Picking up from last week, the first business IT tool you want to get, the foundation of most of your other tools, is your domain -- one that ideally matches your company name.
Domain (yearly cost)
You will be using your domain name for:
Your website
Business email addresses' domain
Your newsletter service (if you use one)
just to name the most important tools.
Your domain is the backbone of your IT infrastructure. It will be your business tool foundation from both a functional and a marketing perspective. When you choose your domain name, do a lot of research.
If you are just starting out, it is ideal if you research your would-be business name and domain name at the same time. You will want them to be the same/similar for branding reasons.
Some people use their own names (e.g., Joann Smith Consulting), some people create a company name (also called a fictitious name) and domain name.
As you are coming up with a business name and domain name:
Brainstorm many options and combinations. Ensure that the business name/domain name harmonizes with your company's vision. Does it inspire trust? (If it could have any negative connotations or secondary meaning, I don't recommend using it.) Is it short and easy to remember? If you have aspirations to expand your business overseas, ensure that it doesn't have any negative connotations in the markets you are looking at.
Pronounce the options to make sure they are easy to pronounce and cannot be easily misheard.
Research the company and domain name you settle on to make sure
it is not taken (check through the domain registrar you choose, like Google Domains, or GoDaddy),
it doesn't cost an arm and a leg; your domain registration will be a yearly cost (check at the domain registrars; look around at different registrars for prices),
no one else has a similar sounding business/domain name (perform Google searches), and
that it's not trademarked (do a trademark search).
You may even want to make sure that the social media handles that match the name are not taken across the social media platforms you will want to use (search in the platforms you want to use).
Spending time at this stage can save you a lot of headache down the road.
Decide on the extension: I suggest you look for a domain name that's available with a .com ending.
While there are many newer flavors: .net, .info, .biz, etc., still the one inspiring the most confidence is .com -- unless you run a non-profit organization, in which case .org is a good option.
When you are setting up your business, research whether/how you need to register and publish your fictitious business name.
If you choose to sign up for Google Workspace for your IT system, you can actually buy a domain right during the signup process.
If you choose to buy your domain separately, or before signing up for Google Workspace, you can buy it from Google Domains, or from other registrars, like GoDaddy, etc.
Next week: Your business email address
Contact me for help with your Google Workspace: https://www.kloudgem.com/get-in-touch/contact
Do you know someone who could use these KloudGem tips? Feel free to send them this link: https://www.kloudgem.com/follow-resources/newsletter
KloudGem website: https://www.kloudgem.com
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