Choosing a domain name

Domain Names for Acquisition

Possible Opportunity: This Outstanding Domain May be Open to Lease, Partnerships, Licensing, or Acquisition.

Choosing a domain name is a crucial step.

Selecting the right domain name is a crucial step in establishing your online presence. Whether it's for a new business site, email address, or personal project, your domain name is a significant part of your brand. It's where you'll build your online identity.

With a new .com domain registered every five seconds, prompt action increases your chances of securing your preferred choice. This guide provides comprehensive information on choosing a domain name that aligns perfectly with your website.

Your domain name is often the first point of contact, making it essential to reflect your purpose and uniqueness. A clear, distinctive domain name helps create a strong first impression.

What are the benefits of purchasing a premium domain name?

Here are some tips:

Tip 1 - Ensure Your Domain Name Aligns With Your Business Activity.

For instance, if your website serves as your personal Curriculum Vitae or portfolio, your own name is a logical choice for a domain name, as the site primarily revolves around you. When starting a blog, your domain could be themed around the blog's topic – such as "xlblog.de". For a business website, it's crucial to align the domain name with your business name – such as "TyreMaker.com". This is because users often infer a domain name based on the business name. Moreover, mismatched names can cause confusion; in search results and emails, it may be unclear which business is yours if the domain name doesn't match the business name.

Tip 2 - Make it memorable.

When selecting a new domain name, remember that search engines aren't the only means for people to discover your website. You could verbally share your website's address with someone, have it on business cards or promotional materials, or users might directly type it into their browser. Therefore, your domain name should be memorable, easily pronounceable, and simple to type. Hence, shorter and simpler domain names are more ideal.

For a straightforward domain name, it's advisable to avoid: numerical figures, which can lead to ambiguity as they could be either written out or numeric; lengthy or hard-to-spell words; and more than two or three words. Also, hyphens are generally best to avoid, except in the case where your desired domain name is unavailable, and the hyphenated version is an option. However, hyphenated domain names are more awkward to verbalize compared to their non-hyphen counterparts, so it's preferable to avoid them when possible.

Brief list for easy recall

Is it smooth to articulate?
Does the domain name flow well when spoken?
Is it effortless to read and pronounce?

Does it lend itself to easy spelling?
Are there any words that are frequently misspelled or miswritten?
Does it convey a clear and understandable meaning, or does it require explanation?

Tip 3 - Keep it simple and short.

Keep it brief: Aim for a domain name with 1-2 words, max. This makes it easier to remember and reduces the risk of typos or misspellings.
Use a straightforward approach: Avoid complex or overly descriptive names. Instead, opt for a simple, descriptive phrase or a combination of words that accurately represent your brand or business.
Prioritize memorability: A short and sweet domain name is more likely to stick in people’s minds. Consider using alliteration, rhyming, or wordplay to make your domain name more memorable.
Avoid abbreviations: While shortening your domain name may seem appealing, abbreviations can be difficult to pronounce and remember. Stick to a straightforward, easy-to-understand approach.

By following these guidelines, you can increase the chances of choosing a domain name that is both easy to remember and easy to find.

Tip 4 - Include your brand or keywords.

When deciding on a domain name, it’s essential to strike a balance between incorporating your brand identity and including relevant keywords.

Here are key considerations:

Brand Recognition: A branding domain name focuses on creating a unique and memorable identity for your business. This approach improves brand recognition and can lead to customer loyalty.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Keyword-rich domain names include specific keywords related to your business or industry, which can boost search engine ranking and attract targeted audiences.
Location: Including your location in the domain name, especially if you operate in a specific market, can help with local search rankings.

Best Practices:

Include your business or brand name as the primary identifier.
Use relevant keywords to provide clarity around your brand and industry.
Refine your location by including city, neighborhood, or street names (if applicable).
Avoid keyword stuffing; focus on a few key terms that accurately represent your brand.

Example Domain Name Scenarios:

Branding-focused: example.com (simple and memorable)
Keyword-rich: (includes location and industry keywords)
Balanced: (includes location and industry keywords, with a focus on brand recognition)

By considering both branding and keyword-rich approaches, you can create a domain name that effectively represents your business and appeals to your target audience.

