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The Aim of Video Conferencing in Real Estate

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There was a time we had to send a telegram so someone will receive our message. Eventually, the telephone was invented until we now have a web. As you can see, the development of technology has made it easier for us to communication which happens to be also the aim of video conferencing. 

But what is video conferencing? It is a technology that enables users to see and hear one another in real time so people can convey their message and get a response. For this to work, you will need a camera, microphone, speaker, a processor and the software.  You can buy each one separately or get a set that offers this in one package. 

The aim of video conferencing is different depending on what industry this will be used in. For instance, those in education use this medium to promote distance learning to those who can’t afford to attend regular classes to get a degree. 

The justice department has used this to get the testimonies of witnesses so they no longer have to be brought to court to testify against a suspect.  Hospitals use video conferencing to talk about the condition of a patient so something better can be done to help them recover from an injury or illness. While corporations use this medium to make business decisions. 

Firms that conduct market research can tabulate the responses that have been given out by the respondents so the results will be released quickly.  

Surely, you have heard of online dating. But video conferencing takes it another step forward as you get to see and talk to people that have potential instead of just reading their profile and looking at their picture. 

Aside from talking, you can also do file sharing so two people can view the same document and make changes instantaneously. If something is unclear and you have to write it down, you can use the white board thus making this technology work for you as a virtual board room. 

But in order for more people to enjoy video conferencing, more research has to be done to make it better than it was before. You have to remember that 10 years ago there were not that many people who were interested in getting it because it was too expensive to purchase. Now, you can get a reasonable package for less than $10,000 and use it as often as you need.  

Just to show you how far video conferencing has gone, people can now use it to playback previous sessions, browse the web, send SMS messages and view slide presentations.  

Regardless of how it is used, the aim of video conferencing is still the same and that is to get in touch with someone that could be in another state or country. It builds and fosters relationships, increases productivity and reduces the cost often incurred when an employee has to travel on a business trip that costs the company money. 

Given that it video conferencing has benefits those who have not taken advantage of this technology must do so but this can only happen if they are able to determine the aim of video conferencing that is applicable to their setting. If they donít want to buy one yet, they can try it out as some places offer this for use to the public. 

Video Conferencing in Your Real Estate Business

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When you call for a conference, everyone is expected to arrive at a designed time and place to discuss an issue and resolve it. But if the people you need to speak with are in different states or countries and those cost of getting them to come is quite expensive, you have to try something else like video conferencing. 

But first, what is video conferencing? Basically, this is a system that allows you to conduct meetings or trainings in different places simultaneously. It incorporates audio, video so you are able to talk and send data which takes away the barrier of distance that separates these individuals. 

To make video conferencing possible, you need to buy the equipment. You also have to choose the method of transmission because the one you might be using may not be compatible with the other person. 

These include the Codec unit, the camera, microphone, video display, network connection, stands and equipment charts if these will be mobile or stationary, NT-1 and chicken feet. 

Most of these are self-explanatory so we will just focus on the Codec, NT-1 and chicken feet. 

The Codec is considered to be the “brain and heart” of the video conference system. This is what compresses everything so you can send and receive messages on real time which can be viewed on the display device. 

The NT-1 on the other hand is an electronic device otherwise called an terminal adapter that converts ISDN to your IP format. There is also the NT-3 version so instead of using one line, you will be able to use three. 

The chicken feet also known as acoustic echo canceler’s are equipment that is usually hung from the ceiling. Basically, what this does it is add both clarity and depth to the resonant frequency response of your audio sub system. 

But the most important which you have to understand is the network connection. There are two protocols namely the H.320 and the H.323. If the one you are talking with is using a different one, it will be impossible for you to talk with one another because while the first uses ISDN lines the latter which is much simpler uses IP lines similar to what you use to browse the web. 

The good news is that you can still talk to the person on the other end using the older system by using a bridge that is able to handle these mixed protocols. 

The advantage of the new system is that you can transmit for multiple uses when the old one can only handle one. The newer version is also cheaper and faster so you get to talk in real time. 

How much will you have to spend to get your video conferencing system up and running? Personal users will spend less than $500 while corporations could spend $100,000 or even more. You just have to shop around and see which one is able to fit your needs so you get value for your money. 

