Should You Choose A New Domain Extension For Your Website
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Wondering whether you should choose a new domain extension for your website?
Apart from the popular dot-com extension, there are many new domain name extensions that you can choose from.
In this article, well answer the question: Should you choose new domain extensions for your website? And what are the pros and cons of using a new domain extension?
What are Domain Extensions?
Domain extensions or TLDs are the last part of a domain name. These are the letters that appear after the dot and to the right side of the domain name.
For example, WPBeginner has a .com domain extension and Wikipedia has a .org domain extension .
To learn more about domain name system, see our beginners guide on what is a domain name and how do domains work.
The first domain extensions were .com, .net, and .org. They are still the most popular domain extensions.
As time passed, new domain extensions were introduced. These included country specific domain extensions like .co.uk or .com.de, and generic extensions like .travel, .app, .mobi, .photography, and more.
Today, there are hundreds of domain extensions available that can be used for starting a website.
You can register a domain name from a domain name registrar.
Should You Use Choose A Domain Name With Keywords In It
Good quality of domains with exact match keywords in it, in my experience with affiliate sales, tend to convert at a higher rate.
I imagine that when a searcher reviews the search results pages and sees the domain name with the keywords in it that she may think, Aha, this site has what I want!
Keywords in the domain name quickly tell the potential site visitor that this is your specialty.
If you want a taco, would you feel your odds of finding taco satisfaction are higher at Joes Tacos or at Lauras Margarita Cantina?
And if you want a margarita, would you choose Joes Tacos or Lauras Margarita Cantina?
The keywords in the domain infer that the site not only has what they want but actually specializes in it.
Keywords in the domain name are often considered in terms of potential ranking value.
In my opinion, thats overstated.
The true value is in attracting visitors that have a greater intention of converting into a sale.
When a consumer walks into Joes Tacos, the odds are high that they will be going home with a belly-full of tacos.
How To Choose A Domain Name: 20 Top Tips
In this next section, well guide you through the process of choosing your domain name. Use this process to come up with a list of domain name ideas.
Weve broken the process into four steps:
Note: The advice below is based on purchasing a new domain name rather than a parked or existing domain name. However, a lot of the advice below will still apply.
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How Long Does A Domain Name Registration Last
Domain name registration typically lasts from one to 10 years. Be sure to note the expiration date and renew the name before then. Any good service provider will start sending notices of pending expiration months in advance, so pay attention.
Exactly what happens after a domain name expires varies by country. Some include a grace period, but be sure to check before you buy. With some registries, there is a penalty if you go past the expiry date, and it can get quite expensive once you get into what is known as the redemption period.
If you pass this point, the domain can be made available on a first-come-first-serve basis, so there is no guarantee that you will get your domain name back. The bottom line is to keep an eye on your domain expiration dates and set them to auto-renew if possible.
You Cant Go Wrong With A Com
The .COM is known throughout the world and is part of the original line-up of six TLDs. Each had a different purpose, .COM stood for commercial, .ORG for an organization, .EDU for education, and so on.
Partly because of its age, and the fact that domain usage isnt so strict anymore, .COM was used for all kinds of purposes, and so it became the most popular TLD. Find out more in our article, What is .COM?.
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Should A Domain Name Match Your Business Name
A domain name should match your business name, only if it matters to you.
Googles domain is owned by a business called Alphabet.
But Google isnt named Alphabet, thats just the name of the company that owns the Google brand.
Similarly, you might want to brand your online business with something more appropriate and keep the business name in the background.
For a local business, yes, it makes sense to register a domain name that matches the brick and mortar business.
But for a strictly online-facing business, you may be free to consider a possibly better domain name.
Country Code Top Level Domain
Country code top-level domains are domains that are specific to a country.
Domains in the .ca, and the .uk registry are ccTLDs.
Site visitors tend to prefer ccTLDs that are specific to their country.
So if your clients are in Australia, it might make sense to use the .au version of the domain.
Traditionally, ccTLD domains tended to convert a higher rate within their respective countries.
Also Check: How To Find A Website’s Domain Host
Paid Vs Free Domain Protection
There are precautions to take when purchasing a domain, so luckily, there is Domain Protection. And depending on your domain registrar, its either free or it comes at a price.
Just for context, signing up for a domain also includes providing specifics for a WHOIS directory a resource database of all the registered domains in a country. Its available to lookup users who have purchased a domain and/or created an IP address including the contact info, name, and more.
Its so that the public can find information about any person with a domain name. So, spammers are big fans of this directory. It grants them easy access to different people all around the world.
With WHOIS Protection, the WHOIS data about your contact information will be hidden. However, it doesnt hide any DNS records or IP addresses.
When determining the right domain provider, you may want to consider if theres a fee for WHOIS Protection or if its included. Many other providers have it set up automatically as well.
However, if its not included, expect to pay an extra $12-$15 a year for protection.
Check For Availability On Social Media
You should choose a domain name that you can also use everywhere else across the internet, especially all the social media channels.
This will build trust and make it easier to create and grow a real brand around your website and business.
You can use tools like Knowem to check that the name youve chosen isnt already taken as a web domain or across social media platforms.
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How To Find Aged Domains For Sale
Aged domains are the perfect way to give your business a head start. They come with a lot of history and trust, which means that you dont have to spend as much time building up domain authority. However, finding aged domains can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to help you find the best aged domains for sale:
Go Ahead And Get Your Domain Name
Whew, okay, that was a lot of reading! Still, I dont want this list to be intimidating. Even reading through it just once and then noting down the most important takeaways will give you more than enough insight to be able to obtain your perfect domain name and do so safely.
