Top 7 Domain Buying Mistakes You Should Avoid
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Domain buying mistakes can be expensive. You don’t want to make them.
Take the Y2K craze, for example. Investors scrambled to grab domains like "Y2Kfix.com" or "Y2Ksolutions.com," betting on the trend. When the hype died down, those domains were worth nothing.
The takeaway? Don’t go for fads.
Choosing the right domain means avoiding these traps. Without the right knowledge, it’s easy to overpay or get caught in a trend. In this post, we’ll cover domain name do’s and don’ts that you need to keep in mind while making a purchase.
Mistake #1: Ignoring Keywords
Imagine you’re on the hunt for a new laptop, typing “best laptops for gaming” into Google and hitting that search button. In an instant, top results like GamersRadar and PCGamers pop up.
That shows why keywords matter.
If your domain includes the right keywords, search engines can easily make the connection between what users are after and what you’ve got on offer. Without those keywords, your site risks being buried in the search results.
To steer clear of this domain buying mistake, you can lean into Bishopi and find the following data:
- Comprehensive domain SEO analysis: Analyzes SEO health and provides actionable insights to improve visibility and rankings.
- SEO Metrics monitoring: Tracks key SEO metrics like traffic, keyword rankings, and backlinks for continuous optimization.
- Domain age evaluation: Assesses domain age to determine trustworthiness and historical SEO performance.
Mistake #2: Choosing an Overly Long or Complicated Domain
You don’t want to choose a long or complicated domain, even if it sounds professional. It’s a common domain investing mistake.
People often pick long names because they think they cover everything, but these domains lead to fumbling—typos, misspellings, and frustration.
For example, "AffordableLaptopsForSaleOnline.com" clearly says what it’s about, but it's too long to remember.
While buying domains, think about the user experience.
A long domain isn’t just hard to type, it’s tough to remember. People have limited memory retention, and a name that’s too complex won’t stick. A name that’s too long or full of unnecessary words will only make it harder for users to recall.
Ideally, this is how you should choose a domain name:
- Between 6 and 14 characters: YouTube.com, Dropbox.com
- Easy to type and remember:Shutterfly.com, GrubHub.com
- Convey what the site is about:PayPal.com, Weather.com
Mistake #3: Overlooking Domain History and Blacklisting Issues
If you find a domain name you like, don’t be in a rush to grab it. You might think you're starting fresh, but the domain's past could still haunt you. Instead of rising in rankings, you could end up stuck, paying the price for someone else’s mistakes.
Here’s how checking domain history helps you avoid red flags:
- Previous ownership and reputation: The domain may have had previous owners who used it for purposes that could harm its reputation. For example, it could have been associated with spam, illegal activities, or poor-quality content. This history could negatively affect your site's SEO or even lead to penalties from search engines.
- SEO impact: If the domain was once used for a spammy or low-quality site, search engines might have penalized it. Even if you plan to use the domain for a different purpose, the penalties could affect your site's rankings.
- Backlinks and traffic: A domain might have a history of receiving backlinks or organic traffic. If the previous website had high-quality backlinks, this could give your new website a boost. However, if the backlinks were from low-quality or irrelevant sources, it could hurt your site’s performance.
- Expired domains: Some domains might be expired or previously abandoned, which can sometimes make them attractive for rebranding, but others might have unresolved issues like unresolved legal claims or trademark conflicts.
- Branding and trust: If the domain had a bad reputation or was previously blacklisted, it could impact the trustworthiness of your brand in the eyes of potential customers.
To avoid these costly domain investing mistakes, it’s important to always check the domain's history before buying.
Use Bishopi’s domain age checker to get details like the domain’s age, IP address, last seen data and registrar. It pulls accurate domain age data from trusted sources so you know what you’re getting.
Mistake #4: Not Securing Multiple Variations and Extensions
It’s a common mistake to think one domain is enough when building a brand. You grab the one you like, and then forget about other variations or domain extensions. This is a mistake, plain and simple. It might seem unnecessary, but it saves you trouble down the road.
