How to Choose a Domain Name

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

How to Choose a Domain Name

One of the most important decisions you’ll make about your business is the domain name you choose to acquire. The domain name you give your business is crucial as it becomes your identity on the web. You want it to reflect your brand and fit your business, but you also need it to be easy to find and promote.

Acquiring a premium domain name is definitely the way to go but choosing one can be difficult. What criteria should you be following to make sure you end up with the very best when you buy a domain name?

To help you answer the question ‘What should my domain name be?’, here are six things you should keep in mind.

1. Pick a Short Name When You Choose a Domain

What You Want to Avoid: When you’re just starting out playing with domain names to choose, it can be tempting to combine all your ideas into one long domain name. However, while that may make it unique and descriptive, it may hurt your branding.

What to Do Instead: A short name is easy to remember, easier to spell, and thus, has a better chance of becoming a household name. It also makes it easier when you want to branch out into branded items, or you want to create a logo, etc.

Unfortunately, the very easy 3-letter names were all taken as early as 1997, but there are plenty of others available that are appropriate.

The shorter your domain name is, the easier it is to share through word of mouth. It’s also easier to type into your search bar, especially if you’re using a phone.

2. Pick Something Easy to Spell, Pronounce, and Remember

What You Want to Avoid: A name that is difficult to spell can negatively impact your traffic because it can mean that users don’t land on your page. They might even end up with a competitor, instead. You’ll also want to avoid using multiple spellings and the use of hyphens, numbers, or special characters.

Your customers will often misunderstand numbers or misplace hyphens. People who hear your web address might not know whether you’re using a numeral or if it’s spelled out.

What to Do Instead: This name needs to be easy to remember. Your customers need to be able to spell it correctly and pronounce it easily, so that they can easily share it with others.

Imagine you’re naming a child – you want something unique for your site, but you also don’t want a name that will create difficulties because of spelling or pronunciation.

If you absolutely need to include special characters or terms that are more difficult to spell in your domain name, make sure you register different variations of it to be safe.

Some of the most famous and brandable names out there are extremely simple: Google. Facebook. Amazon. These are giants who created an excellent product or service, but who also knew how to brand themselves by acquiring premium domain names.

3. Use Relevant Keywords

What You Want to Avoid: A word of caution, here – if your domain is entirely made up of keywords, you run the risk of creating a brand that sounds too generic, or unrecognizable. Especially if you’re starting a blog or a personal page, you need something with a bit of personality.

What to Do Instead: You’ll notice that a lot of the heavy players have names that are composed of two words, and one of them is usually a keyword. That is a very clever choice, because a) it’s descriptive of your business, b) it majorly contributes to SEO, and c) it makes your name easy to remember.

So, if you’ve got an interior design business, for example, you’ll want a premium domain that ideally includes a relevant keyword, like “design”, “interior”, “decorator”, “home”, “style”, etc.

That will tell your potential customers all they need to know about your business. Your name is also likely to pop up in whatever Google search they try for “interior design” or similar keywords.

If your business is local, you might consider including your city or state in your domain. That way, customers in your area can find your name and remember it easier. Often, when doing keyword research for your business, you’ll find that city and state will most likely be included.

4. Avoid Anything Confusing or Inappropriate

What You Want to Avoid: You want to pay attention to not pick a name that is confusing (either because of spelling or sheer peculiarity), awkward, or inappropriate. If the initials of your business make up an inappropriate word, scrap the name immediately.

What to Do Instead: Also pay attention to what a domain looks like when you spell it out, if it’s made of multiple words. You’ll be surprised at how many other words you may inadvertently spelling.

The other thing to look out for is that picking a name that has no relation to your line of business can be very confusing.

5. Avoid Names that Already Exist or Are Trademarked

What You Want to Avoid: Don’t go ahead with a name that is extremely similar to an existing one or that is trademarked, because a) that is confusing for your customers and you risk losing traffic, and b) you may, someday, be served with a legal notice that may create problems.

What to Do Instead: However, there is a caveat, here.

If the name is already trademark-protected, that’s a bit of a dead-end. There can’t be another Burger King, for example.

If, however, the domain name you want is just taken by someone else, there are ways around that and you are still able to buy a domain name that is already owned.

6. Choose a .com TLD, but Purchase All Available Extensions

What You Want to Avoid: If you only acquire the domain name you want and no other similar ones, you run the risk of having someone else purchase other variations of your domain. They will get the traffic that should have been directed towards your page.

