Joe Burrow reacted to the Washington Commanders’ name change in a podcast interview.
Tag: Name
How to Get a Free Domain Name
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If anyone’s going to see your website, it needs a domain. Simple as that.
If you don’t want to pay for a domain name, keep reading this post.
Your domain name is where your site lives on the internet. I use neilpatel.com, as you can see in your browser.
Obviously, you want something different. Something that’s your own.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to get a domain name that aligns with your business and establishes your brand, and how to get it for free.
I’ve made this as simple as possible. Don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with this stuff. Just follow the steps and you will have a free domain name very quickly.
Your 2-Minute Cheat Sheet
Want a quick answer on how to get a free domain name? I’ll cut to the chase.
If you’re planning to start a blog or launch a website, you’ll need a web hosting company. When it comes to making a choice from the many available options, I suggest Hostinger.
Not only does the company provide excellent speed and uptime reliability, but it also offers a free domain name for the first year.
Get your domain and hosting set up in one fell swoop with Hostinger. You still have to pay for hosting (which you can lock in for under $3 per month), but you get the domain name for free.
You can create a Hostinger account and sign up by clicking here. With their easy guided setup, the whole process just takes a couple minutes.
After that, you’ll have hosting, a domain, and a basic website ready to go.
If your budget is really tight at the moment, you can also consider using a free subdomain.
This is where website builders like WordPress and Wix come into play. The only catch is that, instead of having a simple .com site like mine (NeilPatel.com), you‘ll have something like yourusername.wixsite.com/yoursiteaddress or yourdomainname.wordpress.com.
This isn’t an ideal situation. But it can be a viable option for when you want to experiment with free features of the website builder.
But if not having a clean .com is a non-starter, don’t worry. The process for getting set up with Hostinger and snagging your free domain is as simple as it can be.
Read on to follow the three easy steps to get a free domain name for your website.
You’ll be able to do all of this in one place with Hostinger. I will walk through some of your other options, but you may need to interface with multiple vendors to accomplish all of these steps.
Step 1: Go to Hostinger’s Website
The very first thing you need to do is head over to Hostinger by clicking here.
Click Start Now and you’ll be taken straight to the checkout page.
Conveniently, that checkout page is all set up with my recommendation. You’ll get premium shared hosting, which is the lowest-cost plan that also includes a free domain name.
My tip is select the longest term for the best rate. If you commit to four years of hosting upfront, you can lock in a really attractive rate of $2.59 per month.
Just click on the right-most box at the top to make sure you get the best deal.
Take a look at the add-ons below there to see if any are useful to you. None of them are absolutely necessary, but daily backups and priority support are helpful features and they’re reasonably priced.
After that, enter your payment information, click Submit Secure Payment, and then you’ll be onto setup.
Step 2: Select Your Hosting Type
With my offer for Hostinger’s shared hosting, you actually don’t have to select hosting type yourself. Premium shared hosting is all ready to go for you.
However, you may know enough about your website’s needs to also know that you might need more a powerful hosting type than shared hosting, like VPS or dedicated.
If you have no idea, read on to learn a little bit about the differences between those three types of hosting and who each one is best for.
Shared Hosting
I would recommend shared hosting if you’re starting a new website.
Not only are the plans under this category cheap, but they can also accommodate the needs of low-traffic sites quite efficiently. Your website is hosted on a server along with a bunch of other websites. You save money by sharing server resources with the other tenants.
It’s like living in an apartment versus having your own house. It costs less and you don’t have to worry about maintenance. If one of the sites on the shared server starts taking too many resources, it can cause problems for your site’s performance. This is why shared hosting isn’t appropriate for really big complex websites.
The flip side is that shared hosting is perfect for someone who doesn’t expect high traffic volumes and lacks technical knowledge.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting allows you to get better performance without having to pay the significantly higher price tags of the options that come after this one.
With cloud hosting, you get the same environment as shared hosting (that is, you’re sharing resources with the other sites on servers), but multiple servers work together via the cloud to prevent any one from getting bogged down because of a bulky, popular, or resource-hungry site.
That usually results in more reliable speed and uptime, since you’re not sharing the resources of just one server.
This is a good half-step up from shared hosting but not as powerful and reliable as the next option.
VPS Hosting
VPS hosting stands for virtual private server hosting. This category includes plans for websites that want better performance and can accommodate a higher price point.
The good thing about this hosting type is it guarantees useful resources to you exclusively. Technically, you still share a server with other websites, but you have a “virtual“ server that includes dedicated resources.
You can consider this hosting type if you expect sudden spikes in traffic volumes.
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting gives you exclusive access to an entire server reserved for your website alone. You don’t have to share it with anyone.
Understandably, you get premium performance with this subscription plan, but you have to be ready to pay its premium price, too.
This is a good option if you’re a large enterprise that regularly handles high traffic. It’s also great for those who want complete control over the hosting environment.
For this guide, I’ll suggest you choose the premium shared hosting plan that’s preselected. However, if you prefer other plans, you’ll be .
Step 3: Claim Your Free Domain
After you’ve completed checkout and payment, you’ll be taken to your Hostinger control panel, hPanel.
There, you’ll see front-and-center an option for claiming your free domain.
Click Claim Domain to search for your preferred domain name. Once you see it, click the purple box next to it.
I’d encourage you to select a .com extension as it looks more professional and helps you appear more reliable to your visitors.
The only time that I’d consider an alternative domain extension is if the .com extension is already taken and you are absolutely set on the name.
