Domain Names

The selection of a suitable domain name is an important decision and can influence the success of a web venture.

Preferably the name should be a close fit to a business and / or product name, be short and be memorable. A descriptive name can also help with prominent search engine positioning.

Although business owners usually give a great deal of time and thought in naming their business, a lot less effort is often given to the choice of a web site name. According to a recent survey, 41% of businesses in the UK spend less than an hour choosing their website address, and over half don't think to get a second opinion on this critical decision.

Unsurprisingly, a third of companies later regret their choice, feeling that the revenue generated from their web site would have been higher with a better domain name.

OakRidge Internet can help you with making a decision on your web site name to help ensure that business generated through your web site is maximised.

In some cases it may be that a preferred domain name has already been registered by another business or organisation and be in use. In this case, a second choice name similar to that preferred might be acceptable.

However, it may be that the name already registered might not be in use and OakRidge Internet can attempt to trace the domain name owner to check on whether a name transfer could be arranged.

In some cases a domain name may have been registered with the intention of making an offer for sale to the business trading under the name.

The UK name registry, Nominet, outlines the circumstances under which this sort of name registration is classified as "abusive" and provides a process to enable domain name ownership to be contested. We can provide guidance and assistance and / or act on clients' behalf in cases using Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service, should this be required.

OakRidge Internet can monitor domain names registered on a speculative basis by third parties and seek to acquire them for clients either by negotiation or by monitoring and registration should they lapse and subsequently be cancelled.