Here are some pointers we have collected to help you decide when registering a new domain name or buying an existing one.

1. The name passes the so-called “radio test.” By this is meant that the domain name can be understood if said on the radio. Try to avoid domain names with dash or hyphen (”-”) or underscore (”_”) as part of the names. One needs to spell out the whole domain name with the dash, hyphen or underscore which sometimes sound very awkward.

You must have heard of radio commercials of websites where the site names are spelled out. This is because they have the names with hyphen or the names have been so over-stylised that they need to be spelled out. For example: Some domain names use “ozzie” instead of “aussie” that the owner or whoever is saying it has to tell the listeners the domain name letter-by-letter.

2. Easy to remember. Like any product name, the domain name should be easy to remember. Which one would you easily remember? ONLYINAUSTRALIA.COM or ONLYINAUST.COM?

3. The domain name is descriptive. The domain should at least give an idea of the type of site it is. For example, a site name like INTERNETPROPERTIESBROKER.COM is quite descriptive.

4. The domain name contains keywords. SEO experts claim that getting a website listed higher in search engines is made easier if a domain as well as its content contain searchable keywords. And the less keywords a domain contains, more instances of it will be shown in search results. Example: SENDMAIL.COM.AU could generate more traffic than FASTSENDMAIL.COM.AU

5. If you have a choice, choose a .com extension (or for a regional TLD, example, .com.au) as this extension stands a better chance of being searched than the same domain name with different extension. This is simply because most people are more familiar with .com over other extensions. The .com has become sort of a household name. That said, it does not mean that other extensions will not work well. We know a number of successful websites using other extensions like .net, .org, and .info. An example of a successful website with a .net extension is TEXTCAFE.NET.

By the way: The websites operating under the domain names SENDMAIL.COM.AU, ONLYINAUSTRALIA.COM, INTERNETPROPERTIESBROKER.COM, and TEXTCAFE.NET are affiliates of this website.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) recently released the results of a Newspoll survey which ACMA commissioned to explore community attitudes to unsolicited telemarketing calls and electronic communications, and the awareness and effectiveness of the regimes that regulate these communications.

The entire report, all 79 pages are available for download at the as a pdf or a Word doc.

A copy of the report (in pdf) is also available for download at .

A summary of the main findings of the survey will be reported on this site within the next few days.

Following St George shareholders approval last 13 November to merge with Westpac, management of St George has started sending letters to its customers to say that the bank will continue with its current number of branches even if a Westpac and St George branch are side by side.

The letter also states that St George customers will not be levied an ATM fee should they use Westpac’s ATMs, and vice versa.

That’s nice.

But what the letter of course did not mention is that this arrangement is part of the conditions on which Treasurer Wayne Swan on behalf of the Commonwealth approved last 23 October the acquisition of St George by Westpac.

In fact, it is not only branches that had been mandated to be maintained in their existing numbers but remain but ATMs as well.

We understand of course that the conditions which apply for three years from approval date have been adopted to prevent the current economic crisis getting any worse.

From a strictly business viewpoint however, allowing the existing retail branches configuration network of the combined bank does not make sense.

If the intention of the merger is to strike “the right balance between enhancing the competitiveness and the strength of our banking system” as Treasurer Swan said, then I doubt very much if the merger would produce the desired effect.

Not that I like to see people in retail branches losing their job.

But over time, the merged entity would feel the burden of maintaining redundant branch network.

There may be cost savings from redundancy in back office operations and technology-based infrastructure, but all in all, the merged unit may not be able to produce the level of efficiency which in the first place is a primary reason in any merger scenario.

I would not be surprised if Westpac and St George will return to the negotiating table, this time with Commonwealth Treasury, and start looking at the economics of the merger.

*** Romeo Cayabyab is director of Compucentric consulting and lead researcher and writer of techbusiness.com.au