Having a .com domain is particularly important for businesses—small blogs, personal sites, and side hustles may be able to save a few bucks by going for an alternative extension.
After that, you’ll just have to enter some basic information to register it. Fill out the form and submit it. Hostinger will take a few minutes to verify your registration information, then send you an email which will have a link to complete the verification.
With that, you’re all set on securing your free domain name!
There’s just one more thing I recommend.
Make sure to enable WHOIS protection. After you’ve completed verification, you’ll be taken to the section of your dashboard for your new domain name. Then, just look for the slider button under WHOIS Privacy and click it so it becomes purple and enabled.
Doing this will conceal your name, email, phone number, and address from appearing on a public database.
And you’re done!
You now have an excellent hosting plan as well as a free domain. If you have not already started, then start now at Hostinger.
Other Methods
For the sake of comprehensiveness, I’ll also discuss two other ways of getting a free domain. Although I don’t recommend them, it’s always good to know all of the options.
Option 1: Using a Free Subdomain
Several website builders offer subdomains, which is a personal domain that exists within an existing domain name.
Remember that movie Inception where Leonardo DiCaprio dreams that he is in a dream? Something similar happens here.
You end up getting a domain name within a domain name.
Site builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly offer subdomains to their users. They have a free trial as well, so if you like their services, you can purchase their premium plans that include everything you require to build, launch, and manage a professional business website.
Out of the several perks on offer like drag-and-drop site builder, web hosting, templates, and search engine optimization (SEO) tools, you also get a free domain name.
But why do I still say this method is not ideal?
Let’s discuss this with an example.
Imagine you use a free website builder like Wix. You won’t have to pay for a domain, yes, but your side will have the Wix subdomain. It’ll look something like this:
yourusername.wixsite.com/yoursiteaddress
Suppose your Wix username is “My Stunning Website 123,” and the domain name you want is myblogsite. Here’s what you’ll get:
Think about it: Does that look professional? Have you seen any credible website have a domain like this?
That is why I’d only suggest this method if you want to experiment with your website builder’s free features or new updates.
WordPress is your other option, and luckily, is not as invasive as Wix. The format for a free WordPress subdomain is: yourdomainname.wordpress.com
This is a good option for situations when one cannot spend money, but it is not a viable long-term strategy. You want your domain name to be memorable and short–both of which aren’t possible when you use a subdomain.
The fact that your visitors won’t remember your domain or find it hard to remember is another disadvantage.
Option 2: Using a Free Domain Name Registrar (Not Recommended)
I’m only discussing this option for the sake of comprehensiveness of this article and wouldn’t recommend it.
You can get a domain name from a free domain registrar, but it’s generally unsuitable. Especially if you want your domain to reflect a certain level of professionalism or trustworthiness.
You see, the truly free domains use uncommon extensions. For instance, you’ll get .tk instead of .com.
Your prospective customers would much prefer working with a domain name that reads yourbusiness.com instead of your yourbusiness.tk. And, it’s much easier to remember a .com than some domain extension few people have seen before.
Plus, you don’t own the domain name, which also defeats the purpose of launching a blog or a website.
However, if you do decide to take this route, you can check out Freenom, GetFreeDomain.Name and Dot TK.
Several domain registrars will give you a free domain in exchange for running ads on your website. There is nothing wrong with running ads, but this just isn’t the best way to do it.
You don’t have any control over the ads (the kind of ads played, the length, etc.) or their placement. As a result, your visitors may not have the best experience on your website. This may even damage your SEO ranking as well.
In fact, even if you view the situation with a more optimistic viewpoint, it still isn’t viable.
Suppose you’re successful in driving high traffic to your website, and the ads get one million views. You won’t receive a single penny from those ads–all you get is a free domain.
Not a fair trade, right?
If you’re seriously toying with the idea of running ads on your website, I’d advise you to do so through a legitimate advertising network as it can be a great source of income. Don’t exchange ads for a free domain.
Important: Don’t Forget to Renew Your Domain!
Domains expire. This can take one year, two years, or three years based on the package you buy.
Setting up a website or blog is hard work. You put in a lot of effort to find the perfect URL, design a website, and publish relevant content on it, among several other things that help it rank high and attract customers.
Just imagine the horror when you get up and realize some random stranger has bought it. The reason? You forgot to renew your domain.
Tragic.
This is why you must understand the importance of renewing your domain. Many people have made this mistake in the past, and it cost them dearly.
For instance, during one presidential election cycle, Jeb Bush and his team forgot to renew their domain JebBush.com, which Donald Trump successfully purchased and redirected Bush’s visitors to his own presidential election website. It was a stellar business move on Trump’s part, but a disaster that Bush’s team could’ve easily averted.
Make sure domain renewal is marked on your calendar a month in advance. You can also put your domain on auto-renewal just to be safe.
Conclusion
Hostinger is the best way to get a free domain name–one that you won’t have to surrender even if you switch web hosts.
The other way is to use a subdomain by using reliable and reputable web builders like WordPress and Wix.
Within seconds you’ll have a reliable web hosting service as well as a new domain for free. Trust me, saving a few dollars isn’t worth the hassle of looking unprofessional, running a spammy website, or getting hacked.
Red Bull name new title sponsor in $500m deal
The Red Bull Formula One team has secured a new title sponsorship worth around $500 million with technology firm Oracle, placing it among the most lucrative commercial deals in sports.
The post Red Bull name new title sponsor in $500m deal appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.
How to Decide on a Business Name: Tools, Tips, and Strategies
There are dozens of considerations entrepreneurs have to keep in mind when launching a new company, from the logo to the product to the packaging. The business name, however, may be the most important of all.