Here’s how:
- You strengthen your brand: Owning multiple domains signals professionalism and trust. When customers see your brand has secured different extensions, it shows you're serious about your business. Amazon owns domains for different country codes – amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.in, and even amazon.ae, reinforcing their brand globally.
- You make future growth easier: Extra domains give you flexibility as your business expands. Want to create a special page for a product or service? You can use a domain like example .shop for your online store or example .biz for a business section. Coca-Cola does this with domains like coca-cola.com and coca-colastore.com for its merchandise store.
- You avoid domain squatting: Some people buy domains related to popular brands and wait for them to increase in value. If you don’t secure similar domains, you risk a squatter getting them and selling them back to you for a higher price.
- You protect yourself from typosquatting: Mistakes happen when typing a domain, and typosquatters take advantage of this by fake domains that are close in spelling to popular brand names. For example, someone might accidentally type "hollisterr.com" instead of "hollister.com." These typos can lead to confusion, redirect traffic to fraudulent sites, or harm your brand. Securing these misspelled variations ensures you stay protected.
- You fend off competitors: If you don’t secure all relevant domain extensions, a competitor might grab them and use them to confuse your customers.
Mistake #5: Not Considering Future Growth and Scalability
You might think your business is set with just a good domain name, but does it fit with your long-term goals? You may be starting small now, but what happens when you want to add new products, expand into new markets, or even target a global audience?
For example, if your domain is something like nycbakery.com, it might be perfect for a local business but can limit you if you decide to expand globally.
On the other hand, a more flexible name, like artisanbakes.com, allows you to expand your offerings without being tied to one location.
Think ahead when choosing a domain name, and make sure it can scale with your business.
Mistake #6: Falling for Overpriced or Low-Quality Domains
You might be drawn to a catchy name or feel pressured by the urgency of securing it before someone else does. But without understanding the real value of the domain, you could end up overpaying for something that doesn’t provide long-term value.
This mistake occurs because many buyers aren’t familiar with domain valuation. They don’t know how to assess the domain’s worth based on factors like its past performance, backlinks, or the market demand for similar names. To avoid this, always research the domain’s value before purchasing.
With tools like Bishopi, you can access transparent pricing and detailed valuation insights to make informed decisions. Bishopi helps you understand what you're really paying for, so you don’t fall for overpriced or low-quality domains.
Mistake #7: Not Picking an SEO-Friendly Domain Name
Don’t overlook SEO when purchasing a domain. Many domain investors focus on the name but fail to consider how it affects search results. This can hurt your site’s visibility and growth.
When buying a domain, think about the keywords in the name, its length, and the extension. Domains with relevant keywords can help your site rank better. It’s easier to type and remember short domain names.
While .com is the most common and trusted, other extensions like .store can still work well, depending on your SEO strategy.
Before purchasing, you should check SEO metrics, like the domain's age and past performance. Older domains tend to rank better because they are more trusted by search engines.
For a quick check, you can use specialized domain name tools like Bishopi. You can monitor a domain’s history, check traffic value, domain authority, and more.
Don’t Make These Domain Investing Mistakes
You can avoid costly mistakes by considering SEO, the domain’s history, variations, and future growth potential. Always research the domain's past, secure multiple extensions, and ensure it aligns with your long-term goals. With Bishopi domain services and tools, you can avoid overpaying and make decisions based on solid data.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What makes a bad domain name?
A bad domain name is one that is hard to spell, too long, or irrelevant to your business. It may also be confusing or hard to remember.
2. What is not allowed in a domain name?
Domain names cannot include spaces, special characters like !, @, #, $, %, or non-Latin characters. You can’t use hyphens at the domain name's beginning or end, only in between.
3. How to check if a domain name is good?
To determine if a domain name is good, check if it's short, relevant, and easy to remember. You can also use Bishopi to research domain performance, SEO metrics, and valuation, helping you make an informed decision.
4. What do I do if the domain name I want is taken?
If the domain you want is taken, try using variations or explore other domain extensions. Bishopi can also help you find similar available domains, with valuation insights to guide your choice.
5. How long should a domain name be?
Keep it short and easy to remember, ideally under 15 characters. Shorter names are more user and SEO-friendly.