“WWW… what?” For web design and development professionals who take their projects seriously, the question of what website name—properly known as a domain name—to choose is not always easy to answer. Maybe their first choice for a domain name is taken, or they’re stuck trying to choose between a “.com” and a “.ca” address. With many different options available to individuals looking to register a web domain, it is a good idea to go into the process with a clear game plan in mind.
Curious about what you should consider when choosing a domain name? A good web design program can help you master the process, but here is a guide covering a couple of the most important things to keep in mind.
Grads with a Web Designer Diploma Should Make Domain Names Short, Sweet, and Clear
It’s easier for people to remember a domain name if it isn’t too long, doesn’t include unnecessary characters like dashes or numbers, and is clear about what the website will be about. Sticking to these criteria when choosing a domain name is one of the best starting points for making a great choice.
The exact name you go with should, of course, be relevant to the subject of the website. For example, if you were to make a personal website showing off the portfolio you created throughout your web designer program, one of the simplest and best options is to choose a domain name based on your name—like “johnsmith.com.” If buying a domain name for a business, the business’s name would make the most sense—like Apple.com for Apple. Stick to these conventions when picking a web domain and you should wind up with something short and simple that people can remember.
People browsing the web will find it easiest to remember your domain names if they are short and simple
Only Choose Good Top-Level Domains After Finishing a Web Designer Diploma Program
A domain name has two main portions. First, there is the “second-level domain,” (SLD) which is the name that you can customize for yourself. In the example of johnsmith.com, the “johnsmith” portion is the SLD. Then, there is the “top-level domain” (TLD). This is the collection of characters that come after the [DOT] that follows the SLD. For johnsmith.com, “com” is the TLD. Though it’s possible to create a new TLD, it’s extremely expensive, so most people just choose one that already exists.
Make sure you choose the right TLD for the kind of website that you’re making
There are many TLDs, and many are considered spammy or unprofessional. That’s why it’s important to choose one for your website that people think highly of. Here are a few examples that are considered to be good purchases.
- .com (the safest and usually best option)
- .net
- .me
- .xyz
- .ca
As with the SLD, it’s important to match your TLD to the type of website you are making. If you are making a personal website, a .me or .xyz address can be perfectly appropriate, and even implies that you have a sort of youthful, artistic spirit—not a bad thing for a graduate of a web design program or web design school. If purchasing a domain name for a business, it’s best to try and make it a .com, or maybe a .ca or .net. If you can’t make your desired name work as one of those, it’s a good idea to try to find a variation on the name that will allow it. Nothing works as well for Canadian businesses as those top-level domains.
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