There are over 30 million small businesses in the U.S., according to the U.S Small Business Administration. That means you have to go above and beyond to stand out. The right name can help you do just that.
If you’re stuck on what to call your business or just want to make sure your chosen name ticks all the right boxes, I’m here to help.
In this article, I’ll cover my top tips for picking a winning business name, show some examples of what a great business name looks like, and even let you in on a sneaky way to get a load of business name ideas fast.
10 Tips to Pick a Business Name
Your business name can be almost anything you want it to be. As long as it’s legal and isn’t already in use, you’re good to go. However, there are several best practices most legal and marketing experts agree on.
I recommend the following tips to make sure your business gets off to the best start possible.
1. Ensure the Business Name Is Not Copyrighted or Trademarked
The first step in picking a business name is to make sure it doesn’t infringe any copyrights or trademarks. You can search copyright records and trademark records online.
I’d recommend going one step further and make sure it’s possible to trademark your brand name. You never know what the future will bring, after all. Even if you plan to keep your business small, I strongly recommend making sure it’s possible to copyright and trademark your brand.
Not doing so could land you in hot water years down the line. Just look at Apple. When Steve Jobs started the company, he chose Apple’s name because he was a fan of the Beatles (their recording label was called Apple Records).
There wasn’t any conflict initially because the two companies operated in completely separated industries. That was until Apple launched the iPod and the iTunes store, however. When they started operating in the same industry, Jobs quickly found himself saddled with a lawsuit.
2. Ensure the Business Name Isn’t Already Taken
This is a no-brainer, but it’s important to mention. Ideally, your business name will be unique and not used by any other business in existence. At the very least, it shouldn’t be used in any way by other companies operating in your industry.
A quick Google search can help you out here. If any results or domains come up that suggest another company is already using your name, either as a business name or as the name of one of their products, then it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
3. Ensure the Business Name Is Descriptive
You want customers to have an idea of what your business does just by hearing your name. You don’t have to know anything about TripAdvisor to know it is in the travel industry or that Burger King sells burgers.
Don’t be so descriptive that your name is downright boring, however. Seattle Plumber Inc. isn’t exactly inspiring and doesn’t separate your brand from any other plumbers in the city. First Call Plumbing is much catchier and easier to remember.
4. Make Sure the Matching Domain Name Is Available
Coming up with a brilliant business name is just the start. Before you can commit to it completely, make sure a matching domain name is available.
If it is, buy it.
If not, consider coming up with another business name. Having a domain name that is the exact match of your brand can be a real boost, particularly when it comes to SEO.
If your heart is set on a specific name, then all is not lost. There are several strategies you can use if your domain name is unavailable. Adding extra words or extending the name of your brand in your URL is becoming increasingly common.
5. Get Creative
This is your chance to embrace your inner copywriter and let your imagination and creativity run wild. Don’t be afraid to make something up. Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of the best brand names use made-up words or acronyms.
There are a couple of reasons for that. Firstly, existing words already mean something to many of your potential customers. You’ll need to decide whether this is a good or bad thing. Second, competitors may well be using the same or similar words.
6. Don’t Choose a Business Name That Is Hard to Pronounce or Spell
You’ll want your brand name to be accessible for everyone. That means no words that are impossible to pronounce when written down or easy to misspell.
While mixing up the letters or removing vowels from common words may look cool, it doesn’t help your customers find your business online. If customers can’t easily search for your business after hearing your name phonetically, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on leads. You’ll also spend a lot of time spelling out your URL for customers.
7. Complete a Secretary of State Search
One way to make sure your business name is different from everyone else operating in your area is to complete a Secretary of State Search. Most states have a way to do this easily online, so it’s simply a matter of visiting your state’s website and typing in your proposed name.
If in doubt, ask your attorney for help. I’d also recommend searching in Delaware, even if you don’t live in that state. Delaware is a haven for company registrations, and so searching there helps ensure no businesses anywhere else in the country have similar names.
8. Get Feedback on the Business Name Before Making It Official
Test your business name out on your friends and family and get their feedback before committing to it. While you may think you’ve looked at your name from every angle, there’s a chance you’ve missed something.
If you’re not sure about a business name yet, give people a shortlist of your ideas and ask them to pick their favorite. If everyone agrees on the same one, you may just have found your new name.
9. Choose a Business Name That Isn’t Accidentally Offensive
Make sure your business name doesn’t mean something offensive in another language or as a slang term.
No self-respecting business owner would want to insult potential customers. Yet dozens of businesses do this without knowing it because of their business name.
Just because your business name isn’t offensive in your own country doesn’t mean it’s inoffensive everywhere. Any language or cultural issues can spell bad news for companies wanting to expand abroad.
Luckily, it’s never been easier to check whether your business name is offensive or not. Just head over to WordSafety.com and enter your proposed name. The site will quickly find whether there are any potential issues.
10. Keep It Simple and Easy to Remember
Long, complicated business names are bad news. The shorter, catchier, and more memorable your name is, the better. Try to keep it under 20 characters for the sake of your URL and avoid combining more than three different words.
Examples of Great Business Names
Tips and guidelines aren’t always enough to get the creative juices flowing. That’s why I’ve compiled five examples of great business names below, along with a description of what makes them so good.
Hopefully, these will give you a jumping-off point.
In a parallel universe, someone is currently searching for something on BackRub. That’s the name Google was initially called because of the backlinks it used to rank websites. Eventually, they settled on Googol, a mathematical term for a number with a million zeros in it. The final brand name of Google was the result of a spelling error by an employee.
