Step 1: Identify Your Niche and Brand
- Before selecting a domain name, it is essential to have a clear understanding of your niche and brand.
- Your niche is the specific market segment you want to target, while your brand represents your unique identity and values.
Step 2: Research Relevant Keywords
- If your website is about your brand or company, most likely you can skip this step.
- To improve search visibility, research relevant keywords related to your niche.
- You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner or even Google Trends to find popular keywords related to your niche.
Step 3: Brainstorm Domain Name Ideas
- Combine your brand name with relevant keywords to create a unique, memorable domain name.
- Domain name with keywords does helps with SEO a bit but it is not crucial, and helpful content are more important than domain name.
Step 4: Check Domain Availability
- Once you have some domain name ideas, check their availability using a domain registrar like Exabytes (Affiliate Link) or ServerFreak (Affiliate Link).
- Make sure to choose a domain extension that is suitable for your target audience.
- For a Malaysian audience, consider using Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLD) with .my.
- MYNIC is the official .MY domain registry recognised by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
Step 5: Register Your Domain Name
- After confirming the availability of your preferred domain name, register it with a domain registrar.
- The registration process usually requires you to provide your personal and business information, as well as payment details for the domain registration fee.
- Some registrars may offer additional services such as domain privacy protection and email hosting.
Step 6: Connect Your Domain to Your WordPress Website
- Once you have registered your domain name, you need to connect it to your WordPress website.
- This process typically involves updating your domain’s DNS settings to point to your web hosting provider.
- Your web hosting provider should provide you with the necessary information and instructions to complete this step.
Now you have successfully chosen and registered a domain name for your website. Don’t forget to renew your domain registration before it expires to avoid losing your online presence.
Recommendation:
It is crucial to maintain ownership of your domain name, ensuring that either you or your company are listed as the registrant. This entails having primary access to the domain registrar, which grants you the ability to manage various aspects of your domain, such as renewals and other administrative tasks.
By retaining control over your domain, you can effectively safeguard against potential issues that may arise with website designers or service providers. For instance, if a third party were to gain control of your domain, they could potentially lock you out or even sell the domain to another party.
Maintaining ownership and control over your domain is a proactive measure that protects your online presence and ensures the continuity of your digital assets.
Learn more at: The Ultimate SEO Checklist for 2023: Boost Your Website’s Ranking Now!