The video conferencing system of today is one of the highlights of living in the digital age. No longer do we have to send a message and wait for awhile to get a response when you can get a reply right then and there which increases productivity and saves time and resources. 

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So You are Unemployed and Want to Become a Real Estate Investor Right Now

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These techniques should work in any country, city or area. The trick is to simply find the real deals. Let me tell you the quickest way you could start making money in real estate right away.

Call all the ‘We buy houses’ classified ads and signs you see around your area and tell them that you are unemployed and would like to bird dog for them. Ask them for $100 when they sign contract to buy from seller and $400 more when they close ($500 is pretty typical amount). Ask them to let you go with them when they go see the property so you can get some experience. Also try to join you local investor group, in most cities they are $20 or less for each monthly meeting (it is a bargain). Go visit your local section 8 housing office and ask for the list of landlords and contact some of the ones who deal in single family houses.

Also, go around and start looking for empty houses. Call real estate agents and tell them you are looking for investment properties. If you have lined up 5 or more investor buyers and you find a real deal one of them will snatch it up and pay you a bird dog fee. While you are out look for home for rent signs, call them, ask them if they buy houses, if yes get their phone, fax, email etc and send them deals too. If they don’t find out if they are looking to sell their rental homes. You will be able to find owner financed deals this way.

Shortly you will be able to know what properties to get under contract yourself and move up to wholesaling where you will make $2000-10,000 per deal instead of $500. It just keeps getting better from there.

If you are aggressive and get out and look for properties today, you could be making a few hundred dollars a week by next week, A thousand dollars a week within a month, and $10,000 plus per month within 6 months. These techniques work but they require work. Interestingly enough you could do a lot of this work from a bicycle if you had no car (but maybe not in Canada during the winter).

None of these techniques require cash or credit and will get you started in real estate investing right away.

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Should I Buy This Home - Heating and Cooling Issues

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353

Summary:

When considering whether you should buy a home, heating issues are something you should take a close look at. This is particularly true with rising energy costs.

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Article Body:

When considering whether you should buy a home, heating and cooling issues are something you should take a close look at. This is particularly true with rising energy costs. 

Heating Issues

As you inspect potential homes, heating issues should be foremost in your mind. While obvious issues will be apparent, there are less obvious things that need to be considered. 

1. Layout - The layout of a home can have a major impact on both heating issues and energy bills. While high ceilings are beautiful architectural aspects, they can be a huge heating issue. Heat rises, which means you are going to need more of it to warm a home with high ceilings. Always remember that high ceilings equate to high energy bills. 

A second layout issue concerns the number of stories in the residence. While a tri-level home or townhouse may seem enticing, how are you going to heat the lower floors? Tri-level homes often have a problem with something I call the zone effect. The rooms on the bottom of the tri-level are always cool, while the top floor may be close to a sauna. Unless you have a very sophisticated heating system, tri-level residences are going to drive your heating bill through the roof. 

2. Control Areas - One way to reduce the heating requirements for high ceiling and tri-level homes is a controllable heating system. Many modern heating systems allow you to isolate particular sections of the home you wish to heat. These can be a godsend for larger homes where certain rooms are not used often. 

3. Vents - A more mundane, but important issue, are vent locations. In some homes, the vent layout appears to have been undertaken by a drunken sailor. If you find vents located under windows, you can expect the heating bills to be outrageous. Also look for very large rooms with one or no vents as these rooms will take a long time to heat up. 

With new homes, one can expect to find heating issues addressed competently. With older homes, you may need to consider how the heating issue is going to sap your cash flow during the winter months.

Marketing Your Small Real Estate Business Online

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Are you a small business owner who runs an online business?  If you are, are you currently satisfied with your business’s profits?  Even if you are happy with the money that you are currently making, you may be looking to make even more.  If you are, you may want to examine the marketing tactics that you are using, if you are even marketing your business at all.

When it comes to marketing an online business, you will often find that it is easier to market an online business than it is a storefront business. One of the reasons for that is because of the internet.  There are a number of different ways that the internet can help you with the marketing of your online business.  A few of those ways are briefly touched on below.