Tip 5 - Avoid numbers and hyphens.

Here are some guidelines for avoiding numbers and hyphens in domain names:

Avoid overuse of hyphens: Limit the number of hyphens to one or two to maintain user-friendliness, as excessive hyphens can make the domain name difficult to remember and type, like Preferred-Hotels.com, or Vatican-City-State.com (Source: “The Pros and Cons of Using Hyphens in Domain Names” by Domain Magazine).
Hyphens can add complexity: Domains with hyphens are uncommon and may pose a hurdle for your audience to land on your website (Source: “Domain Name Rules: Can Domains Have Numbers, Hyphens, Spaces and Other Symbols?”).
Numbers can be confusing: Avoid using numbers in your domain name, as they can be easily mistaken for letters or cause confusion (no specific source mentioned).
Focus on letters and word-based domains: Prioritize domain names that use letters and words, making it easier for users to remember and type your website’s address.

In summary, while hyphens are technically allowed in domain names, it’s recommended to limit their use and opt for word-based domains without numbers and hyphens to ensure a more user-friendly and memorable online presence.

Tip 6 - Check availability and trademarks.

To check the availability of a domain name, you can use online tools such as Name.com or GoDaddy. These services allow you to search for domain names and provide suggestions if the desired name is already taken. You can also use their built-in domain name generators to find alternative names.

Trademark Check

Before registering a domain name, it’s essential to check if the name is already registered as a trademark. You can use the following methods:

USPTO’s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS): Search for trademarks on the USPTO’s website (uspto.gov) using TESS. This free service allows you to search for exact matches, similar names, and word endings.
Online TM Searches: Utilize online trademark search platforms like Trademarkia.com, Markify.com, or Corporation Service Company (CSC) to search for trademarks.
State Business Name Checkers: Verify if the business name is already registered in your state by searching the state’s business name database.

Domain Name Availability and Trademark Considerations

If the domain name is available but already registered as a trademark, you may need to choose a different name to avoid trademark infringement.
If the domain name is taken but not registered as a trademark, you can try to negotiate with the current registrant or consider alternative domain names.
If the domain name is already registered as a trademark and you want to use it, you’ll need to obtain permission from the trademark owner or risk trademark infringement.

Best Practices

Conduct thorough searches for domain name availability and trademark status before registering a domain name.
Consider registering multiple domain extensions (e.g., .com, .net, .io) to protect your brand.
Verify social media handle availability on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Plan ahead for future expansions by checking business name availability in multiple states.

Additional Resources

USPTO’s Trademark Search System (uspto.gov)
Name.com Domain Name Search (name.com)
GoDaddy Domain Name Search (godaddy.com)
Corporation Service Company (CSC) Trademark Search (cscglobal.com)

By following these guidelines and utilizing available resources, you can ensure a smooth domain name registration process while avoiding potential trademark issues.

Tip 7 - Defensive domain registration:

Defensive domain registration means securing domain names that a competitor might potentially register in the future. This includes registering both singular and plural forms of a domain name, as well as versions like .net, .org, .biz, .info, and .us. If your audience is global or English-speaking, consider registering .ca and .co.uk versions too. While not mandatory, failing to do so might lead to legal issues if a competitor registers these variants. You'd then need to engage a lawyer to send a cease and desist notice, which may not yield results, especially if the competitor is in a different country. Registering these additional domains is not just defensive but can also be useful for future purposes. For instance, I once used the .net version while the .com was being fixed.

Tip 8 - Country Code and Generic Top-Level Domains:

This refers to the suffix at the end of a web address. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) like .uk or .ca, represent specific countries or territories. On the other hand, Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .com, .org, or .net, do not have geographic restrictions and are used for various purposes.

Tip 9 - Think about registering different versions of your domain name.

People often modify words unpredictably. This leads me to suggest registering reasonable domain name variations. For instance, if your domain is "ElectronicPatch," consider also registering "ElectronicPatches" as it's common for 'es' to be added to singular domain names. People may misremember your domain in various ways, so register these variants and redirect them to the correct site. This approach can also help you capture links from sites that may have incorrectly linked to your domain. Additionally, this strategy serves as a preventative measure, preventing potential competitors from registering a similar domain in the future.