
One of the most crucial choices you’ll make when creating a new website is what to call it. People will use your domain name as the web address to find your website, therefore it’s critical to pick something memorable and pertinent to your company. We will discover several domain name selection blunders to avoid in this blog.
A critical first step in building a credible online presence for your website is selecting the appropriate domain name. When choosing a domain name, however, there are some typical mistakes that people frequently make that can harm their brand, visibility, and user experience. You may position yourself for success and make sure that your domain name is in line with your company’s objectives by being aware of these traps and avoiding them. We will look at the common blunders to avoid when picking a domain name for your website in this article.
Common Pitfalls When Choosing Domain Name
Do Not Use Numbers
Some people can be tempted to replace words in their domain names with numbers, such as “2” for “to.” While this might lead to a shorter domain name, it might also make it more challenging for consumers to foresee and comprehend your domain name’s registration wording. When browsing for a domain, potential visitors frequently don’t run thorough searches.
For Shorter Choices, Take into Account .pk Direct Domain Names:
Consider registering for .pk direct domain names if you’re aiming for shorter domain names. You can read more about the advantages of .pk domain names for your company here if you’re not familiar with them.
Do not Restrict your TLD Choices:
The last part of your domain name, following the last dot, is the top-level domain (TLD). In Australia, it is advisable to reserve the .com.au TLD when registering a domain. A common error is to overlook the possibility of registering a name under several TLDs.
This error could cause issues if you decide to grow your company in the future because the appropriate TLD might already be taken. Additionally, brand protection depends on it. Future issues may be avoided by registering the .com and other pertinent TLDs early on, such as .co.nz,.co.uk and .com.pk domains.
Keep in Mind Your Handles on Social Media:
Consider creating an online presence on several social media sites before registering your new domain name. Make sure you are familiar with the naming conventions used by each social media network so that people can switch between them with ease.
Registering Difficult-to-spell Names Should be Avoided
Avoid using domain names that are difficult to spell whenever you can. However, it can be required to register alternate spellings or likely misspelling domains if your brand name is complex. So that you don’t lose any potential customers, you can use a 301 redirect to send that traffic to your actual website.
Avoid Using Homophones:
Homophones are words with the same sound but different spellings and definitions. A few examples are “poor” and “pour,” as well as “die” and “dye.” Using such words can make visitors to your website confused unless it is clear what your domain name should be. It’s advisable to stay away from them if you can. As an alternative, you can create a redirect from one domain name to the other by purchasing two domain names, each containing one of the homophones.
Avoid Registering Domains That are Too Long:
People are more likely to misspell names with more characters. Long domain names are difficult to recall and read, especially when there is no white space. It’s best to make your domain name brief and simple to understand.
Go for a Combination of Words
Unintentionally mixing many words to form a term that was not meant is a typical error made when building websites. This problem has been experienced by companies like partnerstalking.com.au and childrenswear.co.uk. Take the time to thoroughly consider how the words in your domain name relate to make sure they convey the desired message or brand image before spending the money to register a domain name.
Check the Domain’s Registration History:
It’s crucial to look into a domain name’s registration history, especially if you’re thinking of registering it for your company even though it has already expired. By purchasing such a domain, you can acquire its past—which may have been advantageous or detrimental.
The domain might have been linked to phishing sites, scams, unlawful activity, or the spread of malware. If this is the case, certain browsers or services may blacklist your website, warnings may be shown to visitors, and search engines may not list or rank your domain favorably. Avoid registering such domain names, it is advised.
Look at the Domain’s Associated Content:
It can be useful to look at the prior content linked to a domain while researching its registration history. In particular, look for any outdated or archived content that can interfere with your brand or message.
Ascertain that no Current Domains Have Similar Names:
Confusion among your visitors can result from registering a domain name that is confusingly similar to an already-existing domain, particularly a competitor’s domain.
People who think you are trying to steal traffic from the existing site by using virtually the same domain name may also criticize you if the other website is significantly older than yours. Even if you mistakenly registered a similar domain, the perception could still be adverse.
Don’t Let Someone Else Register Your Domain:
If you’re unfamiliar with the domain registration procedure, it may seem overwhelming to handle it yourself. On the other hand, if you permit a third party, like a web design company, to register your domain, they will ultimately possess the URL. To have total control over the domain, it is recommended that you register it yourself.
Protection from Spam is Essential
Avoid receiving spam by realizing that when you register a domain, a searchable Whois database makes your contact information accessible to the general public. It is advised to spend money on a domain privacy service to reduce spam emails and unwanted telemarketing calls. The contact information for your domain is kept private and out of the public eye thanks to domain privacy.
Do Not Forget to Renew Your Domain(s):
You are essentially renting a domain name when you buy one for a specified amount of time, so don’t forget to renew it. Remembering to renew your domain before it expires is essential. If you forget to renew it, rivals may be able to register the domain when it becomes available. To make sure that your domains are never allowed to expire, think about setting up auto-renewal.