Purchasing a domain name can be confusing at first. You have the options of purchasing a .com, .net and .org as well as a .info, .asia, .mobi and many more.  All of these choices can become confusing to someone purchasing their first domain name. Here are a few tips to consider when making that first domain name purchase.

1. Purchase the dot.com version of the domain name first. Dot.com is king in terms of relevance and will be easier to remember.  Dot.com domain names are also worth more in the domain name after-market.

2. Purchase the .net version if available too, followed by .Org. If a competitor can buy these to thwart your marketing campaign they will. Blocking your investment with the .net and .org is your next step.

3. Purchase a .mobi only if you think you’re website will be going mobile. a .mobi domain name might make your site more relevant to mobile users although the .com version can be built to accomodate mobile sites as well.

4. Purchase domain names without any slashes in it. Slashes or Hyphens should only be used for longer domain names. Hyphens make it less likely that your customers will type in the domain properly.

5. Purchase a previously owned domain name if possible. Many domain name aftermarkets will allow you to browse lists of domains that have expired or are being sold by the owner. These domains are usually more but they also might have links or page rank which will help you with natural Search Engine Optimization Efforts.

You may also want to look into services like Certified Domain Registration and Privacy Registration. These services can help you secure your privacy and also let visitors know that your site is safe.