Pick A Trustworthy Domain Registrar
The domain registrar is a company that registers a domain name on your behalf, and then gives you full access to that domain name.
The key with registrars is to only use respectable and trustworthy companies. You really dont want to run into any domain problems further down the line when your websites brand is already established and losing the domain would mean trouble.
The registrars we always recommend are:
- SiteGround our top recommended hosting company that also sells domain names.
How To Choose A Domain Name
Your domain is your digital street address. Even if you throw a fresh coat of design on it, get the wrong address in the spammy part of the neighborhood, and you could be losing customers before they ever see your website.
Get the right one, however, and your address opens the door for visitors to come in and stay a while. It instills a sense of professionalism and polish that starts at the address bar.
And with almost 2 billion websites in circulation, the competition for the perfect domain name is fiercer than ever. So how do you pick out the perfect name for your website? Weve got eight tried-and-true tips to show you how to choose a domain name thats perfect for your goals.
Heres what were going to cover today:
Without further ado, lets talk about what a domain name actually is and why a rose by any other name isnt quite as sweet.
Tip #: Make Your Domain Name A Call To Action
- Just Do It
- Be All You Can Be
- Have It Your Way
- Don’t Leave Home Without It
A strong call-to-action tagline in an ad campaign can inspire people, move them to purchase and build brand affinity. You can achieve the same effect by using a memorable call-to-action as your .com domain name.
Tesla could have considered a call-to-action domain name such as the emotionally-charged DriveTheFuture.com. While TeslaMotors.com limits the company to vehicles, a domain name like ThinkTesla.com could scale into space and beyond. It could also evoke the company’s relentless innovative thinking.
Other call-to-action domain names that caught my attention include:
- EscapeToday.com
- DontCrackUnderPressure.com
- FindYourIndependentAdvisor.com
You can use a call to action as your primary domain name or a secondary one to drive traffic to your site, such as the three listed above. Think about the actions you want your audience to take, say it in an effective way, and turn it into your domain name.
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How To Choose A Domain Name: Summary
Domain names are your digital street address. They can significantly shape a visitors perception of your brand.
Unfortunately, most of the one-hit names like Dogs.com were taken up in the early days of the internet. But that doesnt mean you cant find a great domain name for your new website.
Just use these eight tips when youre creating a new domain:
- Make it memorable.
- Keep it mobile-typing friendly.
- Add keywords but only if it makes sense.
- Go for a brandable domain name theyre valuable and easier to land than broad terms.
- Make sure you dont step on anyones registered trademark in the process.
- Choose the appropriate extension. While .com is still at the forefront, the newer and far cheaper extensions are becoming more popular by the day, so they may be worth considering, too.
- Use a domain name tool generator if youre stuck racking your brain for a name.
- Think about jump-starting the process by acquiring an expired or existing domain.
Finding the perfect domain name is a lot like finding the perfect song. What works best for your business and resonates most with users will inevitably change. But following these eight tips, youre sure to have a domain name that stands the test of time.
What Is A Domain Name Registrar
A domain name is a unique name that gives the proper identity to your site. They are also the name by which the users search your site on the web. For example, the domain name of our site is zakratheme.com.
When you are about to buy a new domain name, you always have to register it first. And a domain name registration site will help you with it. They are also known to be Domain Name Registrar or Domain Registrar.
Not only does it let you register or purchase the domain, it gives you full authority to manage as well.
All of the domain registrars work under ICANN . ICANN is a top-level non-profit authority that overall manages domain registration.
Many domain registration sites come with helpful tools that let you find the right name matching your business. They also give tons of domain name choices using different extensions like .com, .edu, .org, and more.
What you need to know is the domain you purchased will remain only for a specific period of time. Hence, the domain registrars are also the ones keeping track of expiry dates. Later, you can use their renewal services to retain the name you registered.
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Porkbun Review The Best Renewal Pricing On The Market
What good is a cherry domain name if you cant keep it? Weve all heard the horror stories of losing prime URL real estate on expiration. You spend the time brainstorming ideas, find an available domain, and buy it only to have all your hard work wiped away after a year.
There are two options for avoiding thisbuy a domain for as long as possible upfront or find a registrar with affordable, predictable renewal pricing.
For the latter, I recommend Porkbun.
They offer a killer combination of some of the best first-year price deals on new, trending, and alternative extensions as well as the best renewal rates nearly across the board. They beat the market on renewal pricing for over 200 domain extensions.
Look, its going to be ridiculously hard to find an available .com for your keywords at this point in the game. Unless youve gone the startup route of naming your company a cheeky misspelling of a real word, .com URLs are rare to find. Even if you do, youre going to have to pay out the nose for it.
But you dont need a .com or even a .net to have a memorable, easy-to-type web address. Think about the array of extensions that roll off the tongue and make sense for the purpose of your site, the industry you inhabit, or the type of people you want to visit.
