Check If Its Not Trademarked Or Already Used
Before you move forward with a specific domain name, check to see if the name is available on social media sites, as well as if there are any trademarks already registered to the name.
To build your brand, its ideal to have the same name across your domain and social networks. This builds familiarity and makes it easy for your visitors, fans, and customers to find you around the web.
Avoid legal issues you should stay away from names that already have trademarks.
How can you quickly check social networks and trademarks for your potential domain name?
Its quite easy with a tool like Knowem. Search your potential domain name itll show you if its available throughout over 25 popular social networks and if there are any trademarks already registered to the name.
If its taken, consider tweaking it so that you can create original social media profiles.
Get Your Web Host’s Name Servers
The first thing you’ll need to do is to find out the list of name servers used by your web host.
“Name servers”, or “DNS servers”, loosely speaking, are the things that translateyour domain name to the actual location of your website. A little example will make this clear. Let’s say you type adomain like “thesitewizard.com” into your web browser. In order to display the website associated with thesitewizard.com,the browser needs to know the real address of the site. Appearances to the contrary, the underlying machinery of theInternet does not actually use names for addresses, but series of numbers, like 127.0.0.1, called IP addresses. Name servers translatethe domain name you and I use to the actual numeric IP address used by the computers on the Internet.
When you sign up with a commercial web host, they will configure their name servers so that they furnish yourwebsite’s real IP address when there is a query for your domain name. As such, in order for your domain to befound on the Internet, you must link your domain to your web host’s name servers.
The easiest way to find out the name servers used by your web host for your domain is to ask them.A faster way is to look for the information yourself in either the email sent to you by your host when you first signed up with them, or fromthe documentation on your web host’s site. If you have no idea where to get the information, contact your web host and ask themfor the “DNS servers” or “name servers” to use for your domain.
A Strategic Approach To Choosing The Perfect Domain Name
Your URL offers a chance to leave a good first impression. Thats why a strong domain name is essential for the success of your website. So, if youre ready to land that perfect domain name, remember these handy tips and click below to start your search today.
About the Author: Stefanus Hadi, Ph.D.
Stefanus Hadi, Ph.D., is Product Research Manager at DreamHost. He is responsible for directing and managing the companys partnerships with various domain registries, including those that control TLDs like .com, .online, .shop, .xyz, .club, .art, .io, .co, .me, and many others. In his free time, Stefanus enjoys outdoor activities, visits national parks regularly, and serves as a member of a Los Angeles high school support group. Connect with Stefanus on LinkedIn:
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How To Choose A Domain Name
Since your domain name can have a major impact on your online presence, what you choose is a vital first step in building your brand. Finding the perfect domain name, however, can be challenging.
While its true that there are millions of domain names available, many of the popular domain names that are easy to remember are taken. Fortunately, you can still get what you need if you go through a simple process and use a bit of imagination.
Get A Web Hosting Plan
Web hosting is a service that publishes a website or web application on the internet. Before choosing a hosting plan, decide what type of web host is suitable for your needs. If you are using a CMS platform, then it is essential to find a reliable hosting provider.
This is because most website builders use their own hosting providers. So, move forward to the next section if you have chosen to use a website builder.
To find a suitable web host, think about the type of website you are creating and consider these elements:
- Cost. Some web hosts charge more than others. Make sure to adjust the price to your overall budget.
- Features. Consider the bandwidth and storage to see if the hosting provider can support your website files and the targeted amount of visitors.
- Security. Check the built-in security measures, such as automated backups and an SSL certificate.
- Support. Different hosting companies offer their own set of support, either through a live chat or email. Make sure to select a web host that can provide reliable support 24/7.
After finding a suitable hosting, take a look at the different plans. Ultimately, choosing a hosting plan depends on the type of website you want to build.
However, dont forget to check the following features:
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On the other hand, Virtual Private Server hosting gives access to a more secure and flexible server, but using it requires some technical knowledge.
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How Can You Use Your Domain Name
Begin getting on the mechanism that works for your website and what happens when you open it up in your browser. For instance, you may need the website address to access the website /> . The domain name might be unavailable in its cache or database.
