When starting a new business or project, one of the most important steps in building your online presence is choosing the right domain name. A good domain name can boost your brand, improve your website’s visibility, and help attract your target audience. Among all domain extensions, the .com remains the most popular and trusted. But how do you choose the perfect .com domain? Here’s a guide to help you make the best choice.

1. Keep It Short and Memorable

Short domain names are easier to remember, type, and share. Try to keep your domain name under 15 characters if possible. A concise domain also leaves less room for typos. For example, amazon.com is much easier to remember and type compared to a longer and more complex domain.

2. Use Keywords Strategically

Including relevant keywords related to your business or industry in your domain can improve your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Think about the primary terms people would use to search for your services or products. For example, if you own a bakery, a domain like sweetbakery.com will give visitors a clear idea of what to expect.

However, avoid stuffing keywords as it may make the domain sound unnatural or spammy. Simplicity and clarity should always come first.

3. Make It Brandable

Your domain name should reflect your brand’s identity. It should be unique, easy to say, and aligned with the tone and mission of your business. A brandable domain is one that stands out from the competition and is easy for people to associate with your company. Avoid using numbers, hyphens, or abbreviations as these elements can be confusing and hard to remember.

4. Check for Availability and Avoid Trademarks

#Before settling on a domain name, check that it’s available and not already in use or trademarked. Using a name that’s too similar to an existing brand could lead to legal issues and confusion. Tools like ICANN’s WHOIS search can help you check domain availability available on linkdata.com

If the .com version of your chosen name isn’t available, try brainstorming alternative variations instead of adding unnecessary elements like dashes. For example, if bestshoes.com is taken, consider alternatives like bestshoez.com or a different memorable name.

5. Make It Easy to Spell and Pronounce

A domain name that’s difficult to spell or pronounce will be harder for users to remember and share. Make sure your domain name passes the “radio test”—can someone understand and remember it after hearing it spoken aloud? If they need to ask for clarification or spelling, it may not be the best choice.

6. Think About the Future

When choosing a domain name, consider the long-term goals of your business. While it’s important to have a domain that fits your current needs, it’s equally important to think about where your business might go in the future. For instance, if you’re starting a local business with plans to expand internationally, choosing a domain like localcityfurniture.com might limit your branding in the long run.

Instead, opt for a name that’s flexible and can grow with your business. Think big from the start!

7. Act Fast

Domain names are being registered every day, and the one you want might not be available for long. If you’ve found the perfect .com domain, don’t hesitate to register it. Domain registration is relatively inexpensive, so it’s better to secure your name quickly before someone else does.

8. Consider SEO, But Don’t Overcomplicate

While SEO is important, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor when choosing a domain. Including keywords can help, but stuffing them or choosing a domain solely for SEO benefits could make it sound awkward or forced. Focus on user experience first, then optimize your domain and content for search engines later.

9. Protect Your Brand

Once you’ve settled on the perfect .com domain, consider securing similar domain extensions like .net, .org, or even country-specific domains. This will help prevent competitors from registering similar domains and protect your brand’s online identity.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right .com domain for your website is a crucial step in establishing your online presence. A short, memorable, brandable, and easy-to-pronounce domain can set you apart and ensure long-term success. Take your time, think strategically, and ensure your domain aligns with both your current and future business goals.

Before diving into setting up your Ubuntu VPS, the first step is to choose a reliable and high-performance VPS provider. For the best quality and performance, you can get a VPS from Linkdata.com. They offer robust hosting solutions that are ideal for web hosting, applications, and cloud computing.

Now, let’s get started with the VPS setup after you’ve purchased your VPS from Linkdata.com.

Step 1: Connect to Your VPS via SSH

Once you’ve received your VPS credentials from Linkdata.com, you can connect to your Ubuntu VPS remotely using SSH. To do this, you need the IP address of your VPS and the SSH credentials provided by the hosting service.

ssh your_username@your_vps_ip_address

Example:

ssh root@123.45.67.89

If this is your first time connecting, SSH may ask you to confirm the connection. Type yes to continue.

Step 2: Update and Upgrade Your VPS

After logging in, it’s important to update your Ubuntu VPS to ensure all packages are up-to-date.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This command does two things: it updates the package lists for upgrades and installs any necessary upgrades. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation of upgrades.

Step 3: Set the Timezone (Optional)

Setting your VPS’s timezone can be important depending on your server’s location.

