Buying a domain name isn’t the hardest part of making a website but it can be a little bit frustrating. This is because you might spend hours brainstorming an awesome idea only to consult the registrar and find that it’s already taken!
What’s more, your desired extension might already compete with a pre-registered trademark, thus cancelling out your ability to use that extension but for a different reason.
Regardless, it’s nothing to find daunting, you just have to follow these three imperative considerations to ensure your web address is one that is free-to-use and registered with a world class provider:
1.Ensure your dream extension is good to go
If you want to buy domain names that are free to use then you must follow this simple checklist:
- Check for trademarks: You can easily go online to see if your desired extension contains any pre-registered trademarks. If it does and you use it without knowledge you may be required to change it down the line which could damage all the hard work you’ve done building up your website.
Check other businesses: You don’t want to register a web address that’s similar to another business address especially if it is one in your industry.
Could there be confusion? You have come up with the perfect web address, but is someone else using a similar address with a different extension? For example, you might want to use a .org extension, but is someone using the same web address with a .org.au extension? - How does it sound? Read the web address aloud and see how it sounds. Does it flow off the tongue or sound clunky to say? Is it easy to spell if someone were to share it with word of mouth? All of these considerations can make a big difference in the way users interact with your web address.
- Check for silly words: You don’t want any accidental portmanteaus (word combinations like brunch) that will embarrass your business i.e. americanscrapmetal. com.
- Does it have a pre-existing reputation? Check the extension’s history to ensure that it doesn’t have a pre-existing bad reputation.
2.Look into the registrar
You want to ensure you are joining a reputable registrar, too. So be sure to follow these simple checkpoints:
- Ensure you will be the owner: You must ensure that the extension will be registered in your name, why? Because a provider that registers the extension in their name can take hold of your extension and, consequently, hold you to ransom.
- Check for flexibility: You want to be able to scale up your hosting at a moment’s notice so be sure to look for a provider that offers full flexibility to optimise your service when you need it.
- Ask about their features: The right host will provide a range of features that will not only connect your website to the DNS but will ensure high performance with guaranteed uptime.
3.Get the best deal for your needs
Finally, you want to ensure you are getting the best deal for your business needs, so check the following:
- Renewal terms: You should definitely check how much the extension will cost in your second year of ownership and even beyond that. This is to ensure the fees don’t just jump up after you take advantage of a first year discount.
- Check the terms: You might be able to register the web address for more than one year and even up to several years.
- Register: Now that you’ve found the perfect host you can go ahead and register your awesome domain name!