Picking the correct domain name for a website is the first step to help you get you to the top of the search engine rankings. You can have a great flash designed Website giving products away, but if the search engines cannot find you you're dead in the water. When someone searches for your key words generally if you are not on the first page of results you are not going to get the visitor. It certainly won't hurt to have a great domain name that exactly describes your website or product. In general, the best domain names are short, memorable, difficult to misspell, and as generic as possible. Important points:

Using Keywords Having the word Harleys in your domain name can give you a small search engine rankings boost on a search like harleys for sale in Louisville Keywords in your domain, however, is only one of many criteria search engines use to determine where your site will rank. It's quite possible to get a top ranking despite the absence of any of the search words in your domain or to rank low despite the presence of one or more of those words in your domain.

Using Dashes If have a domain like harleysforsaleinchicago.com expect a search engine to be able to separate the name into individual keywords. To be certain you get credit for using keywords in your domain, you should use dashes as in Harleys-for-sale-in-chicago.com Be aware, however, that dashes in your domain name can be difficult for people to remember. You can assume that people will forget to use the dashes when typing your web address into their web browser. So if you want a domain name with dashes in it, be sure to also secure the same domain name without the dashes. The domain without the dashes can be setup to automatically redirect users to your main site, which uses the dashes in the name.

If your looking for new or innovative names try to get names that are common phrases. Cajunrecipes.com or phpdownloads. try to get something that will fall into search terms. They can be somewhat obscure, Phlemboy.com could be a great success to with good optimization and promotion.

Domain Extension There are many choices for extensions like dot-net, dot-biz, dot-info, dot-cc, or even dot-org, but dot-com is still the best. Its the one most people will assume applies to your website. If you choose www.Sturgisbabes.net because www.sturgisbabes.com is already taken, some people who are looking for you will undoubtedly end up on the wrong site and may not realize it. So try all your dot-com options, before you go for one of the other extensions.

Before you look at listing your virtual property or if you are cosidering a purchase, remember, Not all domain names are created equal. Because most of the best words in the English language are already taken as domains, certain domain names may have a higher value than others.

Unlike currencies where a set value can be determined, there is no way to standardize the price or value of a domain name. Because of this, it is important to remember that domain appraisals are merely opinions; there is no way to conclusively prove what your domain is really worth. One person's trash is another's treasure.

Another strategy used is getting an expired name that had an existing page rank and links to the name. If the domain names website contained the same content or product that your promoting you are basically gaining targeted traffic.
All sounds good but, just how valuable is an expired domain?
Most truly valuable domains will not be lapsing any time soon.
Their owners won't let that happen.
Then you must always consider trademark issues. Nobody wants a $10.000 fine for infringement. Ok now say you do find a name you want, generic no trademark and it has link popularity. That to could be short lived. Google aware of the expired domain industry and its misuse of expired domains, had implemented an aggressive expired-domain filter. All across the web, webmasters who had purchased expired domains were getting hit with the filter, and it hurt. What may have been a PR-7 can and most likely will drop to a PR-0.
Moral : Dont get caught in the trap of High expectation and low return.

It always helps to have a professional appraisal done to evaluate your domain. You can get a in depth appraisal done on your Domain from many services on the web that can run from $10,00 to $250.00 or for only $9.99 you can uncover the true money making potential of any domain yourself. Unlimited appraisals.

Want to see how? Click Here

Do your research well and OPTIMIZE ! Good luck!