How To Choose A Good Domain Name
Generally speaking, you would want to start off with the name of your company, project or even your own name as a domain name in the popular TLDs, if they are available. You may also want to add domains and TLDs that are descriptive to help explain what you do to potential customers. Finally, a good tip is to register a domain name that is easy to remember and spell, so if anyone tries to type in the address, they should be able to find you on their first try.
If you’re not sure which TLD to choose, it is often best to go with a popular TLD. You can’t go wrong with a .com or .co.uk domain. The downside of these TLDs is that it is more likely that your preferred domain is already taken. These days it is therefore more common to register a more modern TLD, such as .online or .shop.
Domain Name : What Do The Various Domain Extensions Mean
Everyone knows .COM, the unrestricted domain extension for companies or commercial enterprises that is the most recognized TLD on the web. Most people in our country also recognize .CA, the ccTLD that represents Canada.
But what about all the other domain extensions out there? .ORG, .NET, .MOBI, .TV, .TEL, .BIZ, in fact there are over 280 different domain extensions delegated globally. What do they all mean and whats their relative importance to Canadian small businesses? Its important that a small business understand what its options are for developing and marketing their brand in the online arena.
According to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief , the first quarter of 2010 ended with more than 193 million domain names registered worldwide, an increase of 11 million registrations or 6% from 2009.
The following are the most popular domain extensions in the world ranked by number of total registrations Source: VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief
According to data from Zooknic, Canadas .CA ranks #15 as of March 31, 2010.
Domain names are divided into 2 main categories, gTLDs or generic top-level domains and ccTLDs or country code top level domains which represent a country designation.
There are currently 20 gTLDs in the world. The following shows what each represents:
There are currently over 250 ccTLDS :
- .CO
- .TV
- .FM
- .LY
- .WS
- .ME
- .CC
Have A Few Different Options In Mind
The last thing you want is to give up in frustration because your dream domain isnt available. You will be able to check if its available by searching for it within the domain search bar. To avoid this make sure you have a list of different domains to choose from.
After youve gone through the brainstorming phase youll probably have a ton of options to choose from. Narrow this down to your top five and head over to your domain registrar of choice to purchase the domain.
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Who Should Register Inc Domain Extension
As we have already mentioned, this extension is custom-madefor your brand that is, if you truly want to be taken seriously!
If you are worried about being too new on the market to warrant having this coveted domain, dont be. Just like huge, well-established corporations, startups that are aiming for grand heights should invest in this as it will stand you in good stead for your future online success.
Basically, .Inc domain registration extension means business and maybe its that one you should consider in case you looking on how to get a domain name.
If I Want To Apply For Two Similar Or Related Tlds For Example Thing And Thething Would That Be Two Applications Or One And If Two Do I Have To Pay $185000 For Each
If an applicant applies for .thing and .thething, those would be considered two separate applications. If both applications were approved, they would result in two separate TLDs. Each application will be treated individually and there is no discount on application fees based upon the filing of multiple applications.
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Can I Apply For Any Kind Of Gtld Or Are There Any Specific Restrictions
ICANN has a set of specific technical rules that apply to all proposed gTLD strings. For example, an application for a string composed entirely of numbers will be rejected. If an applicant chooses an IDN gTLD, additional technical requirements apply. There is also a list of reserved gTLD names that are unavailable for general use. Furthermore, applicants for a gTLD that is a geographic name must meet additional requirements. All the specific restrictions are outlined in section 2.2.1 of the Applicant Guidebook.
Final Thoughts: Creative New Domain Name Extensions And How To Use Them
We hope this guide helped you learn about the new domain extensions so you can create the perfect domain extension for your brand. You can boost the credibility of your business and define your profession with the best new domain extensions.
Have a domain name picked out? Youll also need a host for your website. For your web hosting needs, Bluehost has you covered. We offer affordable hosting with free domain registration. Try us today.
Machielle Thomas|Content Manager
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The Most Common Domain Extensions
.com : This is the most popular extension that has grown to be synonymous with the internet. It was originally intended for commercial entities, but it is now unrestricted and can be registered for any purpose.
.biz : This domain extension is meant for businesses. A lot of preferred domain names were taken up in the .com top-level domain, so .biz was created as an alternative.
.org : This is a top-level domain just like .com. Initially, it was for non-profit organizations and charities but it can now be registered by anyone.
.net : .net has become an alternative to .com, although it was initially meant for network infrastructure use.
Choose The Best Domain Name Option
When youre checking for available domain names, youll often find that your first, second, and tenth choices are already taken. Some of the different approaches you can take when this happens are:
- Keep searching. Let your creative juices flow, and continue to search until you find something you love or at least like.
- Choose another extension. If the .com isnt available and youre set on a certain name, consider the .net or .org if you think it will work.
- Reach out to the owner. Maybe the domain is already owned, but its not being put to much use. You could reach out to the owner with an offer.
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What Is The Domain Name System
The Domain Name System helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address – just like a telephone number – which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its “IP address” . IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 207.151.159.3, you can type www.internic.net. It is a “mnemonic” device that makes addresses easier to remember.
Option : How To Register A Domain Without Additional Hosting
If you already have a hosting account somewhere and just want to purchase a domain, then youll have multiple options to choose from.
There are dozens of different domain name registrars you can use, but for the sake of example lets assume you want to register your domain at HostGator.
