The Complete Guide to Buying the Best Domain Name

You’ve decided to build your own website, but you aren’t sure where to begin. Maybe you have an idea, but no name. Or maybe you already have a name, but don’t know how to choose the right domain extension. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to understand that the domain name of your website—the extension and everything in between—is an incredibly crucial part of your business’s identity online, so you shouldn’t neglect it!

What is a domain name?

A domain name, or website address, is what people use to find your website when they go online. It's kind of like a street address for your home, but for websites instead. You can register a domain name through a company called GoDaddy (or another company) and come up with whatever you want—but make sure it's something memorable, creative, easy-to-say/type, and matches your brand if possible. Naming your business is important since once someone has found your website online, whether by typing in its URL or clicking on it from a search engine result page (SERP), that person will have one more chance to leave if he or she doesn't like what they see.

Researching your .com options

A good .com name is both memorable and unique. If you've come up with a great idea, one of your first steps should be to make sure that no one else has already claimed it—but even if it's available, make sure you've checked out all your options. There are many websites that help you check domain availability, but there's only one website that helps you search every major domain registry at once (plus it gives plenty of information about each extension). Google's new search engine specifically for domains is a great tool because it allows you to limit searches by registrar. This can be very helpful if your favorite TLDs have extra restrictions or higher prices: You can just focus on those sites where availability matters most.

Choosing a registrar

All domain names (the part of a web address that comes after www. and http://) are registered by registrars, not directly by search engines or web browsers. Most registrars offer multiple packages, including free options and super-premium offerings. Before choosing a provider, make sure you understand your needs: Will you be hosting your site on your own? Do you have a company website already, and will you use new domain for something else? Is high security important to you? One way to make your decision easier is by finding out which top companies—like Dell, Forbes, Nike—use specific registrars for their domains; just Google company name + .com and then click through from there.

Final steps

Choosing a domain name can be one of the most difficult parts of building a website. Your domain name is your brand, and it’s crucial that you get it right from day one. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools out there designed to help you with your search. If you have an idea for a domain in mind, you can use search engines like Google and Bing to learn if it’s available—if not, these same sites will suggest alternative options. Other resources include GoDaddy's Find a Domain tool and Niche-specific platforms like Domize. Just remember: There are no perfect domain names, so if one catches your eye that’s already taken, see if any of its available variations tickle your fancy instead.