANT to check this section out!)
We’re betting that after you read through them, you’ll be inspired to find ways to use domain extensions to your marketing advantage whether you’re in one of these industries or not.
Hospitality domains fit for foodies
Whether you’re a caterer or barista, own a bar or restaurant, or just love dishing about great eats, the new batch of food-related domains can heat up your business online.
A website name that ends with one of the new food domains — including .bar, .beer, .catering, .coffee, .kitchen, .menu, .pizza, .recipes and .restaurant — makes your edible offerings obvious at a glance.
It’ll be faster and easier for people searching for food and beverage products and services online to identify your business.
Want to showcase your restaurant’s special menu for the winter season? Try a website name like SteakZoneWinter.menu. Want your customers to know you have the hottest wings and Monday night football on every screen? Maybe the odds for WingsSports.bar are in your favor. Are you a brew purist? You can trumpet your ale affinity with a name like OnlyCraft.beer. Like to blog about 20 different ways to make deviled eggs? Register a name such as PerfectEgg.recipes.
These domain extensions are so fresh that you’ve got a perfect opportunity to secure a name that’s just right for your business. And that’s yummy.
Related: Great domains for restaurateurs and others in the food and hospitality industry
Travel sites with .vacations domain extension take off
Help your travel services business jump to the head of the line — online — with a website address ending in the new .vacations domain.
A .vacations domain tells your visitors exactly what your site is about.
Imagine searching online for travel services and coming across one of these fun names:
romantic.vacations getaway.vacations tropical.vacations relaxing.vacations affordable.vacations luxurious.vacations cruise.vacations fishing.vacations
A domain name like paradise.vacations is precise. It can’t be mistaken for a real estate site promoting a paradisiacal home. And your customers can be confident they won’t find themselves on a website about paradise in the afterlife.
The .school domain puts a whole new spin on learning
Schools and training centers now have .school, .academy, .degree and more education-related domain extensions to help them shine online.
Whether you run an elite private academy or an apprentice program for electricians, a .school domain name will set you apart from all the others vying for students online.
And because part of your domain name appears after the dot, your web address might actually be shorter than it would be with another domain — always a good thing.
Related: How to build a school website in less than an hour
Build your business with a .construction domain name
Planning and building is in your blood … How great is it that there’s a domain extension that speaks to your customers, telling them exactly what you do in a quick glance?
The .construction domain extension does all the talking, letting you focus on building an awesome business offline.
Instead of registering a clunky domain like AwesomeNameConstruction.com, you can register AwesomeName.construction — shorter, sweeter, scannable and downright awesome.
Whether you’re a building inspector, carpenter, architect, general contractor or anyone else in the building trade, a .construction domain name will make your business stand out like a beautiful skyscraper amongst one-story flats.
Breaking .news to drive your business online
Whether you’re an investigative journalist, a specialty blogger, and advice columnist hoping to sell your work into syndication, or even an everyday entrepreneur with a news section on your website, the .news domain name can help you build and grow your business online.
Perhaps you’re looking to share the news of your biz or blog via live streaming. With the new .live domain extension, it’s never been easier to show the world at a glance that you’re streaming fresh, valuable content.
Join the .club
The online world got a little more exclusive by helping to identify groups — formed around shared passions and interests — with the .club domain extension.
Clubs are for everyone, but this domain extension is especially perfect for:
Groups and associations Retail loyalty and affinity programs Online networking groups (e.g. Facebook and LinkedIn) Sports and entertainment clubs or teams Consumers with special interests or hobbies
Now, groups such as golf, health, yacht, tennis, chess, book, social and country clubs can make a grand entrance without needing to introduce themselves — the domain does all the work!
Maybe your current domain name is something like, TheBestBookClub.com. It has a ring to it, but what if you could use TheBestBook.club? Instantly, you’ve added marketing value to your group — making your .club even more official!
By the way, those online networking groups we mentioned? If you own a .club domain, you can redirect your domain to your groups on them. Imagine being able to tell someone to join your community at yourbusiness.club instead of finding you at facebook.com/longstringofnumbersandletters.
Related: How to redirect a domain to Facebook
Cast your vote for a .democrat or .republican domain extension
Political leanings? The .democrat or .republican domain extension is perfect for candidates, officeholders, activists, party organizations, clubs and individuals who identify with either the Grand Old Party or its Democrat counterpart.
Just add your name, city or cause for a proudly partisan web address.
Did your gubernatorial candidate from the GOP just get elected to your state’s top office? Then you could be onehappy.republican. On the other side of that political fence? Then you might be a despondent.democrat.
Just sayin’ …
To learn about domain extensions for even more industries, check out:
Domain extensions for accountants, attorneys & other professional services Retail domain extensions to attract online shoppers Great domains for salons, spas & other businesses that make us look and feel better Domain extensions for artists, designers, writers & other creative types
Don’t see your industry here? That doesn’t mean there isn’t a domain extension that’s perfect for you. GoDaddy’s domain search tool makes it a snap to find industry-specific domain extensions.
