Tips on Domain Selection

Domain name selection is the first step in Web hosting. A domain name is the identity of a Web site, and in most cases, the identity of the business itself. Almost all companies run their business through online channels, so the domain name has got a lot of significance in commercial perspective too. An intelligently picked domain name can contribute significantly towards the success of the business.

Domain names can contain letters, numbers and hyphens; however, hyphens are not allowed in the beginning or the end of the name. Spaces and special symbols are not allowed. The name can have 2 to 63 characters, excluding the domain extension. Domain names are not case sensitive.

Here are a few tips suggested by popular Web hosting companies on selecting the best domain names.

• Try to get a domain name that is exactly the name of your company. If your company is XYZ, the domain name should be like xyz.com, xyz.info, xyz.uk, etc. This is one of the best ways to draw your customers directly to your company Web site, even if they do not know what exactly your domain name is. Users usually type in the name of your company in the URL column of their browser. Therefore, by providing the exact name for the URL, you can attract even the new customers.

• Get your domain name extension ‘.com.’ This is because of the popularity of the .com Web sites. Many users are habituated to enter ‘.com’ at the end of the URL of their favorite Web sites, so if you want to catch them faster, be prepared with a .com Web site. If you are left with no option, then go for alternatives such as .info, .biz, or country specific extensions such as .us, .uk, etc. Extension .org is used for non-commercial Web sites.

• A unique domain name is a worrisome concern in Web hosting. Many service providers, therefore, ask their clients to register alternate domain names that look similar to their registered names. This method will avoid creation of similar-looking domains. For example, if you registered your Web site as ‘idslogic.com,’ you may also register alternate names such as ‘idslogic.com,’ ‘idslogic.info’ and ‘idslogic.com.’ This method will not only help you direct all prospective visitors to your Web site, but also keep your competitors, who are trying to grab your business by imitating your brand, at bay.

Web hosting India professionals advice that the domain name be simple to read and understand. It should not be too short or too long. Avoid using abbreviations as users often fail to recognize them.