When you are ready to take your business online, one of the first things you need to do is purchase a domain name. Your domain name is your online identity; it’s how customers will find you and how you’ll represent yourself online. That’s why it’s important to choose a good one.
However, with so many options available, it can be tricky to know where to start or what to avoid.
Here are 10 common pitfalls when buying a premium domain name:
1. Not Researching the Domain First
Before you buy premium domains, it’s important to do your research and make sure it’s the right fit for your business. Make sure the domain is available and that it’s not being used by someone else.
You can also check to see if the domain has been previously registered by doing a WHOIS search.
2. Not Checking the Domain’s History
When you buy a domain name, you’re also buying its history. If the domain has been used for illegal or unethical purposes in the past, it could come back to haunt you.
To avoid this, be sure to check the domain’s history using a service like Domain Tools.
3. Paying Too Much for the Domain
Just because a domain is popular or has a lot of traffic doesn’t mean it’s worth a lot of money.
In fact, most domains are worth less than you think.
To get an idea of what a domain is worth, you can use a service like Estibot or GoDaddy’s Domain Value Appraisal tool.
4. Not Considering the Domain’s Extension
When choosing a domain name, it’s important to consider the extension (or top-level domain, TLD) as well. .com is still the most popular TLD, but there are many other options available, such as .net, .org, and .io.
5. Buying a Domain from an Untrustworthy Source
There are a lot of people selling domains online, and not all of them are reputable. If you’re not careful, you could end up paying for a domain that doesn’t exist or that has been stolen.
To avoid this, only buy domains from reputable sources, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Hover.
6. Not Securing the Domain Privacy
When you register a domain name, your personal information (such as your name and address) becomes public. This means anyone can find out who owns a domain just by doing a WHOIS search.
If you’re not comfortable with your information being made public, you can purchase domain privacy, which will keep your information private.
Read here : How to Create an eCommerce Website in 5 Easy Steps
7. Forgetting to Renew Your Domain
Your domain name needs to be renewed every year. If you forget to renew it, you could lose the domain and someone else could buy it.
To avoid this, set up automatic renewals for your domain so you don’t have to worry about it.
8. Buying a Domain That’s Trademarked
If you’re not careful, you could end up buying a domain that’s already trademarked by someone else. This could cause legal problems down the road.
To avoid this, do a trademark search before you buy a domain name.
9. Not Understanding the Terms of Service
When you buy a domain name, you’re also agreeing to the registrar’s terms of service. Make sure you understand these terms before you purchase the domain.
10. Not Having a Backup Plan
Things don’t always go as planned, so it’s important to have a backup plan. For example, if you’re planning on buying a .com domain but it’s already taken, you could try a .net or .org instead.
Conclusion:
Purchasing a domain name is an important step for any business going online. However, there are a few pitfalls to avoid. Be sure to do your research before buying a domain, check the domain’s history, and don’t pay too much for it. Additionally, be careful of untrustworthy sources, remember to renew your domain every year, and have a backup plan in case your first choice is unavailable. By following these tips, you can be sure you’ll find the perfect domain name for your business. There are many factors that go into determining the value of a domain, so be sure to do your research before making an offer.