Here are a few examples and the excellent rates you can find on Porkbun for them:
Heck, take a look at their renewal pricing on .com extensions against some of the big names:
Give Your Domain Name Maximum Impact With These Smart Expert Tips
Every week, I help entrepreneurs come up with creative domain names for their startups, apps, and new ventures. It’s actually easier than ever to brainstorm domain name ideas. And you don’t need a whiteboard and sticky notes to generate innovative ideas.
As a naming professional, I rely on a range of creative solutions to find available domain names.
You can use the same trusted tricks and tools that I use to come up with creative domain names that work for you. Here are five tips that can help you create a memorable .com domain name.
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Tip #: Use A Domain Name Suggestion Tool
One of the easiest ways to come up with domain name ideas is to use NameStudio.com, which combines many of the above tips into one free online domain name suggestion service. All you need to do is type in a few related words and a list of relevant options is automatically generated for you to choose from.
When I named a company Viper Lock, the .com domain name was parked so I registered:
- ViperLock.net and used NameStudio to brainstorm a list of more names.
- GetViperLock.com
Connecting Your Domain Name To Mailchimp
Whether youve bought your domain through Mailchimp or a third party, you can transfer your domain name and connect it to your Mailchimp account. Once connected, you can use that domain with a custom landing page or Mailchimp-hosted website. If you dont already have a website, Mailchimp offers a free website builder that you can use to make your brand stand out with no coding skills required.
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Choose A Domain Name Extension That Fits
Extensions are suffixes, such as .com or .net, at the end of web addresses. These can have specific uses, so make sure to choose one that works for your business. The .com domain extension is far and away the most popular, but it can be tough to get a short and memorable .com domain name because its been around for so long.
A bevy of new generic top-level domains like .app, .photography, .nyc and .guru offer a great opportunity to register short and highly relevant names. And here are some other top extensions and how theyre often used:
- .co : an abbreviation for company, commerce, and community.
- .info : informational sites.
- .net : technical, Internet infrastructure sites.
- .org : non-commercial organizations and nonprofits.
- .biz : business or commercial use, like e-commerce sites.
- .me : blogs, resumes or personal sites.
Related: Domain extensions guide What you need to know before you pick a domain name
Which Domain Host Is The Best For Your Next Project
I hope you found the ideal hosting provider for your next project. Whether youre looking to sell online or share your own literary witticisms, I urge you to head on over to our domain hosting page for further guidance and information.
While .blog, .music, and .ninja domain extensions are currently trending, we recommend you choose a .com domain.
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Stay Unique And Brandable
A unique domain name can help your business stand out and potentially help you avoid legal trouble. It can also contribute to your marketing efforts, so youll want it to be brandable.
StitchFix is an excellent example of a unique, brandable name.
StitchFix checks all the boxes when it comes to marketable domain names. Its fun to say, doesnt have any inherent meaning, and is easy to remember and spell.
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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How Does A Domain Name Work
When you clicked a link to this article, your browser looked the domain name up in the Domain Name System to see where the content for this article is stored. The DNS provided the IP address that is connected to the domain name jimdo.com. Your browser then loaded the content from the server at that IP address. And thats why you are able to read this right now.
Tech talk: Every website is stored on a server. On that server, the website has its own unique IP address: a series of numbers. Those numbers are hard to remember for humans, so the Domain Name System was introduced. Instead of the IP address, the website can now be reached by typing the domain name in a browser.
Rule #1 Buy A Com Only
There are tons of different extensions you can purchase like .ORG, .NET, .BIZ, .CO, .US, .MOBI etc. but I strongly advise against using them because they tend to look less professional and because most people type .COM by habit. Every time that happens:
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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.
Businesses Dont Own Domain Names
The first thing to keep in mind is that you are registering a domain name, not buying it.
Nobody really owns a domain name in the same way that they own an automobile or a house.
There is often a false sense of ownership with domains.
This is just something to keep in mind when approaching the registration of a domain name.
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Quick And Easy Domain Transfers
Domain transfers are a sneakily important aspect of a good registrar. This is especially true if you have chosen to bundle your services.
Why? Its simple: youre likely going to transfer your domain, especially if youve chosen to bundle it with a place like Bluehost. While we highly recommend bundling with Bluehost for beginners, its definitely not the last place your website will live if you want to really get serious about growing your traffic and web presence.
You also might end up finding a better deal with a different domain registrar later on. Or you might just not gel with the current domain registrar.
Whatever your reason, youre going to want to find a domain registrar with a clear and straightforward transfer policy. It shouldnt cost you a bunch of money and time on the phone with a customer support rep just to get your domain to a new registrar.
As you research, see what it takes to transfer a domain from their platform. Make sure its spelled out in clear and plain language. If not, you might end up kicking yourself down the road.