When deciding to establish yourself online, the first thing you need to do is come up with a good domain name and find a service to register it. While this all sounds like an easy task, choosing a good one can be quite difficult. If you succumb to the pitfalls of domain registration, it can actually turn out to be a disaster. This article will help you avoid five of the most common mistakes made when picking a domain name.
1. Settling for Less - There are numerous extensions that can be used with your domain name. Some of the most popular variations include .biz, .net., and .info among others. All make viable alternatives but none offer the chance for visibility like .com. If your desired domain name is not available in .com, you may want to consider picking a different name altogether rather than settling for lesser known alternatives.
2. Not Securing Brand - If you need a domain name for online business purposes, it is a good rule of thumb to not only secure the original name, but different variations as well. This includes plural and hyphenated versions that potential customers may type into their browser bar. If you do n0t, there is a great chance that the competition will, thus allowing them to capitalize on the popularity of your domain and steal some of your visitors. Domain names are very inexpensive so this is something you definitely want to consider.
3. Registering a Name that is Difficult to Spell or Remember - A good domain is one that is both easy to spell and remember. When you tell it to someone, it should resonate with them so they can find your site with no problems.
4. Not using Keywords - If you want to leverage quality traffic from the search engines, using your primary keyword as a part of your domain name is essential. There are a number of keyword tools that will help you come up with a term that works best for your domain.
5. Lacking Ownership - Even if you pay an annual fee for your domain name, there still might be a chance that you don’t have full rights to it. For example, if you sign up with a web hosting company that provides a domain with their service, there may be contractual stipulations that prevent you from taking the name to another host. This is why many suggest purchasing a domain from a standalone registrar instead of a hosting company.
Because a domain name is so vital to your web presence, choosing one should consist of a well thought out process. Try to come up wit a long list of names that suit your initiatives and narrow your choices from there. This shouldn’t take long but there is no need to rush either. If you have to, take a break, get some ideas from others and then add to the list. Most importantly, make sure you are aware of all the pitfalls and how to avoid them. After finding the perfect domain name, you will agree that the time and effort invested was well worth it.
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