One of the many ways that you can go about marketing your business online is by using online message boards, which are also commonly referred to as online forums.  Online message boards or online forums are communities where internet users are able to come together and discuss activities or interests they may share. There are many online message boards or forums that allow participating members to have what is referred to as a signature.  A signature is a block of print that always appears at the end of a member’s posts.  It is not uncommon for an online message board moderator to allow signatures to include business links, like a link to your online store or online website.  With using online message boards or forums, the more you post the more exposure your online store gets.  

Another way that you can market your small online business is by joining a pay per click advertising program, like Google Adwords.  What is nice about pay per click advertising programs is that, just as the name sounds, you only have to pay when one of your advertisements gets clicked on.  This type of advertising arrangement may be able to save you a considerable about of money, when compared to paying a flat rate fee for an advertisement that may never even be seen, let alone clicked on.  Also, by doing business with a well-known pay per click advertising program, like Google Adwords, you are less likely to experience problems associated with malicious clicks, as the programs tend to be carefully monitored, to ensure that you doní t end up wasting money on the marketing for your small business.

In addition to paying for advertising, you may also be able to get free advertising by doing what is known as a link exchange.  A link exchange is when one website owner, like you, agrees to display the online website link or banner for another website owner, free of charge, as long as they do the same for you.  If you are looking for free or low-cost ways to market your small online business, a link exchange may be the perfect option for you.  The only thing that you want to make sure you do is not exchange links with your competition.  You want to try and make sure that all links can be connected or related to each other, in one way or another, but you donít want to end up generating income for your competition.  

When it comes to running a small online business, standard internet searches may also pay a large role in the traffic that you and your website receives.  That is why it is important that your website, whether it is used to sell products or services, is optimized for the search engines.  This process is commonly referred to as search engine optimization. When it comes to search engine optimization, content is important. Your website needs to be filled with content that the search engines will pick up, as well as content that your visitors can read. If you need assistance with this, you may want to think about hiring the services of a SEO specialist or a professional content writer.

The above mentioned marketing approaches are just a few of the many that you may want to use to help increase your small online businessís profits.  For the best chance of success, you are advised to implement more than just one of the above mentioned approaches.

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Real Estate Business Owners:  Should You Hire a Professional Tax Preparer?

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Are you a small business owner who is getting ready to get your taxes prepared for this year?  If you are, you may be wondering whether or not you should use the services of a professional tax preparer.  When it comes to determining whether or not you should use the services of a professional tax preparer, you may want to think about the pros and cons of doing so.

When it comes to hiring the services of a professional tax preparer, one of the many pros or plus sides to having your small business taxes done professionally are the results.  Most professional tax prepares have the required amount of tax preparation training and many also have years of experience with preparing taxes.  This experience is what often guarantees that you will get better, accurate results.

Another one of the many pros or plus sides to having a professional tax preparer do your small business taxes for you is because of the deductions that they may be able to get you.  As it was previously mentioned, many professional tax preparers have up-to-date tax training.  This up-to-date tax training often means that they are educated on any new small business deductions that you may be able to qualify for, as well as old deductions.  This is nice because most small business owners, like you, who do their own taxes, actually end up missing out on multiple opportunities to save money on their taxes.

Your liabilities, when hiring a professional tax preparer to do your small business taxes for you, is another one of the many pros or plus sides to seeking assistance.  Even if you have some tax preparation experience, there is a good chance that you would end up taking your time, then go back and recheck your forms and then recheck them again.  This is due to the fact that those who file their own taxes are often held liable for any mistakes that are made.  The same is not always said when a professional tax preparer is used.  Most professional tax preparers do not make mistakes, but if they do make one, you shouldnít end up being held responsible or liable for that mistake.

Although there are a large number of pros or plus sides to doing business with a professional tax preparer, there are also a number of cons or downsides to doing so as well.  Perhaps, the biggest one is the costs.  It is no secret that it can get fairly expensive to hire the services of a professional tax preparer.  In most cases, the amount of money that you are charged will all depend on the complicity of your tax forms.  The harder they are to do, the more money you are likely to be charged.  Of course, it is important to remember all of the above mentioned pros to hiring a professional tax preparer.  Many time those benefits, alone, are worth the cost.

