Website Domain Name FAQs

How do I decide on a domain name?

Try to choose a name with these characteristics:

1. Try to keep the domain name short so that your website is easy to type and remember.
2. Domain names with special characters like hyphens and underscores are harder to describe to customers over the phone. Visitors aren't as used to them either and you may inadvertently send customers to your competitors sites if they have similar names without the special characters.
3. Try to use your company name or a description of your product instead of company initials. People would instantly know what a site called "BuyCarsOnline" is about. The full title is much more descriptive than the acronym "BCO".

I typed the domain name into my browser and got an error message. Does that mean it's available?

Not necessarily. Here are some possibilities:

1. The domain name is available.
2. The owner is designing the site but hasn't uploaded it or set it up yet.
3. The owner purchased the name for future use.
4. The owner bought the name, hoping to resell it at a profit.

If a domain name does not come up with a website in a browser or a search engine, it is no guarantee of the name being available.

How can I check if a domain name is available?

Most web hosting companies and domain registrars let you check the availability of a domain name. Some web companies such as Viron Media also offer alternate versions if the name you wanted isn't available.