Registering a good .com domain involves both strategic thinking and practical steps. Here’s a full guide:
✅ 1. Define the Purpose of Your Domain
- Business: Company name, product, service.
- Personal brand: Your name or niche.
- Investment: For resale or domain flipping.
- Project/Startup: Descriptive or catchy name.
✅ 2. Key Traits of a Good .COM Domain
Look for domains that are:
- Short: Ideally 6–12 characters.
- Memorable: Easy to recall and spell.
- Brandable: Sounds like a real name or business (e.g., Google, Zillow).
- Meaningful: Relevant to your niche.
- Avoids Hyphens/Numbers: These reduce credibility and are hard to remember.
- Uses American English (unless targeting British markets).
✅ 3. Brainstorm and Search
Use these tools to check availability:
Tip: Try combining simple words (e.g., “Bright” + “Path” = BrightPath.com).
✅ 4. Check for Trademarks and History
Before buying:
- Run a USPTO trademark search.
- Use Whois Lookup to see ownership history.
- Check Archive.org to view any previous website content.
✅ 5. Register It Immediately
Once you find a great domain:
- Register with a trusted registrar (e.g., Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains).
- Choose 1–5 years upfront to secure it long term.
- Add WHOIS privacy protection to hide your personal info.
✅ 6. Optional: Buy a Premium .COM
If the domain is taken:
✅ 7. Think Long-Term
- Can you build a brand on it?
- Is it scalable across products/markets?
- Will others see it as professional?
Summary Checklist
| ✅ Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Define domain purpose |
| 2 | Follow naming rules (short, brandable, etc.) |
| 3 | Search availability |
| 4 | Check trademarks/history |
| 5 | Register immediately |
| 6 | Consider premium options if taken |
| 7 | Think branding + future value |