USIndoor's Official Magazine is a quarterly publication, dedicated to owners, managers, program administrators and other professionals, startups and providers involved with indoor recreational sports facilities.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/958380
12 Domain & Email Choosing a domain may be as simple as searching whether your facility's name is available. If your preferred domain is taken, try modifying it. Shorten it by dropping a word or abbreviating or add words like a city name or region. It's easier for people to remember things we can easily say or think about. Your domain name should be easy to remember and, as much as possible, easy to use in conversation. Don't use numbers and avoid hyphens. A .com top-level domain (TLD), the ending on the domain name, is the most popular and recognizable option, followed by .net and .org. There are nearly 1,000 other TLD options, such as .soccer and .football, but those options aren't nearly as ubiquitous and often cost much more than a standard TLD. Stick to .com if you can. If your preferred domain becomes available in the future, buy it! You can set it up as a second option for accessing your website, and email from one domain can be forwarded to addresses on the other. Over time, you can adjust your branding and marketing to use the new domain without confusing customers–both new and old will work. Once you have a domain, you can set up email addresses with it. Your business email addresses should use your domain name rather than Gmail.com or Outlook.com. Just like your business name, logo, and website, your email is part of your branding. Branded email addresses provide credibility and can be helpful in establishing business relationships. Your domain registrar or web host may offer domain and email services, either as an add-on cost or as part of a package. You can also use a third-party provider such as Zoho or Google's G Suite. Security Your website should use an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate. It's a way of protecting your website and your customers, and it's a must-have for any business on the internet, especially if your customers have website accounts or if you accept web payments. It may also eventually affect your search ranking. SSL is currently a low factor in Google's search algorithms, but it's likely that it will become more important. How can you tell if a website is secure? Look for "https" in the URL; some browsers will leave off any "http" prefix but use a green padlock icon to indicate a secure site. Some domain registrars, like GoDaddy and Name.com, offer SSL certificates for an additional fee, or you can get them independently from providers like Symantec or COMODO. Set up will depend on your web host–you may be able to do it yourself, or you may need to contact tech support for assistance. Conclusion Whether you're just getting started or you're looking to refresh your website, it's important to keep these technical factors in mind. There is no simple "one size fits all" solution, but knowledge of available options will arm you with the right questions. Before striking out on your own, start with your facility software provider to see what they offer. USIndoor's software provider members offer a variety of web services and have a solution. Your facility's website is a hub of information for current and future customers. It is your first chance to impress them. Make it a good impression. Domain & Email Domain & Email Conclusion Security