When you want to create a website, you need to get a domain. When it comes to purchasing or renting a domain, it’s understandable if things seem a little confusing. Here are 10 things you need to consider before you choose a web domain.
- Check Included Features
What separates web domains are the features covered in the price. Not only should you look at the storage and bandwidth, but you should also know if there are bonus features, an easy site builder, malware and spam protector, and so much more. - Make a Unique Name
A domain name is what people will type in the address bar to get to your website. Without a unique name, it can be hard for users to find your site. Think of a name that represents your brand or idea without getting too close to others that already exist. - Focus on “.com” Sites
When you search for a domain, you’ll find that there are many domain extensions to choose from including “.net” and “.guru”. Selecting a “.com” domain extension makes your site much easier to find for the average user. - Keep Names Short
You want the most foot traffic possible for your domain and your website, so you need to make your it easy to find. Easy to find means keeping your domain name as short as you can while getting your brand or name across effectively. - Avoid Trademarks
Nowadays, it may seem hard to create something new. With so many trademarks it can be easy violating one, and it can have disastrous consequences. To ensure that you aren’t violating any trademarks, you can visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office. - Assess Your Needs
Before you purchase a domain, you need to assess your needs so you can be sure that the company you're choosing meets them — every provider has their strengths and weaknesses. Will you have ample room for growth? Do they have small business plans? Make a list of questions and call customer service to ensure your needs are served. - Check Customer Support
Sometimes things go wrong, and you need a company that’ll be there to support you if something happens. Some companies only allow you to have support Monday through Friday and only during business hours, but others have 24/7 assistance. Before you subscribe to a company, ensure that you’ll have customer support at all times. - Avoid Numbers
If you’re trying to think of a creative name for your domain, avoid numbers and hyphens. Not only it can be difficult for your website to spread by word of mouth, but domains with complicated names are tough to remember. Overall, it can make it more difficult for people to visit your site. - Don’t Follow Trends
Trends are fleeting, so they shouldn’t designate the name of your website. Above all, your domain and website name should stand the test of time. Many people may attempt to capitalize on trends, which will cause their domain to fall in the background among the other websites that use the same trend. - Consider Keywords
If you’re trying to sell a product, you want to include your product in your name. The reason is that keywords are much more likely to appear in search engines like Google. If your product doesn’t list certain keywords, it can be hard for people to find your site.
