A domain name is a human-readable address used to identify and locate resources on the internet. It serves as a user-friendly way to access websites and other online services. Think of a domain name as the digital equivalent of a physical address for a house or business.
A domain name consists of two main parts:
Second-Level Domain (SLD): This is the primary part of the domain name and is unique to the website or resource it represents. For example, in the domain name “example.com,” “example” is the second-level domain.
Top-Level Domain (TLD): This is the part that comes after the second-level domain and often indicates the type or purpose of the website or organization. Common TLDs include “.com,” “.org,” “.net,” “.edu,” and country-code TLDs like “.uk” (United Kingdom) or “.ca” (Canada). In “example.com,” “.com” is the top-level domain.
Together, the second-level domain and top-level domain make up a complete domain name, such as “example.com” or “google.com.”
Choosing the right domain name for your website is a crucial step in building an online presence.
- Use a top-level domain (example “.com”) as they are a more established and credible domain name extension.
- Make it unique, brandable, and memorable. For example, Amazon.com is a more brandable name than BuyClothesOnline.com.
- Try using keywords in your domain name. Keywords help describe your business and can help your branding efforts.
- Keep domain names under 15 characters and easy to spell.
- Avoid hyphens and doubled letters in the domain name as they can be prone to typos.
- Avoid similar domains to competitors as you don’t want to accidentally direct traffic to a competitor.
- Leave room for expansion as you don’t want to limit your long-term options. Example, CustomBathrooms.com but in the future you decide to expand into Kitchen remodels too.
- Check to make sure your domain name ideas aren’t trademarked by another business by searching the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
- Use a Domain Name Generator to help with ideas.
- Target your local area – If you have a local business, consider adding your city or state in the domain name. As always use a reputable domain registrar when purchasing a domain name like GoDaddy or Network Solutions. Combined they have over 70 million registered domains.
