Your domain name is an essential digital success factor. Your domain name can decide your brand’s online success.
How can you make it impossible for users to miss you? This article will help you to choose the right domain name and give you our best advice.
How to Choose the Best Domain Name?
Before we get to the fun part: choose your domain name.
The internet is basically a huge network of computers connected by cables. Each computer is assigned an IP address to allow communication and identification.
An IP typically includes four blocks of numbers separated by periods, such as 193.169.5.251.
Imagine that you would have to remember dozens of IP addresses in order to access your favorite websites. It doesn’t sound so easy. This is why domain names were invented. Instead of having to memorize a bunch of random numbers, you can simply type in a simple website name.
A domain name can be defined as an address that internet users can use to locate and access a website. This visual representation (or link) of the Uniform Resource Locator.
Many people mistake URLs for domains. A URL is a string of information that tells you how to find your website.
A domain, on the other hand, is an element of a URL that represents a simplified form of your computer’s IP address.
Your domain name can be registered with domain registrars. There are many plans available, so pricing is often very affordable. You can even get a domain free of charge with some companies.
What Happens When You Type in a Url in the Browser?
By entering a link into your browser, you are signaling to the global network of servers (also known as Domain Name System or DNS), that you wish to access a specific website.
DNS then locates the name servers associated with the website. hosting providers typically manage the name servers. The hosting company forwards the HTTP request to the IP address of the computer that hosts the website you are looking for. A web server is a computer that stores a website.
The web server then fetches all the elements from the web pages and allows you to access them. Amazing to think that this all happens in a matter of seconds, even though you have to wait for the website open.
Why is the Choice of Your Domain Name So Important?
It’s no longer enough to have a great product in today’s connected world.
People must trust your brand if they want to purchase from you.
A website is essential for building trust.
Digital success is essential if you want your business to be successful and profitable.
Website design and content planning are important aspects, but the most important thing is to name your domain. Liam Hayes, a digital market manager at Essay Dragons, says that this is what you should do.
Your domain is your first impression online.
Domain names can be used to demonstrate your credibility, or vice versa, to distrust your brand.
Your domain can also be a great branding opportunity.
Your domain choice can help increase brand recognition and assist with your SEO efforts.
Let’s look at seven proven methods to pick the right domain name.
Choose the Right TLD
The root domain’s last component is called the top-level domain (TDL).
TLDs can be found in the root zone within the Domain Name System.
Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are a type of TDL that has three or more characters.
Let’s now take a look at some of the top-level domains that you see every single day.
- .com is short for “commercial”
- .net is short for “network”
- .org is short for “organization”
- .edu – short for ‘education’
- .gov is short for “government”
- .info is short for “information”
- .us is short for “The United States of America”
- .nyc is short for “New York City”
.com, which is a gTLD domain name extension, is the most trusted and popular.
In fact, 48% use.com for their top-level domain. How do you select the best domain name extension? Common mistakes include ignoring TLD names and opting for cheaper or more accessible options.
Some websites, such as pizza and buy, use domain extensions that don’t allow customers to see them. Users perceive websites with top-level domains as trustworthy and reliable sources.
You should choose.com if you are launching an international website that is expected to grow quickly.
You have other options if your business is a startup or a small/medium-sized local one. You can choose from.org and.net if the.com domain is not available.
Both work well for smaller organizations.
The Best Domain Name Practices
It is important to keep in mind that your domain name will be the way your visitors find you online.
Your domain can be a great branding tool, as we have already mentioned.
Make something simple but memorable.
Common mistakes include choosing a generic domain name.
Generic domains are not unique, they can be confusing and difficult to remember.
Pick a catchy phrase or word that’s easy to remember.
Even new words can be created.
The trick lies here: Stay true to your brand’s voice and inspire your creativity.
Do not try to look trendy or cool.
You don’t have to be creative in order to be creative.
In fact, if you want to be trendy or cool, then you will end up with another buzzword domain.
This approach has a problem: time moves on and the buzzwords also change.
They will most likely be forgotten and replaced by newer words.
Instead of searching for something that is popular, you can use dictionaries instead to find words that are compatible with your brand’s values and brand.
You can find your domain name using many online dictionaries or thesauruses.
Short Domains Vs. Long Domains
It is a rule of thumb that the shorter the domain name, the better.
Long and complicated domain names increase the likelihood of misspellings and typos.
Unlike long domains, which are more memorable and less confusing.
You can only have 63 characters in your domain.
But if you use all of them, it would make for a highly long domain.
This is the best advice: Keep your domain name between 3 and 14 characters.
Select a name that is easy to type and pronounce
Although you cannot avoid occasional typos, you can minimize confusion about what users must type to access your site.
It is therefore important to choose a domain that is easy to read and pronounce.
Avoid using the following words when choosing your domain name
- Numbers (w3bnus.net).
- Hyphens (web-n-us.net)
- Homonyms (right-web-n-us.net)
- Slang (web4us.net)
Verify for Copyright Violations
In an effort to increase their traffic, some websites make their domain names sound similar to well-known brands.
This approach could backfire and cause more damage to your website traffic or user engagement.
Be unique and don’t sound like anyone else.
It is always a good idea to research your domain name before you register.
To find out if other companies are associated with the domain name, you can do a trademark search.
You can also perform a Google search to check for social media mentions of the company name.
Use a Domain Name Generator
The internet currently has nearly 360,000,000 domains.
It’s understandable that you may struggle to find something original and accessible. Domain name generators are a great option if this is the case.
Domain name generators (typically) are free tools that provide available domain names options based upon the keywords you type.
What do you do if the domain is already taken?
Let’s suppose you have a great domain name.
There is still one last challenge that you might face. Your domain name could already be taken.
What do you do?
You can check the ownership of the domain if the name you have chosen is already taken.
Online tools are available for free to determine the owner and expiration dates of domain names. You might want to wait until the domain becomes available if the expiration date is near.
You can also contact the owner to inquire if they would like to sell their domain. You can also use an alternative TLD. We’ve already mentioned that.com is the best choice, especially if your goal is to launch a strong international website.
If you don’t want to share your idea, but still want to use the wording that has been used, you can pick another extension to ensure it doesn’t violate copyright policies.
Last Thoughts
This article will help you better understand domain names and how to choose one. Domain names are a friendly face for difficult-to-remember computer addresses.
You should take time and effort when choosing your domain name. Based on the size and purpose of your company, choose a domain name extension. Choose a memorable, brandable domain that is easy to remember and understand.
Avoid confusing characters and language. Before you rush to register your domain name, make sure you do thorough research.