The decision as to whether or not you want to hire a professional tax preparer to do your small business taxes for you is yours to make, but, as outlined above, there are a number of benefits to doing so.  If you are interested in trying to do your own taxes, but you later find it too complicated to do so, you may want to think about seeking professional assistance, as it is never to late to do so.

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Title: 

Track Down The Elusive Homeowner - "Bloodhound Style" - Real Estate Investing Trick

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636

Summary:

Unleash The Secrets Of Finding The Owners of those Abandoned Junk Boxes.  Whether you invest in Foreclosures, Vacant Properties, or Code Enforcement Liens, you're going to come across a house where the owners are nowhere to be found.  Check out this exact Step By Step Blueprint to locating EVERY "Missing Person", and collect that beautiful check.

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Article Body:

"Vacant - Boarded Up Houses" are my FAVORITE DEALS for quick turnaround flips. You're talking about someone that cares so little about the property that they've left it to decay. The owner of that house should be begging you to take their junk house off of their hands. Except, the only problem is, the owner has completely vanished without a trace...Or so it may appear!

In these times of computers and the Internet, It's a very rare occasion when someone can't be tracked down. Every homeowner leaves little clues, and it's your job to piece them together. If you want to be successful at this, you need to have a system and you need to follow it exactly as I'm describing it to you. If you only do one or two things, you may get lucky...but if you do them all, you'll almost always get your "Mark". I suggest you print up the following Ten Step Plan and follow the process every time you track down a seller.

The Ten Step Plan To Finding Homeowners "Bloodhound Style"

1. Place A Flier in the door stating that you buy houses in any condition & stick one of your "I Buy Houses" bandit signs right in the front yard.

2. Ask The Neighbors....Not Just immediate neighbors. I always go Four houses out on each side and across the street. You should be able to get bits and pieces of information from each person. Don't be afraid to ask questions..Leave your card and offer money (if you buy the property) for any information that they may "remember" after you leave...Ask & You Shall Receive!

3. I go to Whitepages.com or you could call 411 - You'll find about half of them right here!

4. Visit your local Tax Assessor's Office. Check the "Mailing Address" to see where the tax statements are headed. ALSO, I ALWAYS run that person's name to see if they own other property in hopes that there are more abandoned junkers that we can cut a deal on. Sometimes a new mailing address will be on other properties as well.

5. Run the name through the clerks office and look at all the recorded docs and court indexes for that person. You can often get a good picture of what's going on, and sometimes even some other addresses or addresses of relatives, etc. This is where your detective skills kick in. You want to scour through and see if you can find anything...divorce filings, new loans, liens, Law Suits. If their salary is being garnished, the employer's name and address will be their for you. . Many times you'll see that the individual is in jail or just got out of jail. You can usually find their attorney or a new address off of the arrest info. If they're in jail, you can call the prison and set up a visit with the inmate.

6. Send out a letter and put "Address Service Requested" on the envelope. Make sure that the address is hand written on the envelope and regular stamp is used (NO BULK RATE)

7. Hire a Skip Tracer. usually use "FINDTHESELLER.COM" because they're pretty inexpensive and they're pretty good at finding people that I can't with very limited info. It usually takes 24 - 48 hours to get a match but you can be trying the other methods while you're waiting.

8. If it's a unique last name, I'll start calling everyone in the phone book within the area...hoping to get a relative. I've been surprisingly successful with this "Shot Gun" approach. If the name is something like, "Johnson" or "Jones"...I wouldn't even attempt it..:)

9. Voter Registry - You can get updated addresses

10. Place the lead in your file in case another clue arises in the near future (Property goes into foreclosure, neighbors call you, someone calls on the sign, etc)

Title: 

Tips for Single Homebuyers

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538

Summary:

In the last few years, homes have became increasingly owned by single homeowners. Many single people are realizing that there are many benefits to owning a home that aren't just for married couples.

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Article Body:

In the last few years, homes have became increasingly owned by single homeowners. Many single people are realizing that there are many benefits to owning a home that aren't just for married couples.

Single homebuyers face unique challenges in buying. They have to compete with dual-income households, which can be tough when the market is hot and competition is fierce.

But whether you are single or married, some real estate basics hold true. For example, the biggest decision factor for both continues to be the old and true -- location, location, location. The neighborhood, price, and closeness to work, school, family and friends are important factors to consider in a home.

