Q: When I signed up and got my .com name for my practice I was offered .net, .biz, .org, etc. Should I have taken them?

A:  Most companies like Network Solutions or Go Daddy that register domain names also offer options like forwarding your domain to your existing Web site, and adding e-mail addresses that also forward to your existing accounts.  These services are fairly straightforward, and they do not charge extra for the forwarding details (some of their competitors do). They also make it easier to make bulk changes without having to go through repetitive steps. If you run your own practice, or even a larger chain, protecting your brand in cyberspace is not getting easier. All the good dot-com domain names are taken, and these days you need to do so much more to promote yourself and make sure that you have all your bases covered. So let's outline what is involved, and hopefully you will get a few practical ideas here.

By now, most of us have the dot-com routine down when we want to establish a new brand: We go to our favorite registrar, and reserve that domain name the moment the idea crosses our craniums what the right name should be. Amazingly, there are still a few dot-com names left these days. But  as you were not aware  there are other names that you should purchase as well as the dot-com. There are .BIZ and .INFO names too that make sense under certain circumstances. And if you are really desperate or have some extra cash, you can purchase a .NET or .ORG  So the answer is YES.  You buy the additional names for your URL.

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