A domain name is your address on the internet. Choosing a domain name is a big deal. This domain name is going to follow you online, on your business card, social media and whichever other marketing channels you have.

Buying domain names is like buying real estate. Once the domain name is spoken for, it’s exclusively your property.

Here are 5 tips to keep in mind while buying your first business domain name.

1. The domain name should be short, easy to type and recall

You want a domain name that people can easily remember and type. Avoid odd spellings of words, multiple hyphens or other characters, numbers and a very long domain name.

You should also avoid words that have more than one spelling. While you do want a short name, it should also be very clear and not cryptic. The longer your domain name is, the harder it is for people to remember it and the more chance you have of someone misspelling it. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool and you want to make it easy for people to tell their friends about your site and its URL.

Also read: How to customise your ecommerce store's domain name to stand out

2. Steer clear of slang terms

Try to avoid slang terms and instead pick a name that has meaning and adds value to your brand. Think of your domain name as an extension of your brand, and make sure it matches how you want people to think of you.

Make sure the name is not too colloquial, as this will also help your name be understood and remembered by an international audience. Whether or not you intend to do business internationally, this can help build a global appeal for your brand.

3. Don’t get a domain name too similar to an existing site

Even if a domain name isn’t trademarked, don’t buy domains that are just a variation of another popular domain name. This means avoiding plurals if the singular is taken (flipkart.com vs. flipkarts.com), hyphenating a phrase (flip-kart.com), or adding “my” or some similar (myflipkart.com).

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4. Hyphens can get tricky

Using hyphens to separate words in a domain name makes it easier to read; however, people may forget about the hyphen when they type the domain name. If you use a hyphen in your name, don’t buy a domain with more than one hyphen. It’s just too tricky. You could be sending your traffic somewhere else.

5. Avoid numbers

Avoid numbers in your domain name. People can get confused about whether the numbers are a digit (2) or a word (two). If you want a number in your domain name because there’s a number in your company name, buy both versions (digit and word) and redirect one to the other. Be careful about using the number “0” in a domain name as people may mistake it for the letter “O.”

Choose your business domain name with care. As Frank Schilling says, “A better domain name will lower your lifetime marketing costs.”

Also read: How to retarget bounced off customers

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