Considerations when registering a domain name

Choosing the right domain name is a crucial step when setting up a business, company, freelance website or simply for your hobby. It not only affects your brand recognition, but also your findability on the internet. In this blog post, we look at some important aspects to consider when registering a domain name. And how you can register it in real time directly at MijnHostingPartner.nl to own your desired domain name right away!

1. Domain name extension (TLD)

The choice of top-level domain name extension (TLD) is very important. Consider whether a generic extension such as .com or a more specific extension such as .nl is better suited to the purpose of your website. Make sure that the chosen extension reflects the international or local target group. Also take a look at your vision for the website and your plans for the future. In this case, the target group will determine which TLD best suits your needs. Take a look at our domain name configurator to see which extensions are available and register them right away.

2. relevance of the domain name

Your domain name should be relevant to your business, your brand or the content of your website. A clear connection between your domain name and your activities makes it easier to recognize and creates a positive first impression for visitors. Freelancers, authors or other professionals where the focus is on the person can also make their own name the domain name. In most cases, the first name is no longer used, but a combination of first name and surname is often still possible.

3. brand protection

Protect your brand identity by registering different variants of your brand name. This prevents others from using your brand name and strengthens your position on the internet. For the Dutch market, for example, it is important to also register the ending .be, as there is a lot of overlap between our countries on the internet. The German market is also a big neighbor and can easily be added. You don't necessarily have to create a website for this either, but can simply link the other domains to your main domain.

4. length and simplicity

Choose a domain name that is short, easy to spell and easy to remember. Avoid complex spellings, abbreviations or characters that increase the likelihood of mistakes. A good test is to call someone and see how many attempts it takes you to get them to spell the domain name correctly. If the name has to be spelled letter by letter, that's a good indication that it's not coming off the tongue as easily as you thought.

5. keywords

This point used to be more important than it is in 2024, but it's worth considering including some keywords in your domain name. This way you can signal to the search engines what the website is about. However, in some cases this is out of date and can even look like SPAM if you want to force it. For example: debestenederlandseschaatsendronten.nl does not work so well as a logical sounding brand name, for which you can then create separate landing pages on the website itself that target these keywords.

6. copyrights and trademarks

Check carefully that the domain name you choose does not infringe any existing copyrights or trademarks. Avoid using other people's brand names to avoid legal issues. As hosts, we often see this being overlooked and leading to a lot of trouble. So check not only the domain name, but also the social media profiles and other brands.

7. future expansion

Consider the future growth and expansion of your business. Choose a domain name that is not too restrictive if you plan to expand your business. Going back to the ice skating business, you may want to think about a more generic brand name, or the winter sport itself. That way, when you outgrow ice skating, you can avoid confusion with your domain name.

8. privacy protection

Consider WHOIS privacy protection to protect your personal contact information from public display in domain registration data. This is no longer necessary for all domains thanks to AVG legislation, but still advisable in some cases. Select this in the order to shield the information.

9. Registration duration

Select an appropriate registration duration. Although domain names can be renewed annually, it may be advisable to register for a longer period to avoid potential renewal issues. This can be selected in the order for how many years. This can also often be cheaper.

If you take these considerations into account, you will lay a strong foundation for your online presence. A well-chosen domain name will contribute to the visibility, reliability and findability of your website. Take the time to decide carefully and start your online journey with a strong domain name!