With the ever-present economic uncertainty and high home values in many areas, many single homebuyers wonder if they can afford a home. With rising interest rates, this is a valid worry.

In many areas, inventory is slim. Sellers are receiving multiple offers. If you find a home you like, you better be ready to jump on it.

Be ready. Spend time getting your finances in order. Compare different mortgages and lenders so that you find the best plan for you and your financial situation. Go ahead and get pre-approved once you find the right lender. Not only will you know exactly how much you can spend, but you have an extra edge when placing an offer. Most sellers in a hot market only accept offers from pre-approved buyers.

Make sure you know what your requirements are before you begin looking. Think about the square footage, number of rooms and neighborhoods. This will save you time in your search by narrowing down the properties to only the ones that fit your needs.

Consider buying a condo or townhouse. Usually more affordable, this type of housing offers little upkeep, close neighbors and community facilities, such as a pool or workout room. But keep in mind that condo living means little privacy outdoors and virtually no back yard. If you like to entertain outside, it may not be for you.

Keep in touch with your agent throughout the search. Let your agent know that you are a serious buyer. Make sure that he or she understands your needs. You want your agent to call you first when a new listing hits the market. Don't be afraid to search the MLS listings online and then call your agent with any properties you are interested in.

Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect home. Decide what aspects of a home are most important to you. You may find that you are willing to sacrifice, for example, an extra bedroom for the perfect location close to work.

Base your bid on what you want to offer, not what you think other people will offer. Don't let yourself be stretched farther than you are comfortable with just to get the home.

Don't be shy. If you find a home that fits your criteria, jump on it. When markets are hot, as many are in the metro areas, you can loose a home by hesitating. Ask your agent how long you have to decide and take their advice. If they say you have to decide within a few hours, you have to decide.

A Peek at Trademark Law in Real Estate

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Trademark law is one of the three branches of Intellectual Property Law and has been applied in real estate scenarios in the United States. The other branches are Patent Law and Copyright Law. 

As an overview, patent law guards new inventions that can be valuable by giving the owner or patentee the right to keep out other individuals from using the said invention in their enterprises. Copyright law, on the other hand, protects the rights of artists for their creation of their works, be it a book, film, or an artwork from any unauthorized imitation of the said work. Copyright law, however, has nothing to do with the idea of the creation or work; it merely protects its expression.

Meanwhile, trademark law protects marks or names that are in connection with the merchandise or product. A trademark can be a word, color, sound, icon, image, phrase, or way of packaging that is acquired and utilized by an organization or corporation for easy recognition of their merchandise and services that will set them apart from other corporations or organizations. Services and not product merchandise, however, are identified by a service mark (which is similar to that of a trademark).

From a historical point of view, trademark law was pioneered by the Englishmen during the 13th century to guard the customers from spurious merchandise. In the late 19th century, the governments of Britain and the United States of America established Trademark agencies that controlled the registration of trademarks.

Basically, trademark law thwarts illegal use of a product-identifying mark or sign and guarantees consumers that the product they are purchasing are made by the same producer and are not poorly manufactured counterfeit products. The law at the same time also promises the producer or manufacturer that imitators will not reap the financial rewards. It also protects the reputation of the real manufacturer.

Trademark fundamentally protects consumers from being duped. It guarantees liberal competition by defending the benevolence of the person or company who possesses the mark. It essentially concerns itself with the buffet of services and commodities.

Trademark law practically has an effect on creative artists as well (writers or authors, designers, etc). It endows creative artists and their business associates broad protections from any unlawful use of a trademark as long as it does not misled the public that the use was endorsed by the owner of the trademark. 

Trademark law and the art world connect through titles, trade dress, domain names, literary characters, and mishandling of the name of an author.

Titles are at times protected under unjust competition and trademark laws. It is not protected by the copyright law. Protection of a title is granted when it accomplishes a secondary meaning. Secondary meaning is similar to that of the titles commercial appeal. Titles must also be popularly known to meet the criteria. Usually, titles of series are great trademark contenders. Also, titles in one merchandise can be protected in another type of merchandise. Lastly, one-shot titles are not consequently allowed to trademark protection.

