subject: Guide to Choosing a Domain Name [print this page] Guide to Choosing a Domain Name Guide to Choosing a Domain Name
Domain names are fast disappearing, and it is most likely that your first preference is not available. While many domains are owned by real websites a vast majority of them are owned by squatters who then try to make a fast buck. The practice of domain-squatting must be declared illegal and allow companies to appeal to a universal justice system to thwart such people. However, that does not mean that if your first choice is not available, then you resort to any domain name with any extension.
As a web industry veteran and with many real domains that I have booked for clients, I can suggest a few things that must be kept in mind while booking a domain name. The first important rule is to make sure that you are the Registrant and Administrative Contact for the domain, as this gives you the real ownership of the domain. Scores of my clients have a hard time negotiating a transfer of domain from their website providers because they were booked under the website provider's name.
The second important thing is to try to retain independent control of the domain, which means not to go for the Free domain names offered by your hosting company. Transferring out can be a headache, and you are at the mercy of their support for any modifications. Best is to book a domain with ICANN registrars directly.
The next thing is selecting the domain name. Keep in mind a few things. The domain-name must be easy to remember, simple spelling, short and indicative of your company name or line of business. Using abbreviations is a good idea only if your company name is too long or your company name is not available.
The next thing is to remember that the domain extensions have some significance. For commercial enterprises the.com is most preferred and most popular, and is also the default in most cases. The.org are largely for professional bodies, while.net for organizations or communities. The.edu is reserved for educational institutes. Country name extensions have made it easier to find your domain name and also have some regulation to discourage squatters.
Avoid using hyphens in your domain name as they are difficult to remember and communicate verbally. Use of numbers is also avoidable unless it has a significance. Make the name easy to remember and you are sure of more visitors and fewer lost customers. Remember that your domain name is the identity of your company on the web and a permanent thing, so spend a little more thought and consideration while deciding.