Because all domain names connect well to the respective Internet Protocol addresses and internet point that links to a particular web server for website hosting, you need to try out a DNS server. By inputting the domain name in your web browser, it will send the request to a worldwide network that creates a Domain Name System . DNS servers will locate domain name-related Internet Protocol with IP address information that returns it to the web browser. The browser sends data requests from the domain hosting server for the website. Once the hosting server sends the request back, the web browser can help convert it into a webpage.
But First Understand Why A Domain Name Matters A Lot For Your Business Or Start
The domain name is the best & important part of your business or brand online, this can be taken from your logo or business name. It is something which can put your customers off and they will likely go to another place. If you make sure that your domain address or name is proper, accurate & fun-loving in daily use then you can have better initial impressions for your visitors or people that matter to you the most.
But it is not easy for you to change the domain name once your website is ready and online. One can change the domain name, but it is time taking & comes with various consequences. You may lose your traffic with unnecessary downtime.
You can take your time and choose a perfect domain name right now, so that you dont need to face any issues in the longer run.
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The Importance Of Choosing The Right Domain Name
Your domain name is going to be the name of your brand. Its something you need to spend time thinking about and researching.
For example, without proper research, you could end up with a domain name that is very closely related to one of your competitors. Or, you could end up with a domain name that doesnt stick in the minds of your visitors.
A lot of people rush the domain selection process, and once their site takes off they wish they spent more time up front. Having to go through a website re-brand isnt the end of the world. But, it can be avoided by choosing the right domain name from the start.
Importance Of A Domain Name For Your Small Business
A domain name is the starting point of building an online presence for your company. It will help to set the tone for how your customers find your website, think of your business, and engage with your brand.
How can you put a domain name to work for your business and stand out in a crowded online market? Lets take a closer look at what a domain name is, how it works, and how you can select and register the one that’s right for your business and brand.
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Picking The Best Domain Registrar For Your Website
Once youve picked out a domain name, youll need to choose a domain registrar, which is the company where youll purchase it. When shopping around for a registrar, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Domain transfers. Check out the registrars transfer policy. If its complicated or expensive, keep looking.
- Pricing. Some companies offer lower prices for the first year and then increase them when its time for renewal. You may even be locked into a multi-year contract.
- Expiration policy. If you forget to renew the lease, someone else can take it from you. Therefore, look for a registrar that offers automatic renewals and a grace period.
- Domain privacy protection. As a website owner, youre required to add your personal information to a public database. Domain privacy protection hides your primary contact information to help keep your identity secure.
- Subdomains. You dont have to register subdomains separately. However, youll want to ensure that your registrar makes it easy to add subdomains to your site.
There are plenty of registrars you can use. However, sometimes it makes sense to register your domain through your hosting provider.
Allow Gmail To Send Emails Using Smtp
At this point, new emails to your custom domain should show up in your Gmail account. However, you wont be able to reply to them from your custom email domain yet.
To fix that, you need to configure your Gmail account to send through your custom emails SMTP server. Typically, youll find your emails SMTP server information at the same spot where you found the POP3 information:
Once you have your SMTP information:
This will open another popup window that has multiple steps.
On the first screen:
- Enter the custom email address that youre using.
- Check the box for Treat as an alias.
Next, enter the SMTP information from your email host:
- SMTP Server and Port from your email host.
- Username normally, this is your full email address, but sometimes its only the part that comes before @.
- Password the password that you set when creating your custom email address.
- Choose whichever Secured connection method that Gmail recommends.
- Click Add Account.
Gmail will then send a confirmation code to your custom email address. You need to click the link in that email and click Confirm to finish the process.
Since you already configured Gmail to receive emails from your custom domain name, you should be able to receive this email from your Gmail account. It might take a few minutes for Gmail to fetch the email from your server.
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Connecting The Dots: Domain Names Websites And Web Hosting
Domain names, websites, and web hosts are different elements of your web presence, but they work together to help people find you online. When someone types in your web address, a web browser sends a request to a network of web servers throughout the world that is part of the Domain Name System . After a quick search, these servers locate your website address and request access to your web page.
The server that receives this request and houses all your website files is managed by your web host. In addition to giving your website a secure online home, your web host has a system in place to gather the data associated with the requested web page and send this information back to the browser that initiated the process. In a matter of a few brief seconds, your web page opens and is ready for viewing.
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Use Your Domain Name To Build Your Brand
Your domain name almost subconsciously plays a role in growing your brand. Think about it how powerful would the GoDaddy brand be if it had a domain name like BuyWebsites.com?
