A domain name is basically a unique name you have on the internet that people can type into a browser and easily access your files which are stored as a database on your hosting account.
To own one, there are several processes you need to undergo, and that is what we are going to explore in this article
But before we do so, I want you to keep in mind that the best way to choose a domain name is to make it correspond with your type of business or niche.
For example, if you are opening a website for a hotel, you should include hotels to make it specific to not only your visitors but also the search engine robot.
Having a domain that corresponds with your business will help you to gain authority for your specific niche and in so doing rank higher on search engines.
Now let’smoveon to explore the best tips topick a domain name for your website.
5 best tips to pick a domain name for your website.
The 5 best tips to pick a domain name are:
- Pick a name that is short and easy to remember.
- Don’t use numbers and hyphen.
- Check the availability of the name.
- Use a domain generator.
- Register your domain.
1. Pick a name that is short and easy to remember..
The first step towards picking a domain name is to pick a domain name that is short and easy to remember.
Now when you check all the domains that are popular across the world, you will realize that they have one thing in common and that is names that are short and easy remember.
Examples are Google, Facebook, Amazon, Instagram etc.
As a rule of thumb, never allow your domain name to exceed 10 to 15 characters or letter words.
2. Don’t use numbers and hyphen.
When you access all the popular domains on the internet, you will realize that none of them carries a number or hyphen.
And this is because numbers and hyphens make it hard for people to pronounce your domain name and as such cannot recommend them to others.
So my humble advice is that you should desist from using them at all.
3. Check the availability of the name.
Chances exist that there could be someone else who is already usingthe name you have come up with, so before you settle for a domain name run a search to check if the name already exists.
There are basically 2 ways of doing this and they are;
- Simply type the domain name into a browser and if it does not open it means the domain name is free.
- Visit a domain provider or hosting company and use their domain search integration to check if the domain name you have chosen already exists.
Please note that when using a domain provider or web hosting company to look up a domain you are going to get 2 responses which are: Available and not available.
Available simply means that there is no one using the domain name and as such it is free.
Not available means that there is already a website or blog on the internet using your chosen domain name. And so you can either choose a new domain name or modify the one you have already chosen.
Also, there are domain names that have been bought by someone and put out for sale.
In this case, you will simply see an advert that the domain is for sale and if you are interested in buying it you can look up the price and buy.
4. Use a domain name generator.
In case you are still lost on what domain name is best for your business here in Nigeria, you can opt for a domain name generator.
A domain name generator is simply a platform that will suggest names that you can choose for your online business.
One of them is BizNameWiz.com.
When you arrive at the website, input a keyword suitable for your business and click generate. You can then use the results to select a domain name you like.
5. Register your domain name.
Once you have followed the above steps and settled for a domain name, the last thing you need to do is to register that domain right away because you do not know someone somewhere who has also decided to use the name and will soon register it.
To therefore register your domainname, choose a domain registrar or a web hosting company that offers domain registration.
I recommend Bluehost and Truehost, because I have used them for so many years now without any issues.
Even if you decide not touse them,make sure you contact any registrar or web hosting provider you will prefer and ask them how you will go about registering your domain name in their company.
My humble advice is to avoid any registrar or web hosting company that does not have an active 247 customer support.