Your domain name is the center of your new internet identity. It should be relevant to either your company name or your industry and should be fairly memorable. So what type of things should you take into consideration when choosing the name that will represent you on the Web? Here we offer 6 simple tips.
When you purchase a website package from us, we will register your choice of domain name where it is still available. Domain name registration is subject to an annual registry fee which varies depending on the extension of the domain name (e.g. ".com", ".net" or ".org"). If the registry fee for a domain name is not paid on an annual basis, that name becomes available again to the public. We make sure that all applicable domain name fees are always paid on a timely manner, often by purchasing many years in advance at the same time. When we register a domain name on your behalf, we guarantee that you will not lose that name unless you choose to discontinue our service.
1. Keep it short
Although some places allow you to register a name with up to 63 characters, you have to keep in mind that people need to be able to remember it, and easily type it into their browser. Try to choose the shortest name that your customers and visitors will associate with your Website. The general rule of thumb is, keep it under seven characters if possible. If you cannot register a domain name which closely matches your company name, try registering a name which is related to your industry, since often search engines attach importance to the meaning of words in your domain name.
2. What Extension Should I Choose?
There are many different extensions available now. For businesses, we recommend a .com suffix alternatively a .net suffix. They are the first extensions that most people try when searching for a Website.
3. Avoid Trademarked Names
Although in the early years of the internet anyone could register a domain name such as Tesco.com and sell it back to the company that really wanted it, nowadays the chances of a huge payout are slim and in fact the chances of a lawsuit are greater! Anyway, why would you want to associate your company with another one? There is little value from getting traffic to your site because those visitors are looking for something that they will not actually find!
4. Choose Your Domain ASAP
Good available domain names are becoming rarer and rarer. To stand any chance of registering a desirable domain name you must act sooner rather than later. If you have decided on a domain name we can register it for you before we begin the site design process.
5. Ask For Opinions
When you have settled on several available name choices, see what your friends and clients have to say. A name that may make perfect sense to you may be too hard for other people to remember. Is your domain easy to say? Is it hard to spell? Do you have to explain why you chose the name?
6. Don't Shell Out Large Amounts of Money
At one time, companies were able to get away with charging reservation fees plus a "mandatory" $70 InterNIC fee. Recently, it was decided that other companies should be able to compete to sell domain names. This has lowered prices dramatically. The cost of registering a domain name is now negligible if you are purchasing other services such as hosting or site design at the same time.
Have You Got Some Ideas?
Now that you have finished this article, you should have a better idea of what kind of name you would like for your website. Use our tool below to see if your choice is still available.
