Are you ready to launch a website or blog? You have an important decision: finding the perfect domain name. We’re here to give you a few tips and tricks to land a domain that’s just right.
For instance, did you know there are hundreds of domain extensions available today? There’s a whole world beyond .com — .club, .online, .live, .lawyer, .company, etc. Finding a good (and still available) .com domain can be challenging, but your perfect domain name might not end in .com! Whether you’re starting a blog, work in healthcare, own a small business, or have a photography studio, domain extensions like .blog, .health, .company, and .photography are available to give you a unique, specific, and memorable domain.
Now that you know about all the options available, you’ve got to buy a domain, and that means finding the right domain reseller. A domain reseller is where you buy your domain name, and you’ll want one that supports a variety of domain extensions. Most will, but do a bit of research before settling on a reseller; your domain is central to your online identity, so invest a little time to find a reseller you trust. Are they reputable? Do they offer a variety of domain extensions? How is their support? Do they have good domain management tools? Location or price may be an important factor to you, too.
Your reseller should also have a domain search and suggestion tool that lets you both search for domains and gives you a list of alternatives. If they only have an availability check that does not suggest other domains, head to another reseller — it’s important for you to be able to see the wide variety of options available to you so you can choose the best domain for you.
Not all domain search and suggestion tools are created equal, so we recommend trying a few different searches. As you do, keep in mind these simple rules:
- Keep it simple
- Make it easy to spell
- Keep it short
- Make it memorable
- Make it relevant to you and your brand or online identity
- Do not use misspellings, hyphens, or numbers
Begin by searching for full domains that match your brand or online activity, like bestvideogames.blog or jills.plumbing. There may be available domains with extensions that you never knew existed. Jot down the available domains that appeal to you.
Next, try a few keyword searches that describe your online activity or brand, like “best video games” or “Jill’s plumbing.” You might want to include a location if you are a business catering to a specific area — searching for “Jill’s plumbing New York” may lead you to jillsplumbing.nyc. Each search you try will result in different suggestions and availability. Do this several times, and you’ll come up with a few choices you never even thought of.
Now that you have a few options for your new domain name, there is one last step before you register it. Do some research to ensure the name you selected is not legally copyrighted, trademarked, or being used by someone else — there just might be another Jill’s plumbing company in New York. A quick Google search should do the trick. Spending time up front helps prevent any costly and time consuming legal entanglements.
With a little extra effort and awareness, you’ll be able to find the domain that perfectly matches your business, idea, blog, or identity — one you’d be proud to send your friends.
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