Registering domains seems like it should be easy, but many find themselves wanting to learn more about registering domains once they’re deeper in the process. There are a lot of different options for choosing domains, and they aren’t always obviously-right or obviously-wrong. The following are some simple pitfalls to avoid when you pick your next domain. No matter what kind of website you’re trying to put together, the following are some things you’ll want to keep in mind.
First, know what top-level domain you need. The top-level domain is the last few characters at the end of a URL, like “.com” or “.biz.” They aren’t all for the same purposes and some of them have different requirements. For instance, many country-coded domains like “.us” don’t allow you to register your domain with privacy screens. Depending on what kind of website you intend to operate, this may be a very bad idea for you. Look into the ramifications of different top-level domains before you commit to anything or get too enthused with an idea. You’ll want to make sure there aren’t any ramifications that render it unsuitable for you. As well, you should look into what people think of different top-level domains. Many people find themselves strongly disliking “.info” and “.biz” websites, for instance, without really understanding why or what these top-level domains are for. Do your research!
Next, don’t pass up privacy protection. It’s presented as an up-sell, but there is no tangible reason not to pursue privacy protection. Having your site privacy-screened means that anyone performing a whois lookup on your site will get the information for your privacy registrar. If they don’t get this information, they’ll get your information instead. Registering a domain without privacy can put personal contact information out on the open web for anyone to acquire and interact with, which will usually not be favorable. Exercise appropriate caution on the web. There’s no reason to be paranoid, but there’s no reason to expose yourself either.
Finally, don’t think that shorter is always better. Many people try to get the shortest domains they can. Short domains are generally inferior to easily-memorable domains, however. If your domain can’t be easily said aloud, it may not be ideal. Your domain should also always match what it is your site is for. Include keywords if it’s an informative site about a topic. Clever names should be reserved for branding when possible.