In the end, it worked out brilliantly. The name is catchy, creative, and random. “Google” is also easier to spell, remember and pronounce than Googol too.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market is the most descriptive name on this list, and that is part of the reason it’s so effective. It sends subtle signals that attract the brand’s target audience.
Choosing the word market rather than grocer or store was a stroke of genius in this regard. Market conjures up images of farmer’s markets and suggests the kind of well-off consumer Whole Foods’ targets.
Lego
Lego is a simplified portmanteau of the Danish words leg godt meaning “play well.” Brilliantly, Lego also means “I put together,” so the name works on two levels.
Not only is the name descriptive for the native Danish market, but it also sounds great in other languages and doesn’t have any additional meanings.
Pepsi
Caleb Davis Bradham, the inventor of Pepsi, originally called his concoction Brad’s Drink. Thankfully, he rebranded three years later. Pepsi is derived from the word dyspepsia, which means indigestion as Bradham believed the drink aided digestion.
Pepsi is way more creative and memorable than Brad’s Drink. Perhaps most importantly, the new name in no way infringed on Coca-Cola, created just a handful of years earlier.
Verizon
Verizon was formed in 2000 by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE. The business name combines the Latin word for truth, veritas, and horizon to signify the new company’s honest and forward-thinking nature. It’s creative, it has meaning, and it’s definitely memorable!
Use a Business Name Generator to Find Your Perfect Name
If you’re still stuck, help is at hand in the form of business name generators. There are plenty of software tools to help entrepreneurs quickly brainstorm business names.
Here are some to try:
Shopify
Shopify is famous for helping small business owners thrive. Coming up with a brand name is no different. Enter a keyword into the search bar, and Shopify will instantly spit out 100 business names you can create a store from today.
Freshbooks
Bookkeeping software Freshbooks has a pretty comprehensive business name generator that tailors recommendations based on your industry.
Start your search by choosing whether you operate in creative and marketing, legal or business services, trade, and home services, or IT. Enter a keyword, and Freshbooks will serve up three suggestions. You can ask for more suggestions or change your keyword to get a different batch of names.
Namelix
Namelix is a free AI-powered business name generator. Enter one or several keywords to get started, then filter suggestions by name, length, and style. There are hundreds of names to scroll through and a mix of basic and premium names. Premium recommendations come with a logo and domain name attached to make building a brand easier.
Conclusion
The right name can impact your SEO, branding, and customer perception. Would Google be where it is now if it was called Backrub? I don’t think so.
The business landscape is becoming more competitive every day, and a great business name can help your brand stand out.
Take inspiration from some of the great business names already out there, and use a business name generator if necessary. Just make sure your business name sets you up for long-term growth.
What are you going to call your new business? Let me know in the comments!
Why It’s Risky to Change Your Business Name
Are you feeling inspired to change the name of your business? It’s understandable. Sometimes something just strikes you as perfect and you feel you need to take action right away. However, you might want to hold off on that for a minute. Don’t change your business name until you understand how risky it is.
STOP! Don’t Change Your Business Name Until You Read This
Even if the name of your business is super boring right now and you have an idea for the catchiest name ever, it is a big risk to change your business name. The name of your business is incredibly far reaching. It is on all insurances, licenses, bank accounts, credit accounts, and it is tied to your EIN if you have one.
Imagine, every legal document and identification number that relates to your business has your business name on it. Furthermore, if you have a web presence, your social media accounts and website connect to that name. If your URL has your business name in it, that complicates things even further.
Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.
Why You Can’t Just Change It Everywhere
Of course, you’re thinking you’ll just change it in all the places and you’ll be good. That’s great, but what if you forget something random from a long time ago? What if your business name is on a document you forgot even exists? You may not think it matters much, but it does. Your business name can affect almost every aspect of fundability. Do you know why it’s risky to change your business name? Understanding exactly what fundability is and what affects it can go a long way toward helping you understand.
What is Fundability
Fundability is the ability of your business to get funding. When lenders look at funding your business, they consider if it is a good idea to make the loan. What do they look at to make that determination? It’s a lot more than you may think, and I guarantee that it reaches further than you realize.
The first aspects of fundability have to do with how your business is set up.
Consistent, Separate Contact Information
This is your business phone number and address that is separate from your personal phone number and address. That may not mean you have a separate phone line, or even a separate location however.
Honestly, you can get a business phone number and fax number pretty easily that will work over the internet instead of phone lines. Then, the phone number will forward to any phone you want it too so you can simply use your personal cell phone or landline. Whenever someone calls your business number it will ring straight to you.
You can use a virtual office for a separate business address. This isn’t what you may think. A virtual office is a business that offers a physical address for a fee, and sometimes they even offer mail service and live receptionist services. In addition, there are some that offer meeting spaces for those times you may need to meet a client or customer in person.
But imagine if your phone number and address are listed under one name, and then you change the business name. It is complex and time consuming to change your information everywhere. Something is almost certain to get missed, and customers are going to be confused.
EIN
This is an identifying number for your business that works in a way similar to how your SSN works for you personally. You can get one for free from the IRS. However, if you change your business name, you’ll have to make sure you have an EIN that is attached to the new name. Furthermore, you’ll have to ensure all the accounts that you have using that EIN are changed to reflect your new name.
Incorporate
Incorporating your business as an LLC, S-corp, or corporation is necessary to fundability. It lends credence to your business as one that is legitimate. It also offers some protection from liability.
