Are you in the process of starting a website for your business, but you’re wondering how to find the right domain for your business?
Well, finding the right domain doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Sometimes, you might not get your most desired domain as it may already be taken, but that isn’t the end of the world, as you can still find an appropriate one for your business.
A domain name has a strong impact on the reputation of your brand. Thus, the domain name that you choose will play a fundamental role in helping your audience find your business’s website.
In this article, we will provide you with 6 tips for finding the right domain.
1. Keep It as Short as You Can
You do not want a domain name that overwhelms your audience because of its length. On the other hand, extremely short domain names are hard to come by, unclear and clustered. Therefore, a name needs to be short, simple and clear.
For instance, a business called “kites and stickers” can go for “kitesandstickers.com” instead of something unnecessarily long like “thebestkitesandstickers.com”.
2. Choose a Memorable Domain Name
Your audience needs to find your website easily. Again, if your business is, “kites and stickers”, then the best thing to do is to try and ensure that your domain name allows your potential website visitors to find you without hassle.
A memorable domain name also increases the legitimacy of your business by demonstrating your commitment to a user-friendly website. If you need assistance with finding the right domain for your business, you can use an online domain generator.
3. Secure the Name as Soon as You Can
Catchy domain names are a high commodity, so if you can find a domain that aligns with your brand and you are certain that it’s available for use, do not hesitate to register it immediately.
However, it is important to note that catchy and popular domain names are pricier than unique names. Additionally, you should also ensure that you are completely certain that the domain is available for you to use.
4. Do Trademark Research
The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a domain name and register it, only to find out you are infringing on the trademark rights of an existing name. Thus, you must do your due diligence to find out whether your chosen domain name is trademarked.
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s website has a free trademark search tool you can use that requires you to sign in. Alternatively, there are plenty of other free trademark search tools available online for your disposal.
5. Think Carefully About Your Domain Extension
A domain extension is the letters or characters that come after your domain name. Some of the most recognisable domain extensions, which are top-level domain (TLD) extensions include .org, .net, .com, .co, and more. In South Africa, the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is .za.
Living in South Africa doesn’t mean you have to use a .za domain. CcTLD domains are available so that businesses with a strong national presence can opt for them. Additionally, .com domains are globally recognised and may hold more authority.
6. Look at Your Domain Renewal Options
Beware not to fall into the trap of affordable initial costs for domains, as the cost to renew your domain subscription might be much higher than you expect.
For instance, you’ll find that a registrar offers an initial subscription cost of R 99, only for the renewal to cost R 399. This is common, as a tactic to get people to register for domains. So, to avoid running into any surprises, ensure that you are aware of the yearly renewal cost for your domain subscription.
7. Stay Away From Hyphens
Adding a hyphen to your domain name is the easiest way to ruin it. Hyphens are often found in suspicious spam sites, so adding one to yours would give it a bad reputation.
When choosing your domain name, the platform you’re using will typically hyphenate domains that are already taken as a means to give you alternative options. The point of a good domain is to lead numbers to your website, and choosing the hyphenated version can confuse your audience, causing them to mistake the other website for yours.
