What to think about before buying a domain name – 10 tips!

Do you want to buy a domain name? Good choice. With a domain name, you make your business visible online. However, before purchasing, it is essential to think about several things. Let us help you with the 10 tips in this article before you register a domain name.

Why buy a domain name?

Several reasons exist why buying a domain name for your business makes sense. We mentioned in the introduction that you create more online visibility, but there are more benefits. With a domain name:

• You create branding for your company;
• You differentiate yourself from competitors;
• You are easily findable online;
• You can email with your own email address;
• You can claim your online place before anyone else does.

What should you think of when buying a domain name?

Registering a domain name is easy to do. But before doing so, it is essential to think of a few things to minimise the chances of something going wrong. Below are 10 tips you should consider before you are going to buy a domain name.

1. History

First, check the history of a domain name. Why? Because a domain name may have been used before. When a domain name is cancelled, it is available for anyone to register. It’s a shame if you choose a domain name that has been used for spam, phishing or other harmful practices. You will be 0-1 behind.

Also, check for the following points:

• What kind of website was associated with the domain name?
• What is the backlink profile of the domain name?
• What is the age of the domain name?

2. Top-level domain

Consider which top-level domain you want to use. A top-level domain is the last part of a domain name after the dot and says something about, for example, the region or industry in which the website operates. .NL indicates a Dutch-language website. And .shop is for online shops.

Choose a top-level domain that suits your business. Do you run a yoga studio? Check out .yoga. Do you have an art gallery? .GALLERY is an excellent top-level domain for you. All the top-level domains you can register at one.com can be found on the domain prices page.

3. Relevance

Before buying a domain name, it is essential to come up with a name relevant to your business. For example, choose your company name or a term that suits what you have to offer.

Example

Suppose you are active in the UK market and register a .nl domain name. Or you choose a domain name containing the word ‘solar panels’ while selling television satellites. Both put visitors on the wrong track and are irrelevant to your business.

Tip: Do you need help with choosing a domain name? Read our article with domain name tips.

4. Simplicity

Of course, you want to come up with a powerful domain name. After all, it is the first online impression of your business. So come up with a short, recognisable domain and easy to remember.

Example

For example, let’s take a cake shop known for its gluten-free cakes. A domain name like ‘glutenfreecakeshopsmithinlonden.uk’ is too long and difficult to remember. A better choice is, for example, ‘glutenfreecake.shop’.

5. SEO

Did you know that a domain name can affect your company’s SEO? To give you an example: Google prioritises domain names with .uk in the UK search results because it is clear that this website was created for an English-speaking audience. This situation also applies to other regions. So think carefully about your domain name before you register it.

But the entire domain name can also positively affect your SEO. Say you are a new pizza restaurant whose name has yet to be discovered. You can capitalise on what people are looking for with a domain name. For example, choose the top-level domain .restaurant and combine it into the domain name ‘pizza.restaurant’. Or choose .pizza if you sell vegan pizzas and register ‘vegan.pizza’.

6. Trademark and trade name law

Have you come up with a strong domain name? You need to check you are not infringing on a trademark or trade name. After all, this is not allowed.

What is not allowed?

You may not sell products or services under the same name (in the same region) that another company already sells. This is because confusion may arise.

What is allowed?

You are allowed to sell products or services under the same name if you start operating in a different industry. And you may sell products or services under the same name if you operate in another region.

Important: Always consult a lawyer first if you are in doubt or want to be sure of your case.

7. Price

Top-level domains have different prices. Therefore, consider how much money you want to spend on a domain name and what you think is worth investing in your business. Do you have a small budget? Choose cheaper top-level domains like .uk and .com. Many registrars, such as one.com, even discount you in the first year of registration. You will only spend a few amounts of money each year. Do you have more budget? Take a look at exclusive top-level domains like .ai or .hiphop.

8. Support

It is also wise to research beforehand what kind of support you will get from a registrar. Ask yourself what kind of support you want and what features you want. This can vary from one registrar to another.

Support at one.com

At one.com, we are happy to help you with questions, problems, or advice. Are you going to register a domain name with us? Then you will benefit from, among other things:

• Quick registration request
• Choice of 400+ top-level domains
• Create unlimited subdomains
• No hidden costs
• 24/7 support for questions
• Useful manuals and articles.

9. Future plans

Think about what you want to do with your business in the future. For example, do you have plans to do business in the UK first and expand to the Netherlands later? In this case, it is helpful to register a .nl domain name and park it temporarily. Do you want to expand to Europe? It might be handy to go for a .eu domain right away. Or are you going to operate internationally? A .com domain name is the right choice.

10. Availability

Finally, you should check whether your desired domain name is available for registration. At one.com, you can quickly check your domain through the checker. Follow these steps to check the availability of your domain name:

1. Go to the domain page.
2. Enter your desired domain name in the ‘Find your domain name’ field, with or without a top-level domain.
3. Click on the magnifying glass.
4. You arrive at an overview page where you can see whether your domain name is still available. Or whether you should choose an alternative.

Do you want to know exactly how to apply for a domain at one.com? Read our article ‘How to register a domain name?’.

A retrospective

Before buying a domain name, it is wise to familiarise yourself with a few things beforehand. This article has helped you do just that. For example, check the domain’s history, which top-level domains exist and whether you are not infringing trademark and trade name rights.

Are you ready to register a domain name? Start today at one.com!