Just to help you out, heres a cut-out-and-keep version of everything thats been said above:
Recommended Reading: Can I Change My Domain Name On Godaddy
Make Sure Its Easy To Remember
Dont forget that word of mouth and search engine marketing both depend on how easy it is to remember your domain name. You dont want to be that company with the incredible website whose name no one can ever remember when the time comes to tell a friend about it. From an SEO point of view, there are a lot of advantages to following best branding practices. Ignoring them, on the other hand, will jeopardize your long-term results.
Dont Use Hyphens In Domain Names
Is it OK to use hyphens in a domain name today?
Absolutely not.
Avoid using hyphens in a domain name.
Keywords in domains are not so important for ranking as to resort to cramming keywords into the domain name with hyphens.
It makes the site look sketchy and spammy.
Also, there is no ranking benefit from using keywords in the domain name.
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Things To Consider When Choosing Your Domain Name
When theres more than 284 million registered domain names online, youre going to want yours to stand out. But you also want to be easily remembered, have a URL that accurately describes your business, and it would help if it ranks well in Google. Right?
Right.
Its very easy to buy a domain name that you come to regret later. What was useful and fashionable years ago suddenly is unwieldy and a pain in the butt to describe now. You might take what you can get if your favoured domain is already taken, only for that to expire later on and youre stuck with one you dont like.
Even worse, you could pay a great deal more for it later, or even spend quite a bit of money rebranding and redirecting years after youve become established just because that domain youve always wanted has suddenly become available.
It might be tempting to buy up quick to stop other people from taking the one youre currently considering, but it wont hurt to take a few minutes to ensure what youre getting is what you want, what works, and what will stand you in good stead for the long haul.
The four things you should consider when choosing your domain name are:
How To Choose A Domain Name
The GoDaddy product information in this article is outdated and currently under review for accuracy. For the latest up-to-date product information please visit godaddy.com
Figuring out how to choose a domain name is similar to figuring out how to choose a company name it requires a lot of thought and consideration. Your domain name is your identity on the web you want to make sure you choose a domain name that not only fits your business, but is also easy to find and promote.
Read Also: How To Find My Domain Provider
Do I Need To Register My Domain Name With The Us Copyright Office
You may have heard that you must register your domain name with the U.S. Copyright Office to protect your intellectual property rights fully. However, this is not strictly true. While registering your domain name with the copyright Office can provide some additional legal protections, it is not required to maintain ownership of your domain name. Instead, U.S. trademark law automatically protects your domain name as soon as you use it in commerce. This means you can sue someone for infringement even if you haven’t registered your domain name with the Copyright Office. However, there are a few registration benefits.
- First, it allows you to file a federal lawsuit, which can be more expensive and time-consuming than a state-level lawsuit.
- Second, registration creates a public record of your ownership, which can be helpful if you need to prove your rights in court.
- Finally, registering your domain name with the Copyright Office can help to deter would-be infringers from trying to use your domain name without permission.
Ultimately, whether or not you register your domain name is up to you and depends on various factors. Consulting with an experienced intellectual property attorney can help you make the best decision for your business.
Stay Unique Specific And On
With all of these things to keep in mind, it can be hard to brainstorm a domain name that is clear and concise while also remaining unique and true to your business.
But it’s certainly doable. Keep your business name and what you sell at the front of your mind, and dig into your niche to make sure your domain name is also attracting the online audience you want.
Read Also: How Do I Sell A Domain Name
Avoid Hyphens Numbers And Creative Spelling
Sometimes it might be tempting to use a hyphen, number, or creative spelling in your domain. Typically, I see this happening when the desired domain is already taken or unavailable. However, it is best not to resort to using hyphens, numbers, or creative spelling by any means necessary.
The main reason for this is that you want your domain to be predictable and able to be communicated verbally. Its much easier to say, you can find me at chris smith dot com than it is to say, you can find me at chris hyphen smith thirty three dot com. And by the way, theres an extra h at the end of smith and the thirty three is a number, like three three. .
Avoiding hyphens, numbers, and creative spelling will save both you and your website visitors the grief of having to explain, remember, and communicate your tricky domain.
Tip 7 Conduct Some Research
Having settled on your favourite domain name, its worth spending a bit of time researching it to make sure it isnt legally protected.
If its very similar to that of a competitor particularly a big competitor they may well have protected their domain name and its variants with trademark or copyright. For example, you might be a small local cider producer, but if your domain name contains the word apple, its definitely worth checking you wont run into problems with the Apple of iPhone fame.
You can search for trademarks in the UK on the Government website and in the US here.
Its also important to check out whats on similar domains. If someone trying to find your website ends up landing on a page with a similar domain name perhaps that of a competitor, or even some kind of unsavoury content you could end up either losing customers to a competitor, or managing a reputation problem.
Read Also: How To Point My Domain To My Website
For How Long Can I Register A Domain Name
When registering a domain name, the sky’s the limit. You can register a domain for anywhere from one to ten years, and there’s no need to renew it all at once. Instead, you can renew your domain annually, biennially, or even monthly if you prefer.
The length of time you register a domain is entirely up to you. However, there are a few things to remember when deciding how long to register your domain:
So when it comes to choosing a registration period, there’s no right or wrong answer – it all depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Tip 8 Get Hold Of The Variants
As well as purchasing your chosen domain, try to buy variants of it.
If you have the .co.uk version, for example, get the .uk and .org.uk versions as well. This protects your domain name and stops others from capitalising on your success. For instance, it means that nobody else will be able to set up a competing website on a similar domain, attracting customers who may actually have been looking for your business.
You could also buy possible misspellings or typos of your domain name. For instance, if your domain was mischief.uk, you might want to acquire mischeif.uk as well.
To make the most of your purchases, make sure all your domain name variations are permanently redirected to your main domain so that anyone who tries to visit them ends up on your actual website. This can be done through your domain registrar.
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