Tips on Registering a Domain Name
A domain name represents the brand identity of any online business. If you are preparing to launch a website, the domain name is likely to be one of the first things you think about. There are several things to consider when registering a domain name, such as its length and extension. The right domain name can be the centerpiece for an online business, and if you choose poorly, it can be difficult to migrate the business to another domain name later.
Other People Are Reading
-
Register Immediately
-
Do not search for available domain names unless you are prepared to register a domain immediately. At any given time, thousands of other people may be searching for domain names to register. Additionally, there have been allegations that some domain name registrars have used domain name lookups to speculate on domains in an attempt to resell them at a higher price. You would not want to put off registering your favorite domain name only to find upon returning that someone else has taken it.
Domain Extensions
-
Every domain name has an extension, such as .com, .net or .org. In general, it is usually best to register the .com version of a domain name unless you have a specific reason not to. For example, a business in the United Kingdom might be best served by the domain extension .co.uk. Nonprofit organizations usually use the extension .org. If you are registering a domain name for a business and the .com extension is not available, consider another domain name.
-
Name Length
-
When people find a website through a search engine, they click the search result to view the website and do not need to remember the domain name. If you have a business that you intend to advertise on television or radio, however, people must remember the domain name and type it the next time they are at a computer. Register the shortest domain name possible to prevent prospective visitors from typing the name incorrectly.
Privacy Protection
-
Every domain name has a contact name, address, phone number and email address associated with it. This is called the "WHOIS" data, and it must be correct. If you are registering a domain name as an individual rather than as a business, consider using a domain name registrar that offers privacy protection. This substitutes the registrar's address and phone number for your own, which may help you avoid unsolicited mail and phone calls.
Trademark Infringement
-
Avoid registering a domain name that could infringe on the intellectual property of another company. Pursuant to the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, that company may attempt to show you registered the domain name in bad faith to disrupt its business. This can result in your losing the domain name.
-
References
- Photo Credit Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images News/Getty Images
