NZS.com Newsletter September 2009

Choosing the right domain name for your website is one of the most important factors in ensuring clients can find and remember you. To drive more traffic to your website, choose wisely...

Contents:

• Top Ten Sites
• Domain Names 101
• Domain Names and Search Engines
• Internationalised Domain Names
• And the Winner Is...
• What's New?

If you're about to register a domain, check out the Top 10 websites from our domain registration category this month.

Rank	Site Name	URL
1.	New Zealand Domain Name Commissioner	www.dnc.org.nz
2.	Freeparking Domain Names	www.freeparking.co.nz
3.	NZ Registry Services	www.nzrs.net.nz
4.	DiscountDomains	www.discountdomains.co.nz
5.	Interspeed	www.interspeed.co.nz
6.	Domainz	www.domainz.net.nz
7.	ISP NZ	www.ispnz.co.nz
8.	Register Direct	www.registerdirect.co.nz
9.	Domains4Less	www.domains4less.co.nz
10.	Webbase	www.webbase.co.nz

Choosing the best domain name is essential for your website - it's the gateway for the world to find you on the Internet.

• For the non-technical person, a domain name is the unique name (or website address) you use to identify and access websites on the Internet.
• The domain name system was invented to allow people to use easy to remember names for websites instead of long numeric sequences.
• When registering domain names for your business you need to think about your target audience. Is it New Zealand only, or worldwide?
• Making the most of your domain name means more visitors to your website, so make sure you get it on your business cards and in major search engines.

For more information on domain name essentials, including information about domain name security and disputes, read the Domain Names article on NZS.com

Don't underestimate the importance of purchasing a domain name that will be recognised (and liked) by search engines. Search engines are the first port of call for any New Zealander navigating the web, so when you choose a domain name it's important to consider factors like age, history and keywords.

Check out the Page Names article for more SEO tips on better domain and page names.

Internationalised Domain Names is a hot topic among website owners, who will soon have the chance to register the IDN variants of their domain names before the rest of the public...

Find out more about Internationalised Domain Names and how they can affect your website by reading our IDNs blog post.

If you met us at either the Auckland or Christchurch Bizzone Business Expo you will have not doubt entered our draw for a whopping $1000 worth of online advertising with NZS.com.

From hundreds of entries, Oceania Distribution of Hamilton was the lucky winner drawn last week. Oceania Distribution is an exclusive New Zealand importer and distributor for major international brands of quality audio visual and home theatre related products.

Oceania Distribution owner Tony Govarko was thrilled with the win and the promotional push for his business.

"Brilliant, I've never won anything at this level before. That's great."

Congratulations to Tony and the team!

Check out what's new on NZS.com this week. If you're interested in advertising your business on social networking sites like Facebook, read about the benefits and pitfalls in Targeted Ads on Social Networks.

The latest featured sites showcasing New Zealand businesses include designer home renovations experts Fix It Building Services, streetwear designers 21 Grams, and medical insurance brokers Medical Direct.

Recent businesses to claim their websites and make the most of their Site Profile by adding contact details, links and marketing descriptions include The Model Workshop and Wind Warrior Kitesports.

Claim your own website and impress us with you business details and you could get a mention in our next newsletter. Give it a go and visit the Website Resources section.

We're always interested in your opinion, so if you have anything you'd like to hear about in the newsletter, let us know.

Images from Flickr: Dotcom, Buydomain, globe, facebookad.