Which option you choose does not matter as much for fundability as it does for your budget and needs for liability protection. It’s best to talk to your attorney or a tax professional about that issue. However, when you incorporate you are going to lose the time in business that you already have. You essentially become a new entity. Basically, you have to start over. You’ll even lose any positive payment history you may have accumulated.
This is why it is important to incorporate as soon as possible. Is necessary for fundability and for building business credit, but so is time in business. The longer you have been in business the more fundable you appear to be in the eyes of lenders. That starts on the date of incorporation, regardless of when you actually started doing business.
If you want to change your business name and you are not yet incorporated, then when you do incorporate is the best time to make it happen. Do it sooner rather than later.
Business Bank Account
You should already have a separate bank account for your business transactions. If you don’t, you need to make that happen now. There are a few reasons for this. First, it will help you keep track of business finances. It will also help you keep them separate from personal finances for tax purposes.
There’s more to it however. There are several types of funding you cannot get without a business bank account. Many lenders and credit cards want to see one with a minimum average balance. In addition, you cannot get a merchant account without a business account at a bank. That means, you cannot take credit card payments. Studies show consumers tend to spend more when they can pay by credit card.
Now, here is how your business name, and the risk when you change your business name, comes into play. This account has to be in your business name. If you change that name, you’ll have to go through the hassle of changing the name on that account. Not only that, but if you have any drafts coming out, you will have to make sure information is updated with those accounts. Otherwise, you could end up with unpaid bills.
Licenses
For a business to be legitimate it has to have all of the necessary licenses it needs to run. If it doesn’t, warning signals are going blare. Do you know what else will set off some major red flags? If your business name and the name on your license do not match.
Business Website
I am sure you are wondering how a business website can affect your ability to get funding. Think about it. These days, if you don’t have a website you may as well not even exist. Yet, having a poorly put together website can be even worse. It is the first impression you make on many, and if it appears to be unprofessional or confusing it will not bode well for you with consumers or potential lenders.
Spending the time and money necessary to ensure your website is professionally designed and works well is vital. Paying for hosting is important too. Don’t use a free hosting service. Also, your business needs a dedicated business email address. It should have the same URL as your Website.
Now, imagine your URL and email are tied to your business name. If you change that, you have to redesign your whole site to reflect the new name. Changing those things takes time and money. That’s not even to mention how confused people will be when they do an internet search for your business using a different name, or when they get to your website and see a name they aren’t expecting.
Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.
Business Credit Reports
These are reports, like your personal credit reports, that detail the credit history of your business. It is a tool to help lenders determine how credit worthy your business is.
Where do business credit reports come from? There are a lot of different places, but the main ones are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, Equifax, and FICO SBSS.
Lenders see this report. They rely on it heavily when it comes to making lending decisions. Even if your business credit is stellar, seeing your business listed under a bunch of different names can cause a problem. They start worrying about things like fraud, and that can cause an automatic denial.
Even worse, if things aren’t taken care of properly, you could end up with accounts reporting to two different credit reports, wrong accounts on wrong reports, or some other confusing credit report fiasco simply from choosing to change your business name.
Other Business Data Agencies
In addition to the business credit reporting agencies that directly calculate and issue credit reports, there are other business data agencies that affect those reports indirectly. Two examples of this are LexisNexis and The Small Business Finance Exchange. These two agencies gather data from a variety of sources, including public records. This means they could even have access to information relating to automobile accidents and liens. While you may not be able to access or change the data the agencies have on your business, you can ensure that any new information they receive is positive. Enough positive information can help counteract any negative information from the past.
The same issues apply. If your business name doesn’t match across the board, lenders could get uncomfortable.
Identification Numbers
In addition to the EIN, there are identifying numbers that go along with your business credit reports. Some of them are simply assigned by the agency, like the Experian BIN. Some, like a D-U-N-S number, you have to apply for, of course using your business name.
Here’s another place where you have to follow through if you change your business name. You have to make sure your new name isconnected to your old D&B number, or get a new number. It can become very complicated.
Then other numbers, like your BIN from Experian, will need to be updated as well.
Business Credit History
Your credit history has everything to do with everything related to your credit score, which is a huge factor in the fundability of your business.
Your credit history consists of a number of things including:
- How many accounts are reporting payments?
- How long have you had each account?
- What type of accounts are they?
- How much credit are you using on each account versus how much is available?
- Are you making your payments on these accounts consistently on-time?
Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.
The more accounts you have reporting on-time payments, the stronger your credit score will be. I’ve already touched on this above. When you change your business name, this information can become very confusing unless you handle things very carefully. The less confusing things are for lenders, the better.
Is it Really that Risky to Change Your Business Name? Yes!
When you change your business name, you start a sort of domino effect. The problem is, the dominos weave in and out of a spider web formation that reaches further than you can probably imagine. If just one is out of place the whole thing can fall. Lenders hone in on discrepancies, and sometimes the result is simply denial. No questions asked, they just deny the loan based on too many inconsistencies.
The only really good time to change your business name is when you incorporate. Still, even then it is best not to. Consistency is key, and trying to backtrack and make changes everywhere they need to be made costs time and money. Trying to explain gaps and changes on a report and how everything ties together is even riskier. The more complicated things are, and the harder a lender has to work to see that you are fundable, the less likely approval becomes.
To make a long story short, you need to carefully weigh any benefit you think you may gain from changing your business name against all the costs. While there could be a few very specific situations where this isn’t the case, as a general rule the benefit doesn’t outweigh the cost.
