10 Key Factors To Look At While Choosing A Domain Name

Are you just starting a new website, or re-branding an existing business or blog?

No matter which it is, you will need a domain name anyway. A domain name is your identity on the World Wide Web. It makes you stand out from other competing brands. So if you’re ready to take your business, skills, or expertise online, you should put some work (thoughts and considerations) into picking the perfect domain name. Soon, you might struggle to choose a suitable domain name for your website.

By 2024, there are around 362.3 million domain names registered worldwide across all top-level domains (TLDs). This marks a modest increase of roughly 3 million registrations compared to the previous year. The .com and .net domains continue to dominate the landscape, with a combined total of nearly 170 million registrations

What is the Domain Name?

A domain name is the web address you type to visit a specific site in your browser.

It typically combines the name of the website or business with an extension like .com or .org, creating addresses such as google.com or wikipedia.org.

Domain names come in different types, such as generic top-level domains (gTLDs), country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), new gTLDs, and sponsored TLDs (sTLDs).

Common gTLDs include .COM, .NET, and .ORG, while ccTLDs are country-specific codes like .US for the United States and .UK for the United Kingdom. New gTLDs, such as .APP, offer modern alternatives.

Having your domain name boosts your website’s credibility, strengthens your branding, and makes it easier for customers to reach you with personalized email addresses. It also improves search engine optimization (SEO) and simplifies sharing links across social media platforms.

A domain name offers many advantages when it comes to your website’s online presence.

• Memorability:

  Without a domain name, the only way to access your website is through its IP address, which is difficult to remember. A domain name makes it easy for visitors to find your site.

• Credibility:

  Websites with custom domains appear more professional and trustworthy than those using free subdomains like sitename.wordpress.com. A custom domain also allows you to create professional email addresses (e.g., info@brandname.com), which adds to your site’s legitimacy.

• Branding:

  Your domain name is an essential part of your overall brand identity, just as crucial as your logo or web design, helping to strengthen your brand’s recognition online.

10 Key Factors To Look At While Choosing A Domain Name

1. Pick the Right Domain Extension for Your Website

The Top-Level Domain (TLD) is the part of your website address that comes after your site’s name (e.g., .com, .org, .net). While .com is the most common and recognizable, it’s not your only option. If the .com you want is unavailable, choose from other TLDs like .xyz, .shop, or .online.

Additionally, industry-specific TLDs, such as .biz for businesses or .tech for technology-related sites, are becoming more popular. You can also use country code TLDs like .co.uk or .io, which startups and regional businesses widely adopt.

Info:

Does domain extension play a significant role in the domain name creation process?

For customers and marketing purposes, a proper domain extension always matters. Going with the “.com” domain extension is highly advisable, but why? Because .com is one of the oldest domain extensions, Internet users are generally familiar with this extension. That’s why having a .com domain name can help increase customer trust and boost their perception of your brand.

ICANN recently conducted a global survey with over 5,400 participants to understand current user perceptions of the .com domain. This study aimed to gather insights on how people view and interact with the .com TLD today.

According to the study, 91% of individuals rate the “.com”, “.net”, and “org” extensions as their trusted destinations on the Internet.

2. Watch Out for Trademarks

Before finalizing your domain name, conducting thorough research is crucial to ensure it isn’t trademarked or too similar to existing brands. This precaution reduces the risk of rejection by your chosen registrar, prevents customer confusion, and helps you avoid potential legal complications.

If your first choice is already taken, consider modifying the spelling or translating the name into the language of your target audience.

Consulting a legal expert can help streamline your domain search and registration process for more complex cases.

3. Implement Targeted Keywords

While a domain name doesn’t directly impact SEO performance, it can enhance it when done strategically.

An SEO-friendly domain name should be easy to read and remember and include keywords relevant to your brand’s niche. This gives visitors context about your website and helps improve your page rankings for related search queries.

Utilize keyword research tools such as Keyword Planner to analyze user search behavior and identify the best keywords to incorporate into your domain name.

4. Keep Your Domain Name Short

It’s best to keep your domain name under 15 characters. Shorter names are easier to remember and type, making it more straightforward for users to visit your site.

Longer domain names can lead to more typos, which might result in losing visitors. To avoid this, aim for a concise and memorable domain name.

5. Make Your Domain Name Easy to Pronounce and Spell

Your domain name should be simple to say and spell, whether you’re sharing it in a conversation or writing it down. This ensures people can easily remember it.

If you’re using the domain for a professional email address, it’s even more critical that it’s easy to understand for anyone hearing it for the first time.

6. Avoid Hyphens in Your Domain Name

It’s best to avoid using hyphens in domain names. Hyphens can make your site seem less trustworthy and are often linked to spammy websites.

They can also confuse people and lead to mistakes when they type your web address. If your ideal domain name is taken and you’re considering adding a hyphen, users may forget it and land on your competitor’s site instead. Keep it simple and hyphen-free!

7. Avoid Double Letters in Domain Name

Using double letters in your domain name can lead to more typing errors and lost traffic. For example, a domain like “supersmartteam.com” may be misspelled easily, causing visitors to be on the wrong site.

They might even land on a spammy website and have a bad experience, unknowingly associating it with your brand. Keeping your domain free of double letters makes it easier to type, more memorable, and helps avoid unnecessary confusion.

8. Avoid Violate Names

Research the name you want to register to ensure it’s not already trademarked, copyrighted, or in use by someone else. Using a protected or existing name can lead to disputes, which might cost you the domain and cause brand confusion.

9. Choose a Flexible Domain Name

When picking a domain name, you want to avoid limiting yourself. It should be specific enough to attract an audience but not so narrow that it doesn’t allow for growth.

For example, “techreviews.com” works well for a site focused on technology reviews, but if you later want to expand into topics like tech tutorials or industry news, that name might be too limiting.

When choosing your domain, consider how your website or business might grow over time. By planning for the long term, you’ll avoid restricting yourself and your business.

10.  Consider the Extension’s Perception

Specific domain extensions, like .org or .gov, are associated with specific types of organizations. Consider how your audience will perceive the extension when picking a domain name.

Here are some popular extensions to consider for your domain:

• .net: Commonly used for technical sites
• .org: Ideal for nonprofits and non-commercial organizations
• .biz: For business or commercial use
• .info: Great for informational sites
• .blog: Suitable for personal blogs

If you are having trouble picking your domain quickly, use AccuWeb Hosting to get suggestions of alternate domain names.

What if your Domain Name is taken?

The first step in choosing a domain is to confirm that it isn’t already in use or associated with an active website. Many people buy domain names to resell them later. Typically, a domain registrar can inform you if a domain is available for purchase. If it’s not currently obtainable, you may be able to reach out to the owner through a contact link on a parked page or retrieve their information via a WHOIS lookup.

If direct contact is unsuccessful, you can explore domain flipping platforms or auction sites like Afternic or Sedo, where the domain might be available for sale.

Don’t overthink; Use a Domain Name Generator.

If you struggle to find a domain name that matches your brand, don’t worry—use a domain name generator. These tools can be beneficial by quickly providing creative suggestions you might not have thought of.

Even if the initial results aren’t exactly what you want, they can inspire new ideas and guide you toward the perfect domain. It’s a great way to jumpstart your creativity and discover unique options that align with your business!