Understanding The Basics Of Domain Name Selection

By Author: Smit Mathur
Total Articles: 102
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Finalising a domain name is one of the most crucial decisions that you will need to undertake as an online entrepreneur. So, what are the most important things that you need to consider when making that final choice? You must have, by now, heard about the use of keywords, short names, non-trademarked names, etc. Here are a few handy tips that you should keep in mind:
 
Many companies use a hyphenated name for domain registration. Let's analyse the pros and cons of using such a name for your online business. Search engines will be able to distinguish your keywords better and thus return your site more prominently in search results for your chosen keywords. The second advantage is that even though you may not be able to secure the non-hyphenated form, at least this way, you will still get the domain name you want.
 
The disadvantages associated with hyphenated domain names include the difficulty in remembering them. Many users often leave out the hyphens, thereby ending up at a different site, which is most likely owned by your competitor! Now, why would you want to do that? Hyphenated names also ...
... limit the chances of your site being recommended by online users. It is always easier for people to remember and refer website names that have too many characters.  
 
Another dilemma that you might face when choosing your domain name is the use of ‘the' or ‘my' in the name. Let's discuss if this is a viable option. When you set out to register a domain, the registrar makes some suggestions if you are not able to get the name you want. For example, if you wanted ‘website.com', and it was taken, it might suggest names like ‘thewebsite.com' or ‘mywebsite.com', if they are still available. In such a case, should you take them?
 
You can, only if you are sure how to promote your website with the full form of the name. Don't make the mistake of registering ‘thewebsite.com' and then optimising it for ‘website.com'. It sounds weird, but a lot of webmasters actually end up making this mistake; the conveniently forget ‘the' or ‘my'.   
 
One of the toughest choices you need to make is the choice of extension. Should your domain name be a .com, .net, .org, or your country-specific extension? Well, the solution depends on the objective of your online business. For example, if your business caters to the local community in your region, such as a pizza delivery business or recruitment agency, etc., it is best to go for a country-specific domain. It will be beneficial because it gives you a local identity and therefore more credibility. But, if you are targeting an international audience, you could go for any of the extensions, depending on availability.
 
If you want to book a domain name for your business, contact Linux Web Host, one of the premier domain name registration companies in Australia.