The post Why It’s Risky to Change Your Business Name appeared first on Credit Suite.
How to Buy a Domain Name
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Buying a domain name is one of the first steps to launching a website.
But finding the perfect domain for your site and registering that domain can feel like a tall task if you’ve never been through this process. Fortunately, domain registration isn’t that difficult—you just need to follow a few simple steps.
Throughout my career, I’ve bought a lot of domains—too many to count. Some of those experiences were significantly better than others.
This guide will explain my two favorite ways to buy a domain; one of those methods will even get you a free domain. I’ll also cover the differences between these options in greater detail and explain how to buy a premium domain. Let’s dive in.
How to Buy a Domain Name With Bluehost
Bluehost is a web hosting provider. In fact, they are one of the most reputable and reliable web hosts on the market today. More than two million sites across the globe are hosted by Bluehost.
But Bluehost also provides domain registration services. If you use Bluehost for web hosting, you’ll get a free domain for one year.
Since you need a hosting plan anyways, you can use Bluehost as a one-stop-shop to bundle hosting and domain registration into a single package. This is a great option for beginners starting a new website from scratch.
Step #1 – Navigate to Bluehost.com
The first step is easy. Just make your way over to the Bluehost website.
From here, scan the menu and select “Hosting” at the top of the screen.
I’ll say it again; click HOSTING. Do not click on the “Domains” menu option.
If you click on the latter, you won’t be bundling your hosting plan with domain registration, which defeats the purpose of using Bluehost (and you won’t get the domain for free).
Step #2 – Choose a Hosting Plan
The hosting menu will expand and present you with three different options:
- Shared Hosting
- Dedicated Hosting
- VPS Hosting
Shared hosting will be the best option for 99% of people starting a new website. So go ahead and select that from the expanded drop-down menu.
You’ll still be able to bundle your hosting plan and domain registration (and get a free domain) if you select dedicated or VPS, but most of you won’t need to worry about that right now; stick with shared hosting.
Bluehost offers four different shared web hosting plans to choose from—Basic, Plus, Choice Plus, and Pro:
If you’re launching a small personal site, the Basic entry-level plan starting at $3.95 per month should be fine for you. For those of you launching a site for your business, I’d go with the Choice Plus plan, at a minimum.
The extra features that come with this plan are worth the few extra bucks per month.
To continue, just click the “Select” button under the plan that fits your needs.
Step #3 – Register Your Domain
Once you choose a web hosting plan, Bluehost will automatically prompt you to set up your domain. You’ll be presented with two different options here:
- Create a new domain
- Use a domain you own
You’ll want to use the “Create a new domain” option to search for available domains.
Simply enter the domain you want to buy into the search bar and choose your domain extension (.com, .net, .blog, .biz, .info, .store, .co, .us, etc.).
In the vast majority of cases, you’re going to want a .com extension. The only reason why I’d consider an alternative domain extension is if the .com domain is taken. For example, if you try to create a domain using nike.com or apple.com, those will obviously be unavailable. But a different extension might be available for purchase.
So if you’re set on a name, you could always get an alternative extension in the meantime while you figure out how to buy the .com extension. I’ll explain how to buy domains that have already been registered in greater detail later in this guide (although you probably won’t be able to buy Nike or Apple).
Another reason to consider an alternative domain extension is the price. Lots of these extensions will be cheaper than a .com domain.
For a small blog, side project, or personal site, that’s fine if you want to save a few dollars. But businesses should always register a .com domain.
Step #4 – Finalize Your Contract
Once you’ve chosen an available domain name, simply create your Bluehost account and select your plan terms.
Definitely make sure you get “Domain Privacy + Protection” located in the “Package Extras” section. Otherwise, your name, email, phone number, and address will all become available on a public database. It’s well worth the extra $0.99 per month.
The other options, like SiteLock Security and Codeguard Basic, are up to you. I’d get them, but there are alternative third-party services out there that you can use for site backups and security. I think it’s just easier to get them now.
That’s it!
Once you enter your payment details, your hosting plan and new domain purchase will be finalized. Your domain name is free for the first year of your contract.
How to Buy a Domain Name With Namecheap
The market is flooded with domain registrars. But Namecheap is definitely my favorite. It’s super easy for anyone to buy a domain using this registrar, even if it’s your first time.
This method is a bit more straightforward than using Bluehost, only because you’re not bundling any other services—Namecheap is strictly for buying a domain.
The entire process can be completed in just three quick steps.
Step #1 – Visit Namecheap.com
Obviously, the first thing you need to do is make your way over the Namecheap website.
From here, you can search for your domain directly from the homepage.
Enter your desired domain name into the search bar, which can be found in the center of the screen.
Make sure that “Register” is toggled above that search bar. The “Transfer” option is made for people who have an existing domain and want to switch registrars—that’s not for you.
Click the search icon to continue.
Step #2 – Choose Your Extension
As a domain registrar, Namecheap offers an extensive list of domain extensions.
You’ll have the option to choose from things like .fun, .vip, .studio, .health, .xyz, .lol, .design, and hundreds of other extensions. But in most cases, choosing a .com extension will be your best bet.
Just click the “Add to cart” button next to the extensions you want and then checkout.
Step #3 – Confirm Your Order
When you’re buying a domain directly from a domain registrar, you can skip all of the extras. You won’t need an SSL certificate, professional email, or anything else. You’ll be able to get that from your web hosting provider.
Definitely make sure you have WhoisGuard enabled. This protects your personal information from being available to the public. Some domain registrars make you pay extra for this, but Namecheap offers it free forever.
