5 Questions to Ask Before You Register a Domain Name
Registering a domain name is an exciting time for a business, especially if it’s your first one. It’s a rite of passage, and it makes your entity official, real and tangible. Long before you prepare to purchase, you’ve probably taken the time to come up with a catchy name that personifies your company. However, there are a few more things to consider before you click “buy.”
Is Your Moniker Clear and Concise?
Sometimes, a company can get away with a name which has nothing to do with the product or service they provide, but they are few and far between. Be sure your online identity is something that is associated with what the site is used for, and that it’s easy to understand. For instance, a pet sitter’s website will be easier to remember if it’s called FredsPetSitting.com, rather than FredsPetSittingGroomingandDogWalkingService.com. If the moniker you’ve chosen can’t be easily remembered or identified, you might want to head back to the drawing board.
Is There Room for Growth?
Beginning entrepreneurs often focus on a single product or service and build their site around it. While that’s sensible in terms of content, it can cause difficulties if you use it for the name and want to expand later. It’s better form to register a domain name that represents your company as a whole, rather than a portion of it. If you’re sure that your product is a winner, and that you’ll be with it for a long time, consider getting both names. You can actually set up one website to redirect traffic to the other, so you won’t need to maintain and build two sites. An additional benefit to doing it this way, is that nobody else can grab your product or business name for their own website. You’re protecting your long-term interests.
Can You Get a Dot Com Domain Name?
When people hand-key a site, they will automatically enter a dot com suffix. In fact, some browsers are designed to automatically fill in “.com” if you don’t enter a suffix. Even though your service will probably offer you a dot net, dot biz, or other suffix when your first pick has been chosen, you might want to reconsider and select an entirely different name. It’s quite likely that your customers will go to them, instead of finding you, no matter how good your marketing scheme is. Conversely, if your desired dot com is available, you’ll likely be offered the alternatives. If you can afford to, it’s a good idea to grab them while you can to avoid brand-confusion later. Although most of the time people register a domain name that’s related, simply because the dot com was taken, others will be more devious with their plotting. They can set up a site similar to yours, in a cloak-and-dagger scenario, and take credit for your reputation, or worse, damage it.
Do You Want the World to Know Who You Are?
The obvious answer is, “Yes!” Of course you want the world to know about your product or service or you wouldn’t be spending the time developing a website. The problem is, though, that your personal data will be published in the WHOIS directory, along with your site information when you register a domain name. If you’d rather not have your name or other information associated with your new venture, make sure you seek out a company that provides privacy settings. Sometimes, the company you get your name from will place their information where yours would normally be for a small fee. If you’re a private person, it’s well-worth the couple of extra bucks. Moreover, it will help keep you off spam lists that are occasionally generated by bots crawling the mandatory registry.
Do You Know the Company’s Reputation?
It’s always a good idea to research the company you want to purchase through. Some will sneak in hidden fees or will have a difficult renewal process. Moreover, if you’re new, there’s a decent chance you’ll need live customer service at some point. Be sure to work with a firm which has a solid online reputation and good reviews. You’ll also want to be sure that you can get help when you need it, via phone or live chat.
It’s ok to celebrate the dawning of your new website and to be excited for your adventure, but take a few deep breaths and think about your long-term goals before you buy. Registering a domain name is the first step of a journey. It sets the foundation for your overall experience, so be sure to choose both the name and the company you work with carefully to ensure your trip is a smooth one.