How to Find the Perfect Domain Name – Free!

Your domain name is the website address that viewers use to access your website. When you create it, it’s best to make it simple, unique, memorable and linked to your business so it’s easily identifiable. 

Choosing your domain name is the first thing to do when building a website, and you need to take time to select meaningful words that portray your brand in the best light. This name sets your business and website apart, so it must stand out.

Selecting the Perfect Domain Name

Here are some pointers to assist you:

• Try to incorporate the name of your business into your domain name. This easily identifies the website to clients and potential customers.
• Keep the name simple, and easy for people to remember.
• Keep it short.
• Ensure it’s easy for people to spell.
• Try to include your industry in the domain name. Use keywords that make it easy for SEO to rank your site higher. If you’re a restaurant, for example, include something related to dining, or eating out, in the name.
• Check whether your domain name is already taken. If someone else has already taken it, try spelling yours differently. But be aware that customers may land on the wrong site.
• Don’t use hyphens or numbers. People may forget to add these when searching for your site.
• You must check whether your domain name is already protected with a trademark. This way, you can avoid legal issues later.

What Does a Great Domain Name Do?

1. It Makes Your Website Memorable

It’s important to choose a domain name that makes it easy for customers to find your site, remember it, and return often.

2. It’s Trustworthy

Choose a professional-sounding name that justifies your brand’s existence. You want to come across as a legitimate, professional business.

3. Ensures Your Site Ranks High in SEO

If you include keywords in your domain name, your website will rank well in search engines. This also makes it easy for customers to find your site.

Using a Domain Name Checker

It takes work to find the perfect domain name – a domain that suits your business and is currently available. This is where searching through a domain name check is a great idea. This free tool helps you find a name that aligns with your business and will attract the right audience.

Free domain name checkers search domain registries globally to find whether domain names have been registered. They help you find domain names with different TLDs (top-level domains) – these URL endings include .com, .biz, .net, .org, etc. So, if someone has already taken your domain name, eg. mybusiness.com, you could consider one of the other TLDs suggested by the domain checker.

This way, you know immediately whether a domain name is taken or not. If it’s available, that’s fine – you can register it. But if it’s already taken, as we mentioned, the checker will recommend other names.

Why use a Free Domain Checker?

• A free domain name checker lets you quickly find the ideal name for your website.
• It’s well-organised and you can check out various options.
• Once you decide which name will work best, you can check how much registration costs, especially if you’re a small startup on a budget.
• This type of domain name checker is usually accurate, and shows you which domain names are available in real-time. Ensure accuracy when registering the domain name – the registrar can tell you whether the domain is taken or not.
• Of course, checking whether a name is registered already is important so you don’t end up in legal battles.
• If the name you want is taken, the domain checker will provide various domain options and TLDs.
• You can constantly check whether a domain name has become available and register it whenever it does.
• Your domain name may be available as a website name – but also check whether it’s already taken on social media to avoid problems later.

Your Domain Name is Already Registered. What Now?

You have three options:

1. Look for a suitable alternative.
2. Use a Domain Name Generator. Some Domain Name Checkers have this option, so you can find a suitable domain name that is unique, inventive – and available.
3. Contact the domain name owner if the name is registered, but they aren’t using it. Ask them if they would consider selling it to you.

When Registering Your Domain...

• Compare domain registrars to find one that is reasonably priced, that suits your business and your budget.
• Once you find a domain name you like, register it for as long as possible. Some registrars only permit a one-year renewal, others may be registered for up to 10 years, which saves on renewing it every year.
• Ensure you set up auto-renewal so you receive a reminder to renew. You don’t want to end up not renewing, and someone else taking advantage of this and registering your domain. When your domain name expires, there is a renewal period when you can still renew. But once that grace period is over, the domain name is available to the public.
• When you sign up for your account, ensure you enter all your details accurately.
• Choose a reputable domain registrar with secure payment options.
• Select WHOIS privacy protection to secure private details; you don’t want this data going public. This will also protect your website from spam and identity theft.
• Remember: Domain registration usually takes up to 24 hours to become active.
• You can transfer your domain name to another registrar if you wish. To do this, you must check what transfer policies are included with your current registrar and the new one.
• Find a variety of free domain name generators.

Let us Help Make Your Business Grow

One of our key focuses at maakeAcademy is to show other small businesses how to improve their sales and marketing strategies. To do this, you need to be able to identify and benchmark your company’s current performance. 

We have devised a questionnaire to help you improve your performance in Sales and Marketing while optimising your operations.

Take our 3-minute questionnaire and discover how to take your business to the next level.

Watch out for more innovative methods and blogs on how to grow your small business!