Conclusion and next steps
All in all, domain extensions really are an extension of you and your brand.
We’ve covered a lot in this monster of a post. But it all boils down to one simple question — How will you use the plethora of domain extensions available to you?
Domain extensions offer many opportunities to creatively market your business. Their usage is virtually limitless.
If you’re a creative business owner or marketer, or a blogger, the wide variety of domain extensions offer an excellent opportunity for business growth as well as innovative customer engagement.
Next steps
So, what’s next?
Choose the perfect domain name. Once you decide on a domain name, register it with GoDaddy. Set up a professional email address using your domain name. Attach a website to your domain name.
Happy naming!
This article includes content originally published on the GoDaddy blog by the following authors: Laura Messerschmitt, Isaac Irvine, Cody Landefeld, Genevieve Tuenge, RuthAnn Hogue, Maxym Martineau, Andrea Mosher, Andrea Rowland, Nick Fuller and Jennifer Dunn.
The post Domain extensions guide: What you need to know before you pick a domain name appeared first on GoDaddy Blog.
Read more: godaddy.com
Businesses want stability. They understand that domain prices increase over time but want predictability.
Imagine if next year you had to pay 10 times as much to renew your domain name as you paid this year. Based on an action proposed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), price caps could be removed on several top level domains, which could significantly increase the price of domains. Find out what’s happening—and how to take action to stop this change before April 29.
Who Sets Domain Prices?
There are three parties involved when you register a domain name.
One is your domain name registrar, such as Namecheap.
When you register a domain name at Namecheap, we have to reserve the domain name through the domain name registry.
Think of the registrar as a domain name retailer and the registry as the wholesaler.
The wholesale registry charges Namecheap a set fee per domain name per year. Namecheap then adds a little markup to cover things like support, provisioning domain services, transaction fees, etc.
There’s a lot of competition for domain name registrars. This keeps prices that companies like Namecheap charge in check.
Domain registries, on the other hand, have little competition. Only one registry can sell .org domains. The same goes for .info, .com, .net, etc.
A third group has historically kept the prices the registries charge Namecheap and other registrars in check. ICANN includes a provision in its contracts with registries that limits what they can charge.
Now ICANN has proposed removing all price restrictions on .org, .biz and .info domain names!
This could have a major impact on how much you pay to renew your domain names and register new ones.
Sky-high .Org Prices Could Be Coming
ICANN’s current contract with Public Interest Registry (PIR), the group that runs the .org domain name, lets PIR increase the wholesale price of .org domains by 10% a year.
That’s a lot, but at least it’s capped.
Now ICANN is proposing extending the contract to operate .org but letting PIR set whatever prices it wants. Rather than a 10% increase to renew your domain next year, it could suddenly start charging registrars like Namecheap 100 times as much. Registrars would have no choice but to pass these charges on to customers.
This means that the price for the domain name you’ve been using for over a decade could shoot up. The registry has to tell the registrar six months in advance, but then they are free to charge whatever they want. Switching domains is hard, so you will have little option but to pay the higher prices.
ICANN has also proposed lifting price caps on .info and .biz domain names.
ICANN’s Bad Justification
ICANN has an interesting justification for why it wants to remove price controls.
In 2012, ICANN started accepting applications to operate “new“ top level domains. Any company could apply to create alternatives to .com on the right of the dot. That’s where domains like .guru, .money and .xyz came from.
The contracts for these new domains are different than for older domains. ICANN didn’t impose any price restrictions on the new domains. After all, the companies that applied for the domains put their own money at risk.
ICANN believes that the contracts to run older TLDs like .org should be the same as those for running new top level domain names. This ignores the long history of these legacy top level domain names and how the contracts to run the registries were awarded. Whereas new top level domain companies risked their own money to introduce new domains, the registries running .org, .biz, etc. are merely stewards for what should be considered a resource that belongs to the web.
What Can You Do?
ICANN is asking the Internet community for input on its proposal to remove price caps. You can make your voice heard.
If you want to make sure ICANN doesn’t let legacy top level domain operators increase prices to infinity, now is the time to act. There are open comment periods for ICANN’s proposed new contracts, but you need to take action by April 29, 2019.You can leave your comment on each proposal here:
.Org comment period.Info comment period.Biz comment period
Also, the Internet Commerce Association, a group that advocates on behalf of domain name owners, has created a simple form you can use to submit comments on the .org proposal. The form lets you select the concerns you have about the new .org proposal and easily submit them to ICANN.
Make your voice heard: tell ICANN to not remove its price limitations.
The post Help Keep Domain Prices in Check appeared first on Namecheap Blog.
Read more: namecheap.com