What to Do Instead: The most popular domains are .com ones, and they are the most widely used, so it’s the ideal premium domain to acquire. But your work doesn’t stop here. Once you’ve bought that, you also want to purchase every other available variation of your domain name.

For example, let’s say your domain name is www.carsforsale.com. You should try to buy www.carsforsale.net, www.carsforsale.org, www.carsforsale.biz, etc. That way, no one else can take these domains and possibly steal traffic that was meant to go your way. Once you have these domains, you can make sure the traffic redirects to your main .com domain.

Bottom Line When Deciding How to Choose a Domain Name

Choosing a domain name can be a delicate process. Pick the wrong one, and your business may suffer. Pick the right one, and it can catapult you into quick notoriety, or at least it can help make branding easier.

The most important things to remember when choosing what domain to acquire is that it should be something easy to spell and remember, non-trademarked, and that ideally includes a keyword.

If you manage to find the perfect one, purchase every variation to make sure that you can take advantage of 100% of the traffic going to these domains.

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How to Buy Domain Anonymously

What is Anonymous Domain Registration? Anonymous domain registration is a service that allows individuals and businesses to register a domain name without revealing their personal details in the public WHOIS database. Instead of displaying the domain owner’s personal information, such as name, address, and contact details, the registration uses generic proxy details. This approach provides an additional layer of privacy and security, ensuring that your personal information remains confidential. Adding domain privacy can anonymize ownership details in the WHOIS database, thus enhancing security and confidentiality. Anonymous domain registration is particularly valuable for protecting personal information, preventing unwanted solicitations, and maintaining confidentiality in sensitive situations. 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Prevention of Spam and Unwanted Solicitations: By withholding ownership information, anonymous domain registration helps you avoid unsolicited communication and spam. Enhanced Security: Anonymous registration adds an extra layer of security against cyber crimes like ransomware attacks and domain hijacking. The domain owner plays a crucial role in maintaining security and privacy by ensuring that their contact information is protected. Confidentiality: It allows you to maintain secrecy in sensitive situations, such as buying premium domains – or selling them – without revealing your identity. Emotional Pricing Elimination: Anonymous transactions eliminate emotional pricing by the seller based on the buyer’s identity and intention. Discreet Domain Procurement: Companies can discreetly procure domains for internal products, brand expansions, or mergers without tipping off competitors. Understanding the WHOIS Database What is the WHOIS Database? The WHOIS database is a publicly accessible repository that stores information about registered domain names. Managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), this database contains essential details about domain owners, including their name, address, phone number, and email address. The primary purpose of the WHOIS database is to provide transparency and accountability in the domain name registration process. It allows users to look up information about a domain name and its owner, ensuring that the domain registration landscape remains open and trustworthy. Risks of Public WHOIS Data While the WHOIS database serves an important role, having personal details publicly available can pose several risks for domain owners: Spam and Unsolicited Contacts: With personal information readily accessible, domain owners may find themselves inundated with unwanted emails, phone calls, or physical mail from marketers and spammers. Identity Theft: Cybercriminals can exploit the information in the public database to steal or hijack a domain, leading to potential financial and reputational damage. Privacy Breaches: Publicly available personal information can be used to compromise a domain owner’s privacy and security, making them vulnerable to various forms of cyber threats. By understanding these risks, domain owners can make informed decisions about protecting their personal details through anonymous domain registration and other privacy measures. Why Choose Anonymous Domain Registration? Anonymous domain registration is a crucial step in protecting your personal information and maintaining online privacy. By choosing anonymous domain registration, you can ensure that your personal details, such as name, address, phone number, and email ID, are not publicly accessible in the WHOIS database. This is particularly important for individuals and businesses that value their online privacy and want to prevent unwanted solicitations, spam emails, and identity theft. By keeping your personal information private, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your online presence is secure and your identity is protected. How to Register a Domain Anonymously There are several methods to register a domain name anonymously, including: Using a Domain Registrar that Offers Anonymous Registration: Services like Namecheap or Google Domains provide options for anonymous domain registration. Additionally, some registrars offer a free domain name with their services, which can be an added benefit. Utilizing a Proxy Service: Services like Domains by Proxy or Uniregistry can mask your personal information, ensuring it remains private. Registering Through a Third-Party Service: Using a VPN or a domain anonymization service can help you register a domain without revealing your identity. Using a Domain Broker or Marketplace: Engaging a domain broker or using a domain name marketplace can help maintain anonymity during the registration process. Some registrars