Selecting a domain name
Most of the good ones may have been taken, but the important thing is you make your domain name something to remember. Some brands are more remembered by using the owner’s name, someone related to you as an inspiration, or by using the business name itself. The first thing that comes to your mind is usually the best choice, and you never know when the domain name you think of is actually available. Check here if your chosen domain name is up for grabs. If no, then you can still tweak it a bit by adding another word or tag to make it unique. If it is available for you to use, then great! Once you have set a domain name in mind, the next thing for you to do is select which domain name extension you will be using.
Note: If you are eyeing on a domain that is taken by someone else and was wondering if you still can do so, you can do a check on the domain name expiry periodically. Sometimes the owner is just sitting on the domain but not using it. In some cases, the owner may potentially forgets to renew or decided not to renew. You could seize the opportunity to register the domain again after it expires.
.Com? .Org?.Net? Which one to get?
Yes, indeed. There are a lot of variety as to which domain name extension to get – .com, .org, .net, .live, and the list goes on. But it actually matters as to which niche you will be more associated with, when choosing a domain name extension.
- .com: (“commercial”)
This is the most recommended domain name extension to use for businesses, blogs, and/or personal websites. The .com extensions are more commonly used, so visitors are more likely to trust .com websites compared to others. It’s also easier to find hosting providers that offer this extension. - .org: (“organization”)
The .org extension is suggested more on non-profit, charities, activities for a cause, and the likes. It’s mostly for groups of people who are working towards a goal such as tree-planting, animal adoption, welfare rights, and other related activities. If this is what you are promoting, then the .org extension is right for you. - .net: (“network”)
This is not as widely used as .com and.org, but it would make a good alternative if your chosen domain name is already taken under the other extensions.
- .co
This can also be another alternative if your chosen domain name is already taken under .com or .org.
- (specific to country): .sg / .asia
As an entrepreneur, you may also want to be specific to your market. If you are only currently catering clients or customers in Singapore, then getting a .sg domain name extension would be acceptable. And when you’re ready to go out into the international market, then we suggest getting another TLD (top-level domain) listed above.
There are a variety of domain name extensions you will find online. Just take note to get one that is in line with your goal or your market (.edu for education, .tech for technology, and a lot more).
Required information for domain name registration
Registering a domain name requires providing the following information:
- Personal information such as your name, address, and contact number
- Valid email address
- Company name (if you would like your website to be registered under a business or enterprise name)
- Valid payment method (depending on the accepted payment method by your chosen web hosting provider)
It’s important to note that certain top-level domains, like .gov or .edu, have specific eligibility criteria and may only be available to certain organisations or individuals. Additionally, some country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) may have additional requirements or restrictions based on the country where they’re registered. It’s always a good idea to check the rules and restrictions for your desired domain extension before registering.
Select your hosting provider
It’s important to know which of the several hosting services you will choose to house your domain. After all, you want your business to last for the long run. Once you have your domain name and extension ready, the next step is getting the hosting provider who will be your partner into expanding your business in the online market.
CLDY has an array of hosting packages that can get you started from $20 a year for a .com domain. Click here to see the different plans we offer and register for your own domain now!
