The domain name, also called the URL, is the core of a website’s Internet identity. Even though one may have a good idea for a site, very useful information to share or a great range of products to sell, getting the right domain name for the website is the most important aspect. The following points are worth considering before choosing the domain name.
In the modern world where people normally refer to the internet for information, it is important to have a domain name that is relevant to your business or site. Companies, wherever possible, should register the name of the company as the main domain name. This is because people normally use it when searching for the company. Alternatively, the company could register a domain name which contains an industry-specific key word that customers or visitors may commonly key into a browser. The keyword will ensure a higher ranking in search engines. For personal names, it is advisable to register one’s own first and last name as the domain name.
Since most people are familiar with .com, it is always advisable to use domain names ending in .com. Domain names ending in .biz of .info should be avoided since they give the website less credibility. The exception is in cases where one wants to add the country code such .au for websites in Australia. In addition, the domain name should be kept as short as possible so that visitors and customers will effortlessly associate with the website. The general recommendation is to keep the domain name below seven characters if possible. Hyphens in the domain name should be avoided as much as possible. Domains containing hyphens are not easy to pronounce, spell or remember.
Digits in the domain name should be used with discretion. It is not advisable to register a domain with the digit ‘0’ in it, because ‘0’ can be easily confused for the vowel ‘O’. The digit ‘0’ should only be used when it is part of a recognizable number such as 2000 or 500. In addition, one should avoid using the digits ‘2’ and ‘4’ to represent ‘to’ and ‘for’. This can easily confuse visitors. However, registering a domain name beginning with the digit ‘1’ may be advisable. Depending on the industry of operation, it may give the impression to the customer or visitor that the business is the first to consider in the industry.
Once the domain name is chosen, research will be necessary to find out if the name chosen is available. Host websites allow one to key in the chosen name (including the extension - .net, .com, .biz) and immediately know if the domain name is available. Some sites will provide alternative names for one to choose from. As soon as a domain name has been decided upon, it is important to register it as soon as possible. This is because domain names are being taken up very fast and any delay may result in the name being taken up by someone else.
