How to Register The Perfect Domain Name For Your Site

The domain name you choose for your website becomes its identity, and ideally its very brand. Once you pick a certain domain name, you will likely have to stick with it for the life of the business or project it is used for. Changing your website’s domain name later on is always possible, but comes with several drawbacks you don’t want to be tackling.

As you may have already figured out, finding a decent domain name that is still available for registration is no quick or easy task. Most of the worthy and meaningful dot-com domains have already been taken.

But don’t fret, there is definitely a perfect domain name out there for your new website that is waiting for you to snatch it at mere registration cost, and that’s what this post will try to help you accomplish.

6 Tips for Finding a Winning Domain Name

It will take a fair deal of brainstorming and research to dig up a superb domain that can potentially turn your idea into a winning endeavor. You won’t find that specific domain here, but what we can share with you are some key tips and guidelines to take into consideration as you search for your domain name. So, let’s get right on it.

1. Pick the right extension

It makes sense to start with the ending of the domain name, aka the extension or top-level domain (TLD), and that’s because the options of available names vary from one TLD to another. Making a list of the extensions you are willing to consider helps you narrow down your choices when buying a brand new domain name for your website.

Ideally, the .com TLD should be your first choice. It is the most commonly used and most valuable of all TLDs. However, finding a worthy/catchy .com domain that hasn’t already been registered can often be a daunting and frustrating task.

But you don’t necessarily have to settle for a less favorable name only because it has to be a .com. There are many other considerable TLD choices that can work just as well. After all, it’s the idea and purpose of your website that will determine if it’s a success or a failure much more than the extension of the domain.

If you can’t find a decent .com name to buy at a reasonable price, you may have better luck with the second most popular traditional TLD; the .net. Additionally, you now have countless choices of newer generic TLDs that include .site, .blog, .store, .online, .shop, and many others.

2. Opt for a brandable name

Generic and keyword-rich domain names used to be a big hit many years ago. The main reason for that was because they ranked very easily in search engines for relevant keywords. But search engine algorithms have dramatically evolved since then, and today, the keywords in a domain name have almost no significance for ranking purposes.

Generic names may be more meaningful but they usually look less professional and less credible. On the other hand, a brandable name offers more uniqueness and can help your site and business stand out from the crowd. Of course, it takes time and effort to build your brand awareness, but then, turning a generic domain name into a successful site isn’t any easier these days.

So, instead of a cheesy, long generic name like “WebsiteBuildingTutorials.net”, try to find a relatively short, unique and brandable name, such as “SiteWays.pro” 😉

3. Keep it as short as possible

One of the common characteristics of successful domain names is that they are short. It doesn’t have to be a five-letter domain like Apple.com, but try not to go over 12 letters or two words.

If you must go with an extension other than the .com for a shorter name, it’ll probably be a better choice than a lengthy .com name.

4. Keep it as simple as possible

You want your first-time and casual website visitors to easily remember your domain name at a later time. Being short does help your name be more memorable, but that’s not always enough.

Avoid using hyphens, numbers, misspellings and abbreviations in your domain name since these can make it more confusing and harder to remember. Choose a name that can be pronounced clearly, spelled effortlessly and remembered easily.

5. Check for trademark conflicts

Don’t make the wrong assumption that because a domain hasn’t already been registered means that the name doesn’t belong to another person or business. Before finalizing the purchase of any domain name, make sure that it doesn’t conflict with another trademark by searching public online trademark databases.

It’s also advised to search for sites and businesses using the same name in Google and other search engines. Even if the name isn’t a registered trademark, it may be in use by another business under a different domain name.

Avoid using any names that can potentially create a legal conflict with an existing trademark, website, or online business.

6. Examine the domain’s history

Many of the available domains have been previously used by one or more owners. Some domains may have belonged to other businesses in the past that no longer exist. And some domains may have been abused in the past by being used for spam, fraud, or any other illegitimate activities.

Check both the domain’s content history and its backlink profile to make sure there’s nothing unusual or problematic there. You can find plenty of free and paid tools to help you achieve this.

You definitely want to stay away from domains that have a questionable past since such domains can negatively affect your site’s reputation and search engine rankings. Choose a domain name that has a clean history to avoid disappointment and regret later on.