What you need to know before picking a domain name for your business

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What you need to know before picking a domain name for your business

Post Updated on : 24-10-2024

If you want to establish your business online, then there are certain things you need to know before picking a domain name for your business. We have mentioned them in this blog post!

Every business needs to have some address through which their potential customers can approach them. Since the current era is digitally advanced, the presence of businesses is not restricted to the physical space only. They have a presence in the online world as well. Like a physical business, an online business has a domain name from which their clients know them. Few famous domain names are Flipkart, Amazon, Paytm and many more, which need no introduction because they are so famous that daily lakh of customers visit their websites and shop conveniently. 

How a Domain Name Impacts your Brand's Online Presence

As the first point of contact, a brand's domain name can convey reliability and expertise. A domain name which is unique and to-the-point helps the company stand out in a crowded market by helping to create a lasting impression in addition to developing a strong brand presence.

Because of domain name, your website is easier to find. It lets search engines understand the essence of your brand. The perfect domain name is short, easy to remember, and clearly describes the intent of your website. 

Copyright and Trademark Issues with Domain Names

When there’s a conflict between the rights of the domain name owner and the rights of the trademark owner, it may give rise to copyright or trademark issues. These issues are common and arise in the business world where companies want to protect their brands and prevent others from using the same/similar name or confusing the customers.

Bad faith 

It is possible that the domain name may have been registered in bad faith. Sometimes people register domain names to create unnecessary trouble or to make money unfairly. Suppose there is a shoe company called GlitzHeels and someone creates a website called www.glitzheelscompany.com just to sell it to the real company later for making money, it is known as bad faith. A company may file a lawsuit against such an individual.

Domain Name Ownership

When an individual or business gets a domain name registered, they get that name’s ownership. For instance, if a business registers “superheelzzco.com”, they become that web address’s owner. Sometimes, domain names are registered by people for genuine purposes, like creating a website. Other times, people may register multiple similar domain names to cover all the variations of their brand possible.

If a business registers a domain name that is similar to an existing trademark, domain ownership can lead to issues. For example, if a brand’s name is superheelzzco and someone registers “superheelzcompany.com”, it could lead to confusion.

Business Use

The domain names are typically used for business-related purposes. A company might register a domain name that matches their brand, like "Apple.com" for Apple Inc. However, problems can arise if someone else registers a domain name similar to a trademarked brand with the intent to divert customers. 

When well-known trademarks are used as domain names by hoaxers with the intention of fooling the customers, it is known as “cyber squatting”. For example, a person might register "AppleOfficialStore.com" to deceive people into thinking it’s the official Apple store even though it’s not the case. This is misleading to the customers and can harm the original business. 

Tips for Picking Domain Name

Before you pick a domain name for your business, check out these tips:

Keep it Unique and Relevant to your Brand

When you pick a domain name, try to keep it unique. But at the same time, make sure that it is relevant to your brand. Doing so will allow potential clients to visit your website. However, before you choose the domain name, you need to pick an ideal business name. Keep it professional yet interesting!

Keep it Short and Simple

Use words which are short and simple for your domain name. It is suggested to choose words having 6-14 characters. Doing so will make it easier for the users to remember your website. In contrast, long domain names can be hard to remember and might attract less traffic.

Check Availability of Domain Name

Before obtaining a domain name, check whether the domain name you want is available. For this, you can use Namecheckr.com, Namecheck.com or any other similar websites. Also, make sure your preferred domain name isn’t trademarked by an individual or business to avoid trademark disputes in future.

Conclusion

A domain name is a unique name that identifies a website on the internet. Therefore, this unique name must be chosen very carefully, especially if you want to run an online business. While choosing a domain name, make sure it is unique, short, easy to remember and available for usage. 

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