Small business owners need to have an internet presence, and registering a domain name is a great way to build one. Consider a variety of factors when creating the perfect domain name for your business: will people be able to remember it? And what should you do if your ideal domain is already taken? We’ll answer your foremost questions here.
Keep your domain name short and sweet.
When you’re brainstorming potential domain names, stick with something concise and to the point. A shorter domain is easier for people to remember, and aside from the catchiness factor, you want to eliminate the potential for typos or mistaken URLs. However, just because you want a short and snappy domain doesn’t mean you should omit the essential components of a strong domain name. If possible, make use of relevant keywords. Local business owners can include the location of their business to help customers remember the domain.
Cost wise, the shorter domains are more desirable; unfortunately, this means you’re probably going to pay a higher price. If the domain you want is unavailable, consider settling on a slightly longer variation of the original domain you wanted. For example, if alexjohnson.com is already taken, make use of your middle initials.
Leave out numbers and symbols.
You want to be able to tell a customer your website without causing any confusion. Including numbers to register a variant of an unavailable domain may make your website appear less credible. Save yourself the trouble and don’t add numbers to your domain unless they are present in your company’s name. If your budget allows for it, you may consider registering similar misinterpretations of your domain and making them redirect to your actual site. Fledgling business shouldn’t worry about the extra expenses.
Always pick .com.
There’s a variety of domain extensions out there, and the list keeps on growing. Whenever you think of a website, do you assume it’ll begin with “www” and end with “.com”? Your customers sure do. .Com is the most popular extension, and domains registered with .com will be more expensive and less likely to be available. Still, it’s worth fighting for a domain ending in .com. People will remember that extension above all the others.
Don't pay too much.
For a little-to-no competition domain name, you’ll spend about $10 to $15 a year. Desirable domains can sell at sky-high prices, but you probably won’t drop millions of dollars for your small business’s domain. However, you might find that the domain you want has already been registered.
After you come up with a potential domain name, check to see if it’s been taken. Search on WhoIs to see if the name is registered; if it’s unavailable, you can see a detailed report of the domain, including the expiration date. You can find alternatives by searching for the domain on iwantmyname, which provides an extensive list of which extensions you can register with.
