Tips for choosing a domain name

Six simple guidelines

1. Follow the basics
   Domain names can only contain letters, numbers and hyphens ("-"). No other symbols are allowed and they can't begin or end with a hyphen. They can be between 2 and 63 characters long.
   
   
2. Make it memorable
   Choose a name that will be easy for your customers and employees to remember. Customers who don't know your domain name may just try to guess what it is, so be sure your domain name makes sense with your business name.
   
   
3. Keep it short and simple
   Your domain name should be easy to say, spell and remember. Shorter is better. You can use abbreviations for your business name, just don't abbreviate it so much that it loses all meaning.
   
   
4. Try different combinations
   First choice already taken? Try mixing up the words or adding hyphens to come up with an alternative. Our domain registration tool will also provide alternate suggestions when you perform a search for a specific domain name.
   
   
5. Consider alternate extensions
   Always try to register your domain name with .com first because that is the most widely used domain extension. If your preferred name is not available, try registering it with a different extension such as .net, .info, .org or .biz. You can also purchase the same name with a newer extension.

   .com = commercial. The most widely recognized extension for businesses online.
   
   .net = network. Mostly used by businesses that provide Internet-related services.
   
   .org = organization. Primarily used by non-commercial organizations. However, you might consider registering your domain name with the .org extension to protect your name.
   
   .biz = business. One of the newer extensions, used solely for business sites. This is a good way to get the name you want and let customers know you are a business site providing products and services.
   
   .info = information. Used primarily by businesses to share information about their products and services.

6. Register multiple domains
   Protect your business name from the competition by registering the same domain name with different extensions such as net, .info, or .biz. For example, if your name is www.your-business.com, you might also want to buy www.your-business.biz. You can also register similar domains that include hyphens or slightly different spellings so customers who mistype your domain can still find you. You can use our domain forwarding service to point these additional names to your Web site.