There is nothing more important than buying a domain name to protect the vision of your new company. It's the one source, available 24/7, that represents your company. There are millions of domain names already registered, chances are your first domain name choice has already been taken whether you're a start-up like AJ Tutoring or Kelly's Photos. That's okay, because this is your chance to create a unique brand, a brand you can protect. The best time to create a brand is when you haven't chosen a name for your company. This concept is not new. Many companies spend a lot of time doing brand research. If your new venture is more than just a hobby then you will want to spend some doing a little research.

Companies like Coca-Cola, Dell and Microsoft have all been victims of other people taking their domain names.  Don't be a victim too. Do about 30 minutes of research and your clients will thank you. Typically finding the right domain name takes a little strategy of what to look for and NOT to look for in a domain name. Here are a few rules when searching for your new company domain name.

1. An ideal length of a domain name is between 10-15 characters. The longer a domain name, the more changes people have to spell it wrong.

2. Consider different spelling interpretations of your domain name (e.g. Photo, Foto, Photography, Photos). You don't need to pigeonhole yourself with just one version of a domain name when there can be many other ways to be descriptive of your domain.

3. Not a must, but check if plural version of your domain name is available (e.g. Card &Cards, or Gift & Gifts). If you can get a plural version and a singular version of your domain, that might be more desirable to protect your brand than the domain you can just get one version.

4. Avoid domains that can be easily misspelled, interpreted differently. Typically words that are longer than 7 characters or contain "ie" combinations.

5. Always make sure you can get the .COM. Unless you're buying a domain like www.brand.net then chances people will mistake your domain for a .COM.

6. Find an SEO friendly domain name. Domains that tell people what you do (e.g. HostMyWebpage.com) are more desirable.

These are rules for finding a domain are not set in stone. You may wish to ignore one or many of these rules. You can never go wrong with a solid brand built with a great vision. You are the entrepreneur, be creative, and happy domaining!