Turn on “auto-renew” for your domain registration as well. Otherwise, you’ll have to renew it manually every year, which puts you at risk for the registration lapsing.
It’s that easy!
Once you confirm the order, you’ll be asked to create a Namecheap account. After you enter your payment details and finalize the purchase, the domain is yours.
Ways to Buy a Domain Name
Generally speaking, there are two main ways to buy a domain name. Both of which have been covered above—domain registrars and hosting providers.
There are pros and cons to each method, and the process for each one is very different.
I’ll quickly explain the differences between these options so you can figure out which one is the best choice for your website.
Buying a Domain From a Standalone Domain Registrar
In most cases, going directly to a domain registrar like Namecheap will be your best option. As the name implies, these platforms specialize in domain registration.
Buying domains directly from a standalone registrar will be faster than alternative methods. That’s because you’re not bundling other services, so the process is more direct.
Domain registrars also make it easier to buy domains in bulk. So if you’re in the market for more than a single domain, definitely go with a registrar.
If you want alternative extensions, domain registrars will offer significantly more options. While I typically don’t recommend anything other than a .com domain, some of you might want to browse through hundreds of alternative extensions.
Transferring domain names with a registrar is also easier than using a service that doesn’t specialize in domain registration. So if you want to transfer your domain or think you might want to transfer it in the future, use a domain registrar.
It’s usually cheaper to buy domains directly from a registrar. For starters, the domain itself will likely be less expensive. But the best registrars, like Namecheap, include WhoisGuard protection for free with the purchase of a domain. You probably won’t get that from a hosting company.
The downside of getting your domain from a registrar is that there’s an extra step in the process. You’ll still have to get web hosting elsewhere.
Buying a Domain From a Web Hosting Company
For the most part, domain registration and web hosting should be kept separately. Bluehost is the exception to this rule. So if you want to bundle your domain name with a hosting plan, Bluehost is really the only option to consider.
There are a couple of main reasons why you’d go this route.
For beginners who are new to the world of web hosting and domain registration, getting everything under one roof is just easier. It’s less steps, and you can manage your hosting plan and domain name from a single account.
Furthermore, Bluehost gives you a free domain name for one year. You’ll never get a deal like that from a domain registrar.
But getting a domain from a hosting provider isn’t ideal if you want to buy domains in bulk. It’s fine for a single domain, but beyond that, it gets messy. You also won’t have as many options for alternative extensions (if you want something unique).
Most web hosting providers will also charge you extra for domain privacy + protection, whereas you can get this for free from a domain registrar.
How to Buy a Premium Domain
Premium domains are a great way to stand out online. They are great for branding and marketing purposes as well.
What is a premium domain?
A premium domain is typically short, memorable, and easy to spell. High-quality domains have a high search volume and are closely associated with an industry, service, or topic. They also have TLDs (top-level domains) like .com, .org, or .net.
Premium domains are in high demand. So they’ll typically cost a bit more to register. The process of buying a premium domain can be different as well since it’s not always clear if the domain is actually for sale. Here’s what I mean.
Let’s say you try to register a premium domain from a domain registrar or hosting company. Just because it says “unavailable,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that it can’t be acquired. These are the steps for buying a premium domain:
Step #1 – Determine if the Domain Seems Attainable
If a domain is unavailable from a registrar, try going directly to that website and see what you find. If there’s an active website or business using that domain, it might be tougher to acquire.
But if you don’t see an active site, there’s a good chance that domain will be for sale.
Here’s an example for management.com:
Clearly, not much is happening on this site. So if you wanted this premium domain, there is a pretty good indication here that it’s for sale.
In some cases, you’ll even see text like “buy this domain” or information that says “this domain might be for sale.” All of these are good signs that the domain is attainable.
Step #2 – Find Out Who Owns the Domain
There are two ways to complete this step:
- Figure it out on your own
- Hire a domain broker to do it for you
Doing it on your own can be tricky. You could run a quick WHOIS lookup, but most people won’t have their personal information listed. Using Google to your advantage can be helpful. Some domains might be linked to another website or social media profile. You could potentially find the owner that way.
Personally, I’d recommend using a broker. Sedo is one of my favorite domain marketplaces and brokerage sites.
Brokers can almost always find out who owns the domain because they have such a massive network. They’ll determine if the domain is actually for sale and how much the seller is asking for. Your broker can even handle the negotiations on your behalf.
The downside of using a broker is that you’ll have to pay a brokerage fee. But in most cases, you’ll only have to pay if the sale actually goes through.
Other great places to find a premium domain online include:
If a domain is for sale, you’ll be able to get the ball rolling with Sedo or one of the other options listed above.
Step #3 – Negotiate and Buy
Often times, the listing price of a premium domain can be negotiable. If you think it’s a fair price and fits well within your budget, you can speed up the buying process by offering the asking price in full.
If a domain is in high-demand, this also increases your chances of securing it before someone else makes a better offer.
But in some cases, domains can be outrageously priced. You need to ask yourself if it’s actually worth the cost. Sometimes you might be better off just looking for another domain. Unless a certain domain is crucial to the success of your business, it can be tough to justify a five or six-figure listing price.
Don’t be afraid to walk away during the negotiation process. If it’s not meant to be, you can move on or try again at a later time. This is also another reason why it’s helpful to have a broker.
Step #4 – Transfer the Domain
Once the domain has been purchased, the final step is transferring it to your domain registrar. Again, I recommend Namecheap.com for this because it’s so easy.
