If you already have a website – you can skip this step.

You have decided to create a B2B business blog and are wondering where to start.  Setting a blog up is fairly easy.  The first thing you will need to do is decide on a name for your blog. The domain name for this blog is UpstreamMarketing.net.    A domain name is considered an address on the internet.   The first part is the actual name and the part after the dot indicates the type of blog it is.   You can have an edu, com, info, org, pa.us, net, etc.  Most businesses should use a “.com”.   It indicates to the world you are a business.

Search For Domain Names

You can find out if the domain name you want is available at various sites such as GoDaddy,  Hostgator, Bluehost and many other sites.  If none of the above are of interest, just google available domain names and you will find more than you can imagine.

To check domain name availability, simply type the domain name you are interested in purchasing in the box provided and click “Check Availability.”   It will give you a message it is available and the cost or unavailable.

Once you check for availability, you will either be able to purchase the name or if it is already taken, search for a different name.  You can sometimes add the word “The” in front of the domain name you wanted and it will work.

 Domain Name Tips

• Make it something easy to remember.
• Try not to use strange spellings.
• Include a keyword if possible in the title.
• Before you purchase, ask yourself if the title could be misconstrued in some way and have a negative effect on your business.

Purchasing a domain name usually costs about $12.  If a name is in demand it may cost significantly more.  I was looking at a domain name the other day that sot over $4,000, but most are relatively inexpensive.  You will need to purchase with a credit card or with a Paypal account.

Be sure to print out the details of your account after your purchase and keep a copy in a safe place.  You will need to refer to it in the future.

Once you have your domain name, you are ready to find a host.   We will discuss how to find a host for your blog in next post.

Still On The Fence About a B2B Business Blog?

These posts may help you decide.

3 Top Blogging Mistakes Beginners Make

5 Ways to Make Sure Your Readers Return to Your Blog

Good Content Can Hep Increase Blog Traffic