Check your current timezone:

timedatectl

To set the timezone:

sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City

Example:

sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/New_York

Step 4: Add a New User (Optional but Recommended)

Running a VPS as the root user is not recommended due to security risks. Instead, create a new user with sudo privileges.

adduser your_new_username

Follow the prompts to set a password and configure the new user.

Grant your new user administrative privileges:

usermod -aG sudo your_new_username

Step 5: Enable a Firewall for Security

It’s important to secure your server with a firewall. Ubuntu has a simple firewall tool called ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall).

To allow OpenSSH connections, run:

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH

Enable the firewall:

sudo ufw enable

To check the status of the firewall, use:

sudo ufw status

Step 6: Install Essential Software

Depending on what you plan to use your VPS for, you may need to install additional software. Below are a few common examples.

Install Nginx (Web Server)

To set up a basic web server:

sudo apt install nginx -y

Start and enable Nginx:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Install MySQL (Database Server)

If you need a database server, install MySQL:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

After the installation, secure your MySQL server:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to configure your MySQL instance.

Install PHP (For Dynamic Websites)

For PHP-based applications (e.g., WordPress), you’ll need to install PHP:

sudo apt install php php-fpm php-mysql -y

You can install additional PHP modules as needed:

sudo apt install php-xml php-mbstring php-curl -y

Step 7: Secure SSH Access (Optional but Recommended)

To secure your SSH connection, you should disable root login and use key-based authentication instead of passwords.

Disable Root Login

Edit the SSH configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Look for the line that says PermitRootLogin and change it to:

PermitRootLogin no

Save the file and exit (CTRL + X, then Y to confirm).

Restart SSH for the changes to take effect:

sudo systemctl restart ssh

Step 8: Set Up Swap Space (Optional)

If your VPS has limited RAM, adding swap space can help your system run more smoothly under heavy loads.

First, check if you have swap enabled:

sudo swapon --show

If no output appears, you can create a swap file:

sudo fallocate -l 1G /swapfile

Set the correct permissions for the swap file:

sudo chmod 600 /swapfile

Mark the file as swap space:

sudo mkswap /swapfile

Enable the swap file:

sudo swapon /swapfile

To make the swap permanent, add the swap file to your /etc/fstab:

echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab

Step 9: Install Monitoring Tools (Optional)

To monitor your server’s performance, you can install tools like htop and vnstat.

sudo apt install htop -y
sudo apt install vnstat -y

Step 10: Reboot Your VPS (Optional)

Once you’ve completed all the setup steps, it’s a good idea to reboot your VPS to ensure all changes take effect:

sudo reboot

You can reconnect after a few moments using the SSH command from Step 1.

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By following these steps, you will have a basic Ubuntu VPS set up, ready to host applications, websites, or any other services. For optimal performance, make sure you choose the best quality VPS from Linkdata.com to ensure a stable and reliable hosting experience.

If you need further help with setting up your VPS. Contact us on live chat or via email support@linkdata.com

1. Understand What DMARC Is

• DMARC is a protocol that builds on SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) to authenticate emails. It helps ensure that emails sent from your domain are genuine and not spoofed.
• DMARC policies dictate what should happen to emails that fail these checks (none, quarantine, or reject).

2. Prepare Your Domain for DMARC

• Set Up SPF and DKIM: Before implementing DMARC, ensure that SPF and DKIM are correctly configured for your domain.
  • SPF specifies which IP addresses are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain.
  • DKIM adds a digital signature to emails, verifying that the email has not been altered.

3. Create a DMARC Policy

• Start with a Policy of “none”: This policy allows you to monitor email traffic without affecting email delivery. It’s useful for gathering data before enforcing stricter rules.
• A basic DMARC record might look like this:cssCopy codev=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com; ruf=mailto:dmarc-failure@yourdomain.com; pct=100;
• Explanation of Record Parts:
  • v=DMARC1: Specifies the DMARC version.
  • p=none: Current policy is monitoring only.
  • rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com: Specifies where aggregate reports should be sent.
  • ruf=mailto:dmarc-failure@yourdomain.com: Specifies where forensic reports should be sent.
  • pct=100: Indicates the percentage of emails subjected to the DMARC policy (100% in this case).

4. Publish Your DMARC Record

• Add the DMARC TXT Record: Log in to your DNS hosting provider and add a new TXT record for your domain. The record should be added under _dmarc.yourdomain.com with the value set according to the policy you created in the previous step.

