Your website’s domain name is the foundation of your online brand and the most crucial decision you’ll make. There are a few essential things to remember during the domain registration process.
Extensions and top-level domains
Everyone is familiar with the.co.za or.com extensions, and website domains have progressed far beyond those basic extensions. There are so many popular top-level domains (TLDs) these days that you must be careful when selecting one for your domain name.
Some businesses will buy all the domain extensions available to prevent someone else from using their name with a different extension. This will not necessarily result in more traffic, but you can redirect them to your site to protect your brand. However, this is not always an option when it comes to registering your domain. Therefore, you must exercise caution when selecting a domain extension.
Your objective
This is the most critical consideration. A “.com” or “.biz” domain registration could be beneficial for an online business. If you use a blog to keep an online journal, “.me” could be the ideal extension. Whatever top-level domain you choose should be informed by the ultimate purpose of your site so that the registered domain is consistent. If unsure, take advantage of local SEO by registering a .co.za domain.
The most common extension is .com (commercial). While it was originally intended for commercial sites, it is now used for a wide range of registered domains.
.net (network) – Originally intended for networked websites, it is a good backup if your preferred extension is already taken. It’s also ideal for technology firms because “net” implies technology and networking.
.org (organisation) – Intended for organisations, particularly non-profit organizations
.edu (education) – Intended for educational institutions.
.biz (business) – This is an alternative to.com domains for businesses, but spammy sites have been known to use it, so it may have some negative connotations.
.me (personal) – This extension is frequently used for non-commercial personal websites or blogs.
The extension is only a small part of your domain name. So, how do you choose which domain to register?
Your domain name should be memorable, relevant to your business, and easy to remember. Keep it brief and free of numbers and hyphens. Ideally, your domain should reflect the purpose of your website. Of course, your brand or business name is ideal, but if you’re just starting something online, consider what a stranger might think of you if they read your domain. Is it in sync?
Keywords in your domain can help with SEO, but they must be strategically placed and extremely relevant.
If the domain you want to register is already taken and you don’t want to change the top-level domain, try modifying your domain name slightly with a pre- or postfix. This should be the only time you use a hyphen in your domain name, so make it count.
What happens now that you’ve decided on a domain?
Most hosting companies will help you register a domain name. Companies like Ipcoweb Digital will check the availability of your desired domain and easily register it. We can also help you with domain redirects and domain name renewals. Consolidating all your website hosting and services with one company makes sense. Ipcoweb Digital will assist you in moving everything, upgrading disc space as needed, and advise you on SSL certification.
Ipcoweb Digital takes a hands-on approach to assist you with domain registration, hosting your website and email accounts, and server maintenance. Contact Ipcoweb Digital today for more information on registering a domain.