offer a free domain with hosting packages, which can lower overall costs and enhance the appeal of their services. Using a Domain Privacy Service: A domain privacy service can protect your personal information by replacing it with the service’s contact details. Verifying Domain Privacy Protection To verify whether your website has domain privacy protection, you can easily check the WHOIS database by entering your domain name in the search bar. Look for a generic name, contact address, or email address that forwards messages to you. If you find any of your details apart from what’s in the Domain Information panel, consider enabling domain privacy. You can also check with your domain registrar to see if they offer domain privacy protection services. Ensuring that your domain has privacy protection is a simple yet effective way to safeguard your personal information and maintain your online privacy. Security and Protection Anonymous domain registration provides an additional layer of security and protection for domain owners. By keeping personal information private, individuals and businesses can: Protect Against Cyber Threats and Unwanted Exposure: Keeping your personal details hidden helps safeguard against cyber threats and unwanted exposure. Prevent Domain Hijacking and Fraud: Anonymous registration reduces the risk of domain hijacking and fraudulent activities. Maintain Confidentiality in Sensitive Situations: It ensures that your identity remains confidential in sensitive transactions. Enhance Security Against Ransomware Attacks and Other Cyber Crimes: Anonymous registration adds a layer of security against various cyber crimes. Ensure Personal Information Remains Hidden from Public View on WHOIS: Your personal details are not displayed in the public WHOIS database, protecting your privacy. It is essential to note that while anonymous domain registration offers numerous benefits, it is crucial to choose a reputable domain registrar that provides reliable privacy protection services. Additionally, individuals and businesses should be aware of the potential limitations and considerations when registering a domain name anonymously, such as specific restrictions or policies regarding anonymous registration for certain domain extensions (TLDs). Maintaining Anonymity Maintaining anonymity when registering a domain name is crucial for protecting your personal information and preventing unwanted solicitations. Here are some tips to help you maintain anonymity: Use a VPN to mask your IP address and location. Use a secure email service that offers end-to-end encryption. Be cautious when sharing personal information online. Use a domain broker or a domain name marketplace to purchase a domain name anonymously. Consider using a proxy service to mask your personal information. By following these tips, you can ensure that your personal details remain confidential and your online presence is secure. Regulatory Considerations Compliance with ICANN Regulations ICANN regulations mandate that domain registrars collect and store accurate contact information for domain owners. This requirement ensures that the domain registration process remains transparent and accountable. However, ICANN also recognizes the need for privacy and allows for anonymous domain registration through the use of proxy services or private domain registration. To comply with ICANN regulations, domain registrars must: Collect and Store Accurate Contact Information: Registrars are required to gather and maintain up-to-date contact details for all domain owners. Provide Options for Anonymous Domain Registration: Registrars should offer services such as proxy registration or private domain registration to help domain owners protect their personal information. Educate Domain Owners on Risks: It is crucial for registrars to inform domain owners about the potential risks associated with public WHOIS data and the benefits of opting for anonymous registration. Offer Tools and Services for Privacy Protection: Registrars should provide tools and services that enable domain owners to safeguard their personal information and maintain privacy. By adhering to these guidelines, domain registrars can ensure compliance with ICANN regulations while offering robust privacy protection options for domain owners. This balance between transparency and privacy is essential for maintaining trust and security in the domain registration ecosystem. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Implications The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has significant implications for domain registration and WHOIS data. Under the GDPR, personal data cannot be shown without consent. This means that domain registrars must obtain explicit consent from domain owners before publishing their personal data in the WHOIS database. If you’re a domain owner, you can request that your personal information be removed from the WHOIS database by contacting your domain registrar. This regulation helps protect your personal information and ensures that your privacy is maintained. Limitations and Considerations While anonymous domain registration offers numerous benefits, there are some limitations and considerations to keep in mind: Some domain extensions (TLDs) may have specific restrictions or policies regarding anonymous registration. Ensure that the domain registrar you choose has a reliable privacy protection service and a good reputation in the industry. Some domain registrars may require identification verification, but not all do. Anonymously registering a domain name may not be possible for all types of domains, such as country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs). Domain privacy protection services may not be available for all domain registrars, so it’s essential to check with your registrar before purchasing a domain name. By being aware of these limitations and considerations, you can make informed decisions when registering a domain name anonymously and ensure that your personal information remains protected.

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