Selecting a domain name is a crucial first step on the path to having a successful website. There is no exact science behind choosing a domain name, however sticking with something that resembles your business name is usually a good place to start.
Generally there are three main strategies employed in selecting a domain name.
Exact business name e.g. www.yoursmallbusinesswebsite.com.au
Variation of business name e.g. www.gandablinds.com.au which is an abbreviated version of G and A Blind Cleaning and Repairing Service.
Description of your service or activity e.g. www.pictureframing.com.au for Newtown Picture Framing Studio
A domain name is comprised of any combination of letters and numbers, including hyphens (-). Some characters are not permitted in a domain name including;
_ (underscore)
@ (at)
/ or \ (forward or back slash)
! (exclamation mark)
? (question mark)
It needs to emphasised that your first choice domain name may have already been registered. In most cases you have zero chance of taking back the name. If you feel as though your intellectual property has been infringed, you should consult a legal professional, however it would likely be an uphill battle.
If your first choice domain name has been taken already, you might like to consider some other options. If the .com has been registered, perhaps the .net is available. Alternatively, adding an additional word as a suffix, e.g. adding “online” to your business name. Even adding “the” to the beginning of your name might work too or even a hyphen if there is more than one word in your business name. These are options you can consider and feel free to discuss with your Account Manager any of your concerns.
We register domain names on behalf of clients who we build websites for only.
