How to Choose a Domain Name: .com, .net, .org and .tr

Your domain is the address you will use for years. It goes on your business card, your email and your social media profiles; changing it later is a hassle and can cost you part of what you have built up in search engines. That is why a few minutes spent choosing the right name are well worth it. If you want to know what a domain is technically, start with what is a domain name; this article is about choosing one.

What makes a good domain

Short and easy to type

Short names are easier to remember and less prone to typos. As a rule of thumb, try to stay under 15 characters. Say it to a friend over the phone: if they can type it correctly without asking again, you have a good candidate.

Avoid hyphens and numbers

my-site.com and mysite.com sound the same when spoken, so some visitors end up at the wrong address. Numbers have the same problem: is it "5" or "five"?

Avoid special characters

Domains with letters like ç, ş, ö or ü are technically possible, but they are stored in a different form behind the scenes (starting with xn--) and do not display properly in many places. Use plain Latin letters instead.

Match your brand

The domain should be the same as, or very close to, the name of your business or project. Names made only of keywords (like cheapshoes.com) no longer give the advantage they once did; a brand name visitors will remember is usually better.

Legal and practical checks

• Don't use someone else's registered trademark; you could lose the domain later.
• Check whether the same name is free as a social media username.
• If the name has been used before, check its history (for example in the Wayback Machine archive); a bad history can be a disadvantage in search engines.

Choosing an extension: .com, .net, .org and .tr

General advice: if you address an international audience, start with .com. If most of your visitors are in Turkey, .com.tr or .tr are trusted local options. .tr domains are registered through TRABIS, Turkey's registry system, and additional information may be requested during registration.

The extension has no major direct effect on search rankings; however, country extensions (like .tr) give search engines a hint about which country the site targets.

What if the name I want is taken?

• Try another extension (.net, .org or .com.tr).
• Add a short, meaningful word: mysiteshop, mysitehq, getmysite and so on.
• Think of a completely different name that still fits your brand. For an address you will use for years, a second choice is better than a long, complicated first choice.

Get your domain free with hosting

At TürkiyeVPS, the Hosting + Free Domain plan costs $15 per year and registers a .com, .net, .org, .com.tr, .net.tr or .tr domain for free. As long as you renew your plan, your domain also renews free every year. You can check whether your name is available with the box on our home page, and use the domain search page for other extensions.

Once you have your domain, our guide to launching a website with a free domain and hosting explains step by step how to put your site online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a problem to get .net if .com is taken?

No, .net is a trustworthy extension. Just keep in mind that visitors may get confused if a competitor uses the .com version of the same name.

Can I change my domain later?

You can, but you will need to set up a 301 redirect from the old address to the new one and update your links. That's why it is easier to choose well from the start.

Should I register more than one extension?

To protect your brand, it can make sense to register a few extensions together, such as .com and .com.tr. You can redirect the extra ones to your main address.

Which extensions does the free domain cover?

The offer covers .com, .net, .org, .com.tr, .net.tr and .tr. Other extensions are charged separately.