You only need one domain name to have a website, but when it comes to your business and brand, you definitely do not want to leave similar names available for copycats to register and take advantage of your search engine results or create confusion for your clients or within your industry. A strong brand is important to differentiate you, but it also helps to register every domain name iteration that you can think of.

When deciding on the name of your website, think about each and every possible similar name, and if you would be annoyed if someone else had that domain, make sure that you get it for yourself first. Domain names with privacy cost an average of about $20.00 per year each, and it’s well worth the cost to have the control of those names. Of course, you would choose one main domain that you’d use for promotion and directing people to, and the others could all simply all forward to the same website. We can easily set that up for you.

If your business name is your own legal name, and you think that no one would be interested in it because it’s your own personal name, think again. There are people out there who would fake their own name, just to attempt to leech off of the business brand and reputation that you’ve taken decades to build. If this happens and you have a good solid business, it won’t necessarily be a threat, even if the person chooses to be in the same industry as you. With quick generic graphics and website templates available, it’s quite easy for someone to put up a business overnight. Most creative people and entrepreneurs prefer to be unique and not be mixed up with others who are working in their same field.

Trademarking your business name is a good idea and does give you power within your own country and the businesses that are based within it, but it does get more complicated with other countries. It also takes quite awhile and does cost a bit to copyright and protect your name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Overall, it does take some effort to make sure there isn’t confusion in the marketplace, and that hassle can be avoided if you protect yourself by making sure you get any domain names that could be associated with your name and industry. Looking at the bright side, if this does happen, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.