5. Monitor Reports

• Aggregate Reports: These reports provide data on email messages sent from your domain and their DMARC results. Look for unauthorized sources or failing DKIM/SPF checks.
• Forensic Reports: These are more detailed and provide information about specific emails that failed DMARC checks.
• Use tools like DMARC Analyzer, Agari, or free options like Google Postmaster Tools to interpret and visualize your DMARC reports.

6. Adjust Your DMARC Policy

• After monitoring for some time, you can adjust the policy to enforce stricter rules:
  • Quarantine: Suspicious emails will be sent to the spam/junk folder.cssCopy codev=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com; ruf=mailto:dmarc-failure@yourdomain.com; pct=100;
  • Reject: Emails failing DMARC will be rejected outright.cssCopy codev=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com; ruf=mailto:dmarc-failure@yourdomain.com; pct=100;
• Gradually move to stricter policies after confirming legitimate senders are not affected.

7. Maintain and Update Your DMARC Configuration

• Regular Monitoring: Keep checking DMARC reports regularly to identify and respond to any unauthorized sending attempts or misconfigurations.
• Update Policies: As your organization’s email practices change, update SPF, DKIM, and DMARC policies accordingly.
• Train Employees: Make sure staff are aware of DMARC policies and the importance of proper email handling.

Implementing DMARC is a key step in protecting your domain from email-based attacks like phishing and spoofing. By setting up DMARC, you can significantly reduce the risk of cyber threats and improve the trustworthiness of your email communications.

Migrating from shared hosting to a VPS (Virtual Private Server) can significantly improve your website’s performance, security, and scalability. With Linkdata.com, the transition is smooth and guided every step of the way. This guide will walk you through the process of moving your website from shared hosting to VPS hosting.

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1. Understand the Differences Between Shared and VPS Hosting

Shared Hosting:

• Resources: Shared among multiple websites.
• Performance: Can be affected by other sites on the same server.
• Control: Limited customization and control over server settings.

VPS Hosting:

• Resources: Dedicated resources like CPU, RAM, and storage.
• Performance: More stable and consistent performance.
• Control: Full root access, allowing customization of server settings.

Why Upgrade to VPS?

• Improved Performance: Faster load times and better handling of traffic spikes.
• Enhanced Security: Isolated environment reduces the risk of security breaches.
• Scalability: Easily upgrade resources as your website grows.

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2. Prepare for the Migration

Backup Your Data:
Before starting the migration, ensure you have a complete backup of your website, including databases, files, and emails. This ensures that you can restore your site if anything goes wrong during the migration.

Choose the Right VPS Plan:
At Linkdata.com, we offer a variety of VPS plans tailored to different needs. Consider your website’s traffic, storage needs, and expected growth to select the best plan.

Set Up Your VPS Environment:
Once you’ve selected a VPS plan, Linkdata.com will provide you with the necessary login credentials. You’ll need to set up your server environment, which includes installing a web server (Apache, Nginx), a database server (MySQL, MariaDB), and any other software required for your website.

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3. Migrate Your Website

Step 1: Transfer Files
Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to download your website files from the shared hosting server. Then, upload these files to your new VPS. You can also use SSH for a more secure transfer.

Step 2: Export Databases
If your website uses a database (e.g., WordPress, Joomla), you’ll need to export it from your shared hosting account. This can be done using phpMyAdmin or command-line tools like mysqldump.

Step 3: Import Databases
Once the database is exported, import it to your VPS server using phpMyAdmin or MySQL commands.

Step 4: Configure DNS Settings
Update your domain’s DNS settings to point to your new VPS server. This change can take up to 48 hours to propagate fully.

Step 5: Test Your Website
Before fully switching over, test your website on the new VPS using a temporary URL or local hosts file. Ensure that all features work as expected and that there are no broken links or missing files.

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4. Optimize and Secure Your VPS

Install Security Software:
Install a firewall (like UFW), fail2ban, and other security tools to protect your VPS from unauthorized access.

Optimize Server Performance:
Use caching solutions like Varnish or Redis, optimize your database, and fine-tune your web server settings for optimal performance.

Regular Backups:
Set up automated backups to ensure your data is always safe.

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5. Final Steps

Monitor Performance:
Keep an eye on your website’s performance, especially in the first few weeks after migration. Use monitoring tools provided by Linkdata.com to check resource usage and server load.

Scale as Needed:
As your website grows, you can easily upgrade your VPS resources through your Linkdata.com control panel.

Customer Support:
If you encounter any issues during or after the migration, Linkdata.com’s 24/7 support team is available to assist you.