Trade dress, in trademark law, is merchandise's recognizable image. It is actually the merchandise's characteristic color, shape, image, packaging, or a combination of these factors that the consumers will easily connect with a certain source.

Domain names are web addresses consigned to certain computers on the internet. These names are extensively utilized by companies in connection with entertainment, information, and publishing. Any use of the domain name without permission is a violation of the trademark right of the owner. Fortunately, current legislations have made battling unlawful trademark users.

In connection with literature, sometimes a story or a novel's character is so appealing that it actually takes a life of its own outside its original medium. Consequently literary characters may become linked with a certain product. With this occurrence, the literary character can be sheltered by unfair competition and trademark laws, even though it may not protected by copyright anymore.

Trademark law also has sanctions over the mishandling of an author's name. According to unfair competition laws any author can take legal action against bogus source designation or false advertising if their role to a certain literary piece or work is imprecisely depicted. Another violation of the right of an author is an illegal unauthorized modification of their work.

In a nutshell, the trademark law is concerned about corporate integrity and educated purchasing decisions. It promotes the progress of the society's economy.

Making Your Domain Trademark for your Real Estate Website

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In the advent world of technology, most people especially those who are techie fanatics wants to have their own domain. 

A domain is a name which distinguishes IP addresses. For you to recognize a particular web page, domain names are needed. Every domain name has a suffix after it to indicate its category or what they call ‘top level domain,’ (TLD). Some of the common categorical suffixes are: 

- .gov   - denotes government institutions 

- .ca     - denotes Canadian territories 

- .edu   - denotes educational institutions 

- .net     - denotes network associations 

- .mil     - denotes the Military group 

- .com   - denotes commercial establishments  

A lot of people wish to secure their own domain name. While some wish to do this for personal use, majority needs it as a marketing tool for their business to flourish.  

If you will be choosing a domain name for business use, you must first pick an identifier from the above-mentioned suffixes. For the domain name you can: 

1. Choose your own business name. For instance, your business name is ‘speed articles,’ then you can have it as a domain name. 

2. Choose a new domain name. If you decide to choose a new domain name, make sure that the name itself is ‘catchy’ and your target market will easily remember it. In addition, your new domain name should have a link to the product or service you are offering. Most importantly, it should not have the same domain name as others.  

There are business owners who are not satisfied with having their own domain names. Some wants the domain name to be trademarked. 

Who says you cannot make your domain a trademark?! You can.  

While some people argue that it is difficult to make your domain a trademark, there are those who disagree. With proper rules to follow you can make your domain a trademark.  

- Select a domain name that is distinct and crafty. By doing so, you will not encounter much difficulty in protecting your domain name as trademarks. Additionally, domain names that employ geographic identifiers or surnames are not likely to be given trademark protection.  

- You need to verify your domain name. There should not be two the same domain names. Having so, your wish to have your domain name trademarked will be disapproved. Hence, it is highly recommended that you undertake a thorough research to see if your domain name has not yet been taken. 

- After you have gone through with your ‘domain name search,’ and you found out that your domain name is exclusive for your use only, then the next step is to trademark your domain name.  

Some say that it is not necessary to have a domain name trademarked and registered. However, majority of entrepreneurs recommend that you trademark and register your domain name. By doing so, you will have authority to implement your rights when someone attempts to use your domain name. 

To help you with the registration process, you can seek professional help from a lawyer who specializes in trademarking and who is also knowledgeable about the internet technology. 

A domain name can be trademarked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). You need to obtain an application from the said office. Once you have completed an application form and complied with the requirements given by the office then you can submit it for evaluation.  

The evaluation may take months after you will be given a result. As you wait for the decision, you may temporarily use the TM symbol to notify the public that you have rights over the domain name. Once the decision has been out and your application was approved then you can now lawfully use the trademark symbol, "Æ". 

Once you have registered for your domain name as a trademark, you will have ten years protection. However, during the fifth or sixth month you will be asked to file an affirmation to continue the registration. If you do not file within the specified time, then your registration may be withdrawn. 

There is no problem if you want to trademarked your domain name; all you need to do is undertake the necessary steps to fulfill your goal. After all, there are many posed benefits if you own a trademarked domain name.