When registering your domain name, its a good idea to check to see if your registrar offers domain privacy. This added feature will protect your personal information from potential spammers.
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What Can I Do With A Ca
Host a website or build an online store
A website or online store is an obvious and powerful way to use your domain name.
Create your own .CA email address
Your .CA domain name can be used for personalized email addresses
Link your .CA to your social media profile
You can forward your .CA domain to another online or social media profile, like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Etsy – anywhere you want.
I think a .CA will always be the number one domain for us partly because of the brand value that Canada has abroad the quality that Canada brings, the brand recognition. I personally believe that a .CA has more brand appeal internationally than a .com does.
Connor CurranFounder and Chief Laundry Folder at locallaundry.ca
Once Ive Got The Domain Names I Want Can I Transfer And Consolidate Them To My Preferred Registrar
Ive bought a number of new domain names and now find myself with 5 registrar accounts to house them all. Sometimes I had to use a particular registrar for availability. Other times it was based on a noticeable price differences. Id love to transfer them all to one registrar for ease of management.
For new domains, ICANN doesnt allow you to transfer during the first 60 days. Once that 60 days is up, your guess is as good as mine as to whether a particular transfer will be supported. I have some .today domains that I tried to transfer to namecheap, which says that we dont support transfer at this time. This is odd, since namecheap is a white-labeled version of eNom, which does support this exact transfer.
Domain name transfers usually include a 1-year renewal in the price. Im seeing transfer fees all over the board from $20-$100, depending on the extension. It seems prudent to wait it out and see where the market lands for renewal prices on these next year, at which time maybe I can clean up the overabundance of registrar accounts.
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Purchase Your Domain Name And Complete Its Registration
Once you settle on a domain name, its time to purchase it. When you buy through Mailchimp, well let you know the annual cost of the domain name as well as any available discounts.
During the checkout process, youll be required to enter your contact information, including an email address, to register the domain.
Most Popular New Gtlds
.top: .top was officially delegated in ICANNs New gTLD Program on August 4, 2014. The extension is managed and operated by the .top registry, and can be registered by anyone since November 18, 2014.
.loan: .loan is a TLD delegated in ICANNs New gTLD Program. Famous Four Media manages the TLD and is its Registry. The proposed application succeeded and was delegated to the Root Zone on 25 March 2015. With a .loan domain, anyone that is in the business of loaning people money can differentiate themselves from the competition with a domain that is memorable and easy to find.
.xyz: .xyz was proposed in ICANNs New generic top-level domain Program, and became available to the general public on June 2, 2014.
.club: .club was proposed in ICANNs new generic top-level domain program, and became available to the general public on May 7, 2014.
.online: Since its launch in 2015, .online has become one of the most sought-after gTLDs in the world. Registered in over 230 countries, the .online domain extension has experienced incredible traction, becoming a true star of the new gTLD programme
.vip: .vip was delegated in ICANNs New gTLD Program. After an ICANN auction that occurred in September 2014, Top Level Domain Holdings became the only applicant for the TLD. DotVIP was delegated to the Root Zone 25 November 2015.
.shop: .shop was launched in September 2016. GMO Registry became the registry operator after prevailing in an ICANN public auction in January 2016.
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Add Domain Id Protection
When you register a domain name with ICANN, you must provide your contact information including your name, phone number, physical address, and email address.
As soon as your domain name is registered, this contact information becomes available to the public unless you pay for domain privacy through your domain registrar. This domain privacy will shield your information from view keeping your personal information safe from spammers or worse, identity thieves.
Once you’ve got the domain name in hand, you’re ready to find hosting and build your website. Consider a free CMS, like HubSpot, to design your website, strategize for SEO, and create a blog.
Avoid Numbers And Hyphens
Imagine asking your 10 friends to spell or pronounce a domain name filled with numbers and dashes. It wont work.
If you choose a domain name with these elements, youre likely going to lose traffic to people who cant remember your domain or effectively tell someone else how to find it. We probably wouldnt have Facebook today if you had to go to Face-Book.com to reach the site.
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What Is A Top
Every domain name around the world ends with a top-level domain these are the 2 or more letters that come after the dot. There are currently two types of TLDs: generic top-level domain such as .com, .mobi, and .info, and country code top-level domains such as .uk, .br, and .cn. A gTLD or a ccTLD is managed by a registry operator, an organization that maintains the registry database, including the nameserver information for names registered in the TLD.
Got Any Tips On Finding A Good Domain Name
You bet. While it’s really easy to register a domain, having a good domain strategy helps you register the best domain name possible. Here are some hints:Make it easy to remember. This is why many businesses get domains with their business names in them. Some people even choose their business name only after they have a domain they like.Don’t register one that’s trademarked, copyrighted, or being used by another company. This can lead to losing the domain and legal problems.Shorter is usually better because they’re easier for customers to remember. It’s also easier to get matching usernames for Facebook, Twitter and any other social media accounts you have.Got a local business? Include your neighborhood, city or country in your domain so local customers can quickly see where you are. Check the list of geographic domain extensions .berlin .nyc to see if there’s one for your area.Avoid numbers or hyphens. Anyone who hears your web address won’t know if you’re using a numeral 5 or “five”. If your business name has a number in it, register both versions with the number and with the number spelled out .Get more than one. As traffic to your website increases, you may attract then attention of copycats who’ll snatch up similar domain names in hopes of drawing traffic away from you. Register similar or misspelled domains early so this won’t be an issue later.
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