Make sure you turn on the auto-renewal after the transfer. Otherwise, you’ll have to worry about manually renewing your domain each year. If you forget and the name lapses, your premium domain could be up for grabs on the open market.
The process is officially complete when you see the domain sitting inside of your domain registrar account. Now you can finally rest easy knowing that you’ve secured your premium domain.
How to Buy a Domain Name That’s Not For Sale
Not every premium domain will be available on a brokerage site or domain marketplace. But if you really want to pursue a specific domain, you still might have a chance.
Similar to the steps we took in the last section, you’ll need to figure out who owns the domain. If a domain isn’t for sale, this step should be a bit easier, and you can probably do it on your own.
Most domains that aren’t for sale will be linked to an active website. That site should have some sort of contact information on it. You can reach out directly to get in contact with the business owner or decision-maker associated with the domain.
Start with a general inquiry saying that you’re interested in buying the domain; don’t throw an offer out there just yet (or you could end up overpaying).
See what type of response you get and if the site owner is willing to sell. Unlike a premium domain that’s listed on a domain marketplace, you might have to dig a bit deeper into your pockets to buy a domain that’s not currently for sale.
If it’s absolutely imperative that you secure this particular domain, consider making the owner an offer that they can’t refuse.
Just be aware that this won’t always work. It’s like trying to buy a house that’s not for sale. You can knock on the front door and make a cash offer, but the homeowner might decide to stay put.
If they’re willing to sell, use a broker to make sure the purchase goes smoothly. Then immediately transfer that domain to your registrar after you obtain ownership.
Summary
Buying a domain name doesn’t need to be that complicated.
Even beginners and first-time buyers can complete this process in just a few minutes by following the step-by-step instructions explained in this guide.
Buying a premium domain might take a bit longer. But again, you can still make it happen by following the process I’ve outlined above. Good luck and happy buying!
The post How to Buy a Domain Name appeared first on Neil Patel.
What Makes A Brand Name Keep Long-term & solid
What Makes A Brand Stay Lasting & solid Producing A Strong Brand That Lasts Despite of a huge number of competitors to online organization, if the individuals will certainly recognize your brand name, it would certainly be very easy to locate you and also your company, therefore it will certainly obtain a whole lot of …
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Ultimate Wealth Package: Is It Worthy Of Its Name?
Ultimate Wealth Package: Is It Worthy Of Its Name?
What Is Ultimate Wealth Package All About?
Have you been thinking about the Ultimate Wealth Package? The sales web page makes a great deal of guarantees, however does not offer you much information whatsoever. Allow me load you in!
Ultimate Wealth Package is an overview that has actually been created by a young individual called Mark Warren. Within the overview he reveals you in basic actions just how he himself made his net ton of money, and also just how you also, by adhering to the very same actions can do the exact same.
Does Ultimate Wealth Package Work?
I am a component time associate online marketer functioning from the convenience of my house workplace … as well as I utilize the concepts laid out in Ultimate Wealth Package. Ultimate Wealth Package lays down an extremely wonderful structure, if complied with, with a little technique as well as perserverance is a strong springboard to begin and also expand your very own house company.
Exactly How Does Ultimate Wealth Package Compare With Other Programs?
Well, certainly there are thousands or even more cash making programs being marketed on the web. What makes Ultimate Wealth Package so special, in my viewpoint, is that it is soooooo extensive. It covers practically every type of generating income online that i recognized of in addition to a pair that i didnt, and also when you take into consideration the quantity of time as well as cash that i have actually invested in online marketing etc that is no mean task!!.
As soon as you have it grasped … the skies is the limitation as much as your gaining capacity, you can find out as you go without shedding the ranch … as well as. You might intend to do this for a part-time earnings … or do it part-time till you fit with your ability and also profits as well as prepare to start out by yourself … it’s up to you.
Base Line, Do You Recommend Ultimate Wealth Package?
, if there is one point that I do not truly care for concerning the Ultimate Wealth Package is the sales web page.. I really feel that they make it appear a little much easier than it actually is. I recognize that its basically a sales web page, yet i really feel that it does the program an oppression as the Ultimate Wealth Package is genuinely a great item!
There is a discovering contour … some will certainly have it down in a number of days … some might take a number of weeks/months. A great deal depends upon just how much time you need to purchase the endeavor likewise … yet … like ANY organisation … you are not mosting likely to have the ability to begin today and also be making thousands by tomorrow.
I as well as lots of others, make a part/fulltime revenue on the web utilizing the methods defined within the Ultimate Wealth Package … yet it did not take place over night. The time spent pays good-looking rewards for life.
Apart from that Ultimate Wealth Package is a thorough however quite possibly offered program for developing cash devices that will certainly pay you over as well as over once again … and also the standards as well as guidelines are actually easy for the ordinary individual to comprehend, adhere to, as well as begin gaining earnings.
Lower line … Yes … I very advise Ultimate Wealth Package.
I am a component time associate marketing expert functioning from the convenience of my residence workplace … and also I utilize the concepts laid out in Ultimate Wealth Package. Ultimate Wealth Package lays down an extremely wonderful structure, if complied with, with a little technique as well as perserverance is a strong springboard to begin and also expand your very own residence company.
What makes Ultimate Wealth Package so distinct, in my viewpoint, is that it is soooooo detailed. If there is one point that I do not truly care for concerning the Ultimate Wealth Package is the sales web page. I understand that its basically a sales web page, yet i really feel that it does the program an oppression as the Ultimate Wealth Package is genuinely a really great item!
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WeWork Parent to Name Sandeep Mathrani New CEO
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