A lot of people buying their first domain mostly just check if the name is available and go for the cheapest first year price, without thinking much beyond that.
I would look at it a bit differently. Saying the name out loud a few times helps show whether it sounds natural, or if it's the kind of name that needs spelling out every time. A quick search for similar business names is also worth doing, in case there's a trademark issue waiting to surface later. If the domain isn't brand new, checking its history matters too, since a previously registered name can come with baggage like old backlinks, a spam reputation, or even being flagged somewhere that affects how it shows up in search.
The extension is easy to underestimate as well. A creative one can look nice, but most people still default to typing .com without thinking. It's also worth imagining the name a couple of years down the line, since something that works for a small side project can start feeling limiting if the idea grows.
When I’m comparing where to buy a domain, I don’t just look at the first year price anymore. Renewal cost, privacy, and how usable the DNS settings are end up being more important. The cheap intro price is usually the least important part in hindsight.
For context, I’m on the Squarespace team, so I’ve ended up thinking a lot about keeping domains and websites in one place. It just makes renewals and logins easier to manage.
What’s something you wish you had checked before buying your first domain?
Source: r/Domains · by /u/Jamie_SQSP