With a domain name, you can represent yourself and your business on the Web. It is a unique identifier that helps your business acquire an online presence. For your business to have an exclusive address online, your domain name should complement your brand and business well. The domain name search can help you find the perfect name that you want to use to market your products and services.
One of the prime uses of a domain name is to give a unique identity to your website and email address. Therefore, searching for a suitable domain name is as important as selecting a website address by giving enough time and thought it deserves.
How to select a perfect domain name?
A domain name makes your business or brand distinctive, and no wonder choosing the best website name is what most organizations are busy trying to acquire. Here are some essential aspects to consider while searching and choosing an effective domain name.
- Have a list of domain name options
If you have not named your startup yet, it is an opportunity for you to search and register the desired website name, which can be your business name too. You would have to put in much effort and time for searching, attaining, and registering a domain, for it can generate a lot of leads, which will be converted into sales over the long run. The business addresses with .au, .com, etc., have a great influence on your brand or product on the Internet.
- Why you should use generic word domains?
When it is quite challenging to search for a suitable domain name with generic words for your business, it is worth the effort for the generic word domains are easy to remember. By including generic words related to your brand or product generally has less competition when querying a registry like the Australian registry.
- Choose a pronounceable and brandable name
The domain name in the form of a URL represents your company, and it should be pronounceable. Most users are not likely to pronounce your name, but it is important for one to read and remember the name and create positive associations. If people find it difficult to spell your domain name or misspell it on a search engine, you will lose all potential traffic. Other than trying to find out the right spelling, they give up searching for your product or brand name.
- Keep your domain name short, if possible
When selecting a domain name, keeping it short will help the user to memorize it. Nevertheless, you need to be careful that you should not have a negative effect in the pursuit of making the name short. For instance, if you look at these examples:
- 6cuz-yz’
- Bubblejunglekit
The word ‘bubblejunglekit’ has double the characters, but it is easier to remember than the word ‘6cuz-yz’, which is difficult to pronounce. However, it is difficult to find a short name on the web hosting services sites. In such a case, having a lengthy name, which is easy to pronounce and remember will do. The usual domain name length found with .com registrations is about 12-13 characters.
- Check your domain name is a trademark infringement
This is one of the most important aspects to check as the domain name you choose should be distinctive. It should not conflict with another brand or website name. You will be sued if your domain name infringes upon a trademark. To avoid it, you can check on a search engine, a hosting service website, or a particular registry like the Australian Business Name (ABN).
The generic terms using word combinations cannot be trademarked, and therefore, those domain names are safe to choose for registration.
- Use a reliable search to register your domain
If you have still not come up with a domain name, it is better to engage with a reliable registrar, which can help you find a perfect domain name and handle the registration it. With a registrar, you know the names that are taken and in use and not in use. If you want, you can have the names that are taken and not in use after the expiry of the validity.
- Know domain registration is different from web hosting
Web hosting and registering a domain name are two different services. A web host helps your website to be accessible on the Internet through various hosting packages. You can choose from shared or dedicated hosting servers depending on your requirement. Most hosting companies perform the functions of a web host and domain registrar. You can select a feasible and reliable one for both.
- Know which domain extension to use
When it comes to selecting a domain extension, your first choice can be the top-level domains (TLDs) such as .com, .org, .net, .biz, and .info. Going for .com may be expensive, but it is still the most preferred one. If you are looking for the location-specific, you can choose .au, .uk, .ca, etc. There are other options like “.com.au” and “.net.au”, which have good awareness among the users. They require you to meet certain eligibility requirements. It is advisable to go for the generic ones, especially the TLDs for it will your website do better.
- Register your domain name as soon as possible
It is important to register your domain name immediately, for there are cyber-squatters who search and take the domain names of startups or small businesses. They sell these names at high prices to those who look for them.
Anti-competitive behavior or cybersquatting is not permitted by any registry, but it is largely found today. By registering your domain name as quickly as possible you can avoid the above.
The above aspects are so important that they help you with a domain name search and get a perfect domain name.