The importance of a domain name is something that is often underestimated by far too many people who are starting new sites. Many of them simply pick a name and register it shortly before the site goes live. This is certainly not the way you should go about choosing a domain name. It is something that you should give a considerable amount of thought to.

Your domain name will be associated with your business. Therefore, many things should be carefully considered before you choose a name. Here is the process of choosing a domain name that you should go through.

1. Do you want your company name as your domain name?

It is a common practice for companies to want their domain name to be the same as the company itself. This is not a bad idea because it will be much easier for many people to remember. However, there are also companies who have gone against the grain and decided to have a certain word or phrase that is closely associated with their business to be their domain name.

This is fine for a company that has been around for a long time and has many loyal customers. Established brands have customers who are aware of the catch phrases that those companies use to promote themselves. However, a new company that is just getting a foothold in their industry should probably stay away from this tactic. Buying a domain name that is the same as your company will be the way to go. Basically, you want to make it as easy as possible for people to remember.

2. Has it already been taken?

Obviously, only one person can own a specific domain name. Therefore, there is a possibility that the name you want has already been selected. It would be a good idea to think up several names just in case your top couple of domain name choices have already been taken. You will then need to contact a company that handles domain name registration.

There are many of these companies out there that offer premium domain names. There is quite a bit of competition in this industry. Shop around to compare their rates. You can then check to see which of your choices have not been taken already after you choose the registration company that you want to go with.

3. How long does the registration last?

It is very important that you understand how domain name registration works. You are not buying the domain name. This means you will not own it forever. At some point, your registration will run out and you will need to register the domain name again and pay an additional fee.

Failing to do this will allow your domain name to go back on the open market where anyone can purchase it. It goes without saying that this would be a disaster for your website. This is why it is so important to always keep track of when your registration will run out.