How to Find a Domain Name for Your New Business

By now, the .COM (dotCom) you wanted for your business has probably been taken. After months of conceptualizing and planning your new business, it turns out the last hurdle towards launching your business is finding the domain name you want. You’ve visualized it as a .COM – YourCoolNewBusiness.Com – but the domain name was registered years ago by someone from another city, province or country.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a common problem faced by new businesses.  Often, planning and ensuring that everything runs smoothly takes precedence over finding the right domain name for your business. It’s an all too familiar story, an entrepreneur writes a business plan and designs a website but leaves domain name registration to the very end. This leads to the said entrepreneur having to settle for a domain name that is either too long or not a good match for their business.

While you can utilize a domain brokering service, this can prove to be an expensive acquisition for a startup. If the domain name you want is quite popular or gains a lot of traffic online, this can drive up the acquisition price. As a new business, how do you acquire a domain name without bankrupting your business?

You have an option – actually about 600-800 options – to find a domain name that matches your business. With hundreds of new domain extensions launching, your business will have more options and greater flexibility.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is your website’s URL or what you type on the search bar. A domain extension is what comes after the dot – .COM, .CA, .BIZ, .CO, etc. The name that you choose – the one between the dots – is your second-level domain and is the name that you actually register when getting a domain name.

So what are the new domain extensions? 

In 2007, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) initiated the “New gTLD Program” to increase the number of extensions available. It was a bold plan and if successful, would revolutionize the internet.

Fast forward to today and the New gTLD Program has been launched and is introducing 5-7 new domain extensions every week.

The first few batches launched in late 2013 and included names like .VENTURES, .GURU, .ENTERPRISES and .TECHNOLOGY. The rest of the new domains – like .APP, .BLOG, .SHOP, .STORE – will be launching soon and will expand the digital borders of the Internet.

As a new business owner, this provides you the opportunity to find a domain name that is actually relevant to your business. This will of course, give you the chance to secure the domain name that you have been planning to secure (this also applies to existing businesses).

3 Factors to Consider for your Domain Name

So with all of the options laid out in front of you, how do you pick a domain name? First head to www.webnames.ca/domain and begin your search.

1. Pick the name that you want for your business. Yes, you may already have a domain name in mind but that was for a .COM. You can still register the same name of course, but the new domain extensions will also open up new possibilities for your business.
2. Find the relevant domain extension (gTLD) for your business. While it’s tempting to take .GURU or .NINJA, consider how you want to be perceived by your customers and potential clients. Also consider if there is a domain extension that your business name uses; i.e. NewStartup.VENTURES, TechRevolution.ENTERPRISES or InnovateMarketing.AGENCY.
3. Consider registering alternatives to your name and others that can help your brand.  We usually advise our customers  to register both the .COM and the .CA version of their domain names. While you may not want to register 5-10 domain names at the beginning, find an alternative to your main domain extension. For example, if you plan on using .PHOTOGRAPHY as your main extension, consider securing the .PHOTO version of your domain. This helps your business secure your name in two highly similar domain extensions.

Sounds great! What domains do I get to choose from?

It would be too time consuming to list down all the new domain extensions that are launching or have launched so we’ve compiled a list/timeline of all the domains that are launching at www.webnames.ca/timeline.

Search for a domain name today!