Whether you’re launching a new business, creating a personal blog, or starting an e-commerce site, your domain name is your digital address—the way people will find you on the web. It needs to be memorable, relevant, and aligned with your brand or purpose.

When purchasing a domain name, you’ll need to consider a few key factors to ensure you’re making the best choice for your website and brand. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key considerations, from selecting the right name to registering it with a reliable domain registrar.

Let’s get started on making your mark online:

Best Domain Name Provider

Name Cheap is a very cheap hosting company that most serious bloggers use just to buy their domains rather than host their websites. It’s the most reliable, easy to set up, and quick to point to your separate hosting company. Most domain services can take 24-48 hours to point, but Name Cheap is often pointing within 30 minutes.

Namecheap is best known as a popular domain registrar. We’ve been using it for many years; it’s the only company we use to buy domains. You can find and buy whatever dot-com or other name you’d like to use for your website. According to Domainstate, it handles more than 13 million domains.

Choosing A Domain Name

How quickly you create a domain name depends on your creativity. Sometimes, it means getting a pen and paper and doing a brainstorming session. When brainstorming a name, you need to check on Name Cheap to see if it’s available and check across all social media platforms such as Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, etc.

You don’t have to use all of those platforms; you can choose the ones you can maintain that would work for your website. Your website name should be the same or similar on social media so people can instantly recognize you.

Key Tips Before Buying A Domain

Keep It Simple and Memorable

A great tip to remember is to keep your domain name to two words, a maximum of three. Keep it short, easy to remember, easy to spell, and it doesn’t have complex words or lengthy phrases.

Avoid Numbers and Hyphens

Numbers and hyphens can create confusion. People might not know if your domain uses a numeral or if there’s a hyphen.

Incorporate Keywords

If possible, include relevant keywords that reflect your website’s content, business, or industry. This can help with search engine optimization (SEO).

Be Unique

Ensure your domain name stands out and isn’t too similar to competitors. This can help avoid confusion and potential legal issues.

.com is King

If possible, opt for a .com extension as it is the most recognized and trusted by users

Consider Alternatives

If .com is unavailable, consider other popular extensions like .net, .org, or country-specific ones like .co.uk. Newer extensions (e.g., .io, .tech, .biz) can also work but ensure they fit your brand.

Avoid Legal Issues

Ensure the domain name doesn’t infringe on any existing trademarks or company names before purchasing. You can use trademark search tools to check this.

Research Competitors

Make sure the domain name doesn’t closely resemble a competitor’s, which could confuse customers and lead to legal complications.

Plan for the Future

Choose a domain name that will endure and not become obsolete as your business grows or evolves. Sometimes, your vision changes and your domain name may become outdated or confusing to readers. This happened to us once, which caused issues for us.

Avoid Trends

While trendy terms might be popular now, they can date quickly. Opt for timelessness.

Don’t Wait

If you find the perfect domain name, purchase it as soon as possible. Good domains can be snapped up quickly. A few years ago, a friend came across an available domain called seek.com. We told her to buy it quickly, but it was sold after her dithering for a day or two.

Consider Multiple Domains

If your brand might be mistaken for other variations of your name (e.g., different spellings), consider purchasing those domains as well to prevent competitors from getting them.

Use WHOIS Privacy

Many domain registrars offer WHOIS privacy protection, which hides your personal details from public databases. This helps reduce spam and protects your privacy. For most domains, the WHOIS is with Name Cheap.

Similarities

Make sure the name isn’t too similar to another name that you may not want to be associated with, for example, these names:

While these names are funny, the wrong domain can cause many issues for your future success. If you’re struggling to find a really good domain name, check out these two websites:

Do I need a website to have a domain name?

No, you don’t need a website to have a domain name.

A domain name can be purchased and registered without being immediately connected to a website. Many individuals or businesses buy domain names to secure them for future use, protect their brand, or prevent others from using them. Additionally, a domain name can be utilized for purposes other than a website, such as creating a branded email address (likeyourname@yourdomain.com).

If you’re looking to create a website, things you will need to consider are hosting and a WordPress theme. We offer some great packages to help you get started and resources if you’re browsing for the best.

Owning a domain name without a website gives you the flexibility to build your online presence later, redirect it to another site, or even sell it if it becomes valuable.

What are the new domain extensions?

New domain extensions, also known as generic top-level domains (gTLDs), have expanded beyond the traditional .com, .org, and .net options. These newer extensions provide more choices and allow you to create a more descriptive or unique web address that fits your brand, industry, or interest.

Some popular domain extensions are category-based, such as .fun, .shop, .health, etc. When paired with a clever domain name, it can give your web address a unique advantage in the online world.

To check the most popular domain extensions and get domain name ideas go to Name Cheap.

Buying other domain extensions is perfectly okay—and often a smart strategy—to buy other domain extensions beyond the traditional ones like .com.

Owning a business can help protect your brand from competitors or malicious actors who might try to use similar domain names. This practice is known as “defensive registration.”

Owning multiple domain extensions gives you flexibility for future expansions or rebranding efforts. You may not need them immediately, but having them secured can give you peace of mind and keep your options open.

About Sharna & The Team

Sharna is a WordPress website designer. For over twenty-plus years, she and her team have helped many business owners launch scroll-stopping websites. Her passion is creating ​high-quality, high-performing websites, whatever their size.
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