The elementary basis of a company is its name. This is also true for the Internet! A suitable domain is the basis for a promising business idea and a crucial element for your success on the web – accordingly, you should give it a lot of thought. It is your identity on the web and can add enormous value to your marketing and branding activities. Therefore, you should think about what kind of domain name you choose.
A good domain can bring a company to a lot of success. With a good web address, internet users are lead directly to your website. However, before settling on a domain name, there are a few things that should be considered first. Does the domain name make sense? Does the domain name convey the goals of the business enterprise? Or does the domain name have no connection to the content of the website?
This article shows what you should look out for when searching for a suitable domain and what criteria to consider.
What do you need to consider before registering a domain name?
Short and memorable name
Your company name should be as short as possible. Short domains are more successful than long ones. The probability of mistyping a short domain name is low and it is easier to remember. Google, Yahoo or Facebook have two syllables, some other company names usually have three. It should further be memorable in the sense that when you say the name you should also know how to spell it.
Fantasy names? Perfect for branding
Fantasy names are a great way to establish a brand. Bose, Dell, Boss, Porsche, Mercedes or Rolex: they are all fantasy terms or surnames of well-known luxury manufacturers who naturally attach great importance to branding. And the best way to do that is with a proper name.
When it comes to fantasy names, creativity is important. Many company names are created by combining initial letters. One example of this is the German confectionery company Haribo, which was founded by Hans Riegel from Bonn.
Registration of multiple domains
You have found a suitable domain and are ready to go? Many companies leave it at one domain but it is highly recommended to registering multiple domains, in order to protect your brand. For example, if you run an international business, it may make sense to register the domain with the country-specific domain of your country (e.g. .es for Spain, .co.uk for the UK or .fr for France). However, not all countries allow the unrestricted registration of country-specific domains. Many countries only allow it if you live or register a business there.
There are domain name generators that show a list of names. For this purpose, it uses a number of prefixes and suffixes. The registration of multiple domains serves to protect your brand. The domain name generator of IONOS supports your search for the right website name.
Legal protection for your domain name
Moreover, in the whole creative process of finding a name for your website, legal protection should not be neglected. Does your domain name infringe naming rights? Has it already been registered as a trademark? Research in advance whether the selected domain name is not already taken. On the websites of hosting providers, you can check whether the desired domain name is still available. There are certain tools, such as the domain checker, with which you can check the domain availability of your desired address on the net within a very short time. If the name you’re aiming for is already taken, you can do the following:
- Try a different domain extension
- Get in contact with the owner of the domain
- Consider a rebranding
Conclusion
To sum it up: when choosing a domain, you should think carefully and be quick. An unbelievable high number of new domains are registered every day. The probability that someone will snatch away your domain name, unfortunately, is rather high. True to the motto “better safe than sorry”, you should register a suitable domain name instead of coming up empty-handed in your search for the perfect name.
