With a new website or blog, one of the contributing factors to online success was the domain chosen to represent your online presence. However, a look at some of the larger, heavily trafficked websites will easily indicate some nonsensical names. Just because names are ridiculous or meaningless doesn’t mean they aren’t important. What it really says is that it’s important to have unique domain names, even if they sound nonsensical. What exactly is a Yahoo or a Reddit?
The bottom line on the importance of choosing unique domain names is that changing them presents some challenges. Website owners are reluctant to change the domain for a few good reasons. It is analogous to changing the name you were given after birth. It makes you very hard to find.
If after several years of being online, a brand has been built, along with a following, changing the brand name can be suicidal, as it requires rebuilding. A new domain represents a new entity, and although it is not impossible, redirection and reconstruction of traffic and followers.
The goal of rebuilding, however, carries some mistrust, so a domain is really a cradle-to-grave attachment that needs to be chosen carefully.
Choosing unique domain names can be a frustrating task as the possibilities and options are endless and can sometimes be contradictory. A name that reflects or provides an indication of your business may or may not be important, but the problem is that registering them can be difficult.
Some registrars offer domain suggestion tools, but they can be suspicious as they may show domains that are available at higher prices. There is no problem with buying already registered domains as they may have already built a reputation and that can easily be applied to your business, but suitability should be carefully examined. The way the web has evolved means there may not really be a perfect domain name, but the advantages come from having unique domain names, but now the question arises as to what makes it unique.
Some conventions or guidelines can help. The maximum length allowed for a domain name is 255 characters, with the longest on record being 63 characters, which is certainly unique, but generally shorter is better as it’s easier to remember. The minimum number of characters required is two. Multiple characters are not allowed, and the first character must be alphabetic or numeric, while the last character must not be a minus sign or period. Spaces are not allowed in domain names, but the underscore has retained its technical importance. Other than that, the field is left wide open, with an unlimited number of extensions, so you can be as creative as you want when choosing your domain names.