In today’s connected world, online branding is an integral aspect of any business. Consistent branding across online platforms helps to boost trust in your brand and raises awareness of your services.
Buying a domain name is a vital tool for building your online brand as it helps create an identity and helps carve a name apart from your competitors.
A domain name is used to identify websites on the internet. For example, the domain name for Palmers Solicitors is “palmerslaw.co.uk”.
Once you have a domain name, you can use it to create matching email addresses for your business which creates a professional appearance.
Before you settle on a domain name, you must search to see whether it is in use. Use a domain name tool online to find whether the one you like is being used or not. If the one you have searched for is already owned by someone, search for different variations of the name.
Once you have settled on a name, you need to register it with a registrar. These are simply online retailers who you rent your domain name from. Try shopping around for the best deals, as there are many offers out there.
Protecting your domain name
It is important to protect your brand, and your domain name is no exception.
Be alert to fraudsters who try to steal website addresses by redirecting the domain ownership.
Don’t pay a bill for domain registry or renewal without first checking that it is legitimate, and it is also worth signing up for a private registration service when choosing a registrar.
It is also a good idea to buy the domain names for each country where you do business, along with similar domain names that have different endings. Doing this can help fight against scammers who try to trick customers by using domains that are very similar to real ones by playing on people’s misspellings to get them to visit fake websites.
Finally, remember to note exactly when your domain name expires so you can renew it. If you do not renew before the expiry date, you risk losing it for good.
For advice on intellectual property issues, such as domain name disputes, please contact our team today.