Here are a couple of tips when selecting Domain Names:

1. Keep them as short, yet as memorable as possible.  You want to have a domain name people see and can remember well, so that when they get home, they can type it in and find you easily.  The shorter, generally, the easier it is to remember.
2. Steer clear of using hyphens and non-alpha characters in your domain name.  People don't generally remember where the hyphen or characters go.  Using alpha characters and spelling out words is always best for recognition!
3. If at all possible, find a domain name that is available with a .com, or .net extension.  .Org is also appropriate, however it often is used for non-profit organizations like churches and other 501-C3 Groups.  .Com and .Net are the most commonly used extensions, and are the most easily remembered.
4. Consider purchasing both the .com and .net extensions.  Domain names are so inexpensive, that their cost is usually insignificant in light of the traffic that is directed to your site by having both.  If someone can't remember whether your site is .com or .net, they can type in either and still find you.  It also keeps a competitor who has the same business name in another state from securing it and getting your web business.  Recent research shows that domain names effect searh engine results. Choose wisely!
5. Consider purchasing your domain names for 2 or more years.  Again, for reasons of search engine rankings, purchase your domain names for more than a year.  Search engines now look at length of time a domain name is purchased for.  The assume the longer the name is purchased for, the longer the website will be around--  thus, the higher the search engine ranking.

This is a quick salute to our friend Susan Knox with Corporate Connections.  She invited Make it Loud to a cocktail reception honoring the opening of The Ultimate, which is a High-Definition video editing company in Buckhead.  The reception was fantastic.  The people that Susan brought together for the event meshed perfectly together.  It really was something else to watch Susan walk around the room and introduce individuals that would soon establish mutually beneficial relationships.  I know that myself and my wife, Jessica,  made several great connections for some possible websites in gwinnett and I am thrilled about many other opportunities that have come from that night.  Without Susan, it would have not been at all possible, so Make it Loud would like to extend a special thank you to Susan Knox at Corporate Connections, Thanks!

-Jacob Willis

The start of somethin new.  It has been a long process for Make it Loud to get to this point.  Since John started the business in 2003, we have completed over 200 websites, almost all for businesses that are local to Gwinnett County Georgia.  In 2007, John brought Josh Whitlock and myself, Jacob Willis on as partners in the business.  With the new changes to our business model, we are now better suited to meet the needs of our clients in local Gwinnett County as well as several areas across the country.  Josh's primary discipline is the Design process as well as project management.  John and I will be focusing primarily on Sales and Business Development.  With our implementation of this new division of labor for Make it Loud, we hope to serve a larger number of clients more efficiently.  Our company has been very fortunate to experience such growth and success through this economic recession.  In tough times it is natural for companies to cut back in several departments.  At Make it Loud we have seemed to notice that the businesses that invest capital in marketing during this recession are the ones that have been able to increase their revenue.  As a website and marketing company, we would love to work with you on your website to help you experience the same success we have experienced in this economy.  Throughthis blog we hope to continue to communicate with our existing clients and everyone who plays a part in the Make it Loud Community.

Cheers,

Jacob Willis