Businesses should look at the domain name as an opportunity to cement their brand identity into visitors minds.
Not only is GoDaddy.com the perfect domain name to grow GoDaddys brand, but its easy for consumers to remember and type in their browser when they want to visit the website directly. Look for branded domain names whenever possible especially if you can find an exact match brand name.
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Register Domain Name Variations
Even if your domain name is catchy and easy to remember, typos happen. The last thing you want is for a hiring manager or potential client to get an error message because they missed a letter when typing in your web address.
That’s why you should consider registering domain name variations that redirect people to your website, even if they’ve mistyped something. For example, a lot of people misread or mishear Codecademy as “Code Academy.” But, when they type in CodeAcademy.com, they’re automatically redirected to the correct domain, Codecademy.com.
Similarly, say your domain ends in “.org,” “.edu,” or “.net.” You might want to consider registering the “.com” variant as well to prevent competitors from doing the same.
Optional: Look For Domain Parking Services
This is an optional step that lets users earn passive income from inactive domain names.
A parked domain refers to a name thats been registered but is currently not in use. So if you bought a domain name but decided not to connect it to any website, that domain is considered parked.
Why park a domain?
There are several reasons why a user might park a domain. Some people buy domain names long before their website is ready. So they just hold on to the name until its needed. Business-minded users will buy domain names and sell them for profit down the road.
Some people will buy variations of their main domain so that others cant use them. For example, companyxyz.com might want to own the .net, .biz, .co, or any of its other extensions.
Whats a domain parking service?
Whats a domain parking service then? Its a service that lets you rent out your domain name for advertisers. Sedo is a good example of this.
If you use a domain parking service, people who enter your domain name will get redirected to a landing page that contains ads.
Your earnings will depend on landing page visits, ad clicks, or both.
Do you need to park your domain before selling it? Absolutely not. But it does allow you to make some money while you look for buyers.
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Create Your Custom Email Address Via Your Email Hosting
Next, you need to create your custom email address using your email hosting if you havent done so already. E.g. you@yoursite.com
If youre using Bluehost, you can use Bluehosts email account tool to create your email address from the Email & Office tab:
When you create your email account, make sure to remember the password that you choose for your email account.
Research Social Media Handles
If you have plans to engage with your visitors or customers, chances are youll want to create social media accounts that are linked to your domain name and website. Therefore, its wise to check your preferred social media sites to see if your domain name is available in handle form.
Alternatively, you can check to see if a variation of your domain name is available. This is a common practice.
If youre not planning to use too many different social media networks, you can easily do this manually. However, if you want a bit of help, is a great way to see all available social media handles at a glance.
This handy tool can provide you with useful information about trademarks. It can also help you manage dozens of social media accounts.
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Stay Unique And On Brand
A unique domain name can help your website stand out and potentially help you avoid legal trouble. It can also contribute to your marketing efforts. In fact, if your site represents a larger brand, you would be wise to consider your domain name as youre creating the brand name itself.
If youre a self-employed individual, you can still consider your body of work and your website as part of your personal brand. For instance, if you run a private therapy practice, an original yet branded domain name might include your full name and field. In this scenario, a strong URL might read something like: janesmithpsychology.com.
Another powerful way for businesses to reach a local audience is by including geolocation within the domain name .
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Set Up An Email Address
Does any business run day-to-day without email anymore? There might be a few people holding out, but for the most part, using email is an integral aspect of running a website / company.
Not only is email the most common form of business communication, its also a hugely effective way to inform customers of new products and offers. Well get further into email marketing later on, but first, lets set up a professional email address for your domain.
For this, were going to already assume you have a hosting package that comes with email.
Receive mail and be as happy as Ralph
First, youll need to think about what your email address is going to be wed recommend keeping it personal, something like yourname@yourdomain.com or something simple such as info@yourdomain.com.
The shorter the better, as misspelling an address is a common reason for emails not reaching their intended recipient.
Getting an email address set up via your host should be the easy part. Here at LCN it couldnt be simpler: Just log in to your LCN account and look for the Email addresses icon on the my account page.
Wondering why you should get email working on your own domain instead of using a free service like Gmail or Hotmail? Having an address like john66rockstar@googlemail.com plastered over a company van doesnt really scream professionalism.
What might your email address say about you? The Oatmeal
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