Category: Domains

When choosing your domain, there is always a lot to consider. You have to consider your expansion globally, ensure your brand is secure, and consider cybersquatting and the threats of domain name hijacking.

In this month’s mistake of the month, we are going down a rabbit hole to discuss the threats of domain name spellings and why you should not use double letters or domain names with double meanings.

Steer clear of double letters

People are in a hurry and when they are looking for a domain, domain names that have double letters like ss or tt confuse how the domain is typed and processed in the brain. For instance, domains like ‘Amysscents’ or ‘smartteam’ leave users unsure if it’s one S or two.

In fact, people are more likely to mis-spell your domain name when you use double letters. It may seem like a small thing, but this can cost valuable traffic and loss of revenue.

Best tip: Avoid consecutive double letters in your domain name. Focus on a domain name that fits your brand without any potential user spelling issues or non-traditional spellings of your domain name like ‘jewlz’ for jewls.

Avoid double meanings

The digital world is a big place and a word in one country might not have the same meaning in another country. So, it is important to be sure that you aren’t using a word that has a double or different meaning that could trigger unintended or worse, inappropriate meaning for your domain name.

A great example is a domain that uses two words that could mean different things depending on the reader. A domain name like itscrap.com could really mean ‘it’s scrap’ but it could also be read as it’s crap – which we can all agree is not great for any brand.

Best tip: Check your domain names for any double meanings. If you are unsure, crowdsource the domain with 10 employees to see what they see in the name. If it comes up negative or misinterpreted, you know that it won’t work as a domain.

Your domain name is a vital part of your brand – it’s that first impression that counts. Choose a domain name that supports your brand, but make it easy for your customers to remember.

Don’t have time for all of that? – Let Okens brainstorm and check availability for you.

Hey! You’re about to get your domain set up—awesome! Now, let’s make sure it’s secure so you can sleep easy at night. 

Your brand is established, and much of your future revenue may come from your website. So now, your domain immediately becomes a target for impersonation, infringements and misuse. Ensuring your site’s security is crucial.

Here are five top tips to keep digital threats away.

1. Create your Domain Name

Your domain name is your website’s first impression. Keep it short, catchy, and easy to spell. It should reflect your brand or what your site represents. If your preferred name is taken, try adding a keyword or playful suffix.

You can also choose from various TLDs (Top-Level Domains), which are the parts that follow the final dot in the domain name. TLDs can be generic, sponsored, or country-specific, like .com, .org, .edu, or .biz.

Experiment with your options to add security to your domain name. If you want an international presence, list your countries and regions and find the TLDs that are available in each region.

Choose your favourite brand names, define the top TLDs from the list, and create the complete list of domains that will meet your brief.

2. Do your housekeeping

Monitor your domain like a hawk. Set up alerts for any changes to your DNS records, and regularly check that your site runs smoothly. If something seems off, act fast—it’s better to catch issues early!

Make a list of all the domains you own, check their renewal status, and monitor their expiration dates. It’s also wise to review costs and ensure you’re not paying for dormant domains.

3. Lock and load

You can lock your domain to prevent unauthorized transfers. It’s like putting a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your domain. Head to your registrar’s settings and activate domain lock—it’s a simple but powerful move.

Also, keeping your WHOIS info current is critical. A WHOIS domain lookup lets you trace the ownership and tenure of a domain name, similar to how houses are registered on a street. Domain registries maintain records of who owns each domain and for how long. If something strange happens with your domain, your registrar needs to contact you quickly. Ensure your email and phone number are always up to date.

If you choose multiple domain names, ask your domain provider for a bulk discount on the subscription cost. Make sure you review your portfolio regularly to ensure all your domains are registered correctly.

4. Enable two-Factor authentication (2FA)

Think of 2FA as a double lock on your door. Even if someone gets hold of your password, they’ll need a second piece of information to access your account. Most registrars offer 2FA, so be sure to enable it. It’s an extra step, but it adds a serious layer of protection.

5. Choose a strong password

OK, spelling “password” backwards has been done before—that’s not the best idea. But choose a password that’s personal to you, perhaps involving your favorite pet, sports team, or school nickname. Include numbers and special characters to mix it up.It’s 2024, mix it up already.

Using a password manager can help you create long, random passwords for your domain accounts. Change them every few months for added security.

There you go—five easy ways to level up your domain security! Follow these, and your domain will be as safe as a vault.

Get ready to search for expired domains

There is a lot going on in the digital world. Between dodging cyber criminals, domain name hijackers, and those pesky cybersquatters, we know that your plate is full.

We also know that you want to maximize your domains and get the domains you want, even the expired ones. It’s a scenario of having your cake and eating it, too. With Okens Domains’ new Expired Domains Search, you will always feel like you are winning at the slot machine.

Let’s get ready to rumble…search!

Okens Expired Domains Search lets you track expired domains

Are you looking to invest in expired domains or enhance your digital presence? Okens Expired Domain Search service is the answer. We start with human intelligence to research expired domains for your specific needs. Our dedicated expert search team will guide you through every step, from registration to ongoing management, ensuring a smooth experience.

Did we mention how easy it is?

Getting started is like a summer breeze. Just send us a list of your requirements, including details about your industry, domain metrics, keywords and any other specifications you have in mind for your search. Not quite sure? No worries! Our domain experts are here to help you create the perfect plan that fits your needs.

Discover our new expired domain search

• Analysis and proposal

  • Our team will analyze your request and provide you with a comprehensive proposal, including pricing and expected outcomes.

• Domain expertise at your service

  • Our domain experts will start tracking down your expired domain requirements upon your approval.

• Tailored research

  • We leverage our legacy knowledge and open and public data resources to research, target and identify expired domains that match your criteria.

• Secure registration and management

  • We are here to help through every stage of your expired domain search, from registration to management.

If all of this doesn’t make you feel like you’re on top of your domain world, check out Okens’ Domain Expired Search.

You may have been reading a lot about cybersquatting in the news recently. And that is because you are. 

Cybersquatting has been on the rise in the first quarter of 2024. Some of the most recent cybersquatting cases prove there are winners and losers, but the one thing they have in common is how easy it is to cybersquat with a domain.

In the winners’ corner, design tools company Canva won a single cybersquatting case against 174 domain names. The company filed the dispute with WIPO in July 2023 and WIPO published its decision in favor of Canva in February 2024. 

In the losers’ corner, Mermet S.A.S., part of the Hunter Douglas company, lost two cybersquatting claims. The windows covering company filed disputes against mermet.com and mermet.eu, both owned by Didier Mermet. In this decision, the panelist said the domain owner, Didier Mermet, has rights or legitimate interests in the domain, and he didn’t register it in bad faith. 

A high-profile cybersquatting with Google involved a cyber squatter who registered the domain name “googledotcom.com. 

Cybersquatting is something that domain managers probably don’t think about since they are typically managing dozens, if not hundreds, of domains. When you are in the trenches of domain renewals and ensuring that all your domains are covered, cybersquatting might not be at the top of your to-do list. 

So what do you do when a company or person is cybersquatting on the domain name that’s your trademarked business name? Short of litigation under the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) or using an international arbitration system from ICANN, there is one crucial thing you can do: create a domain strategy around your brand. Yes, this includes registering and trademarking your domain (let’s assume you have already trademarked your brand name). 

Use a trusted domain registrar (like Okens) to secure the domain names relevant to your brand or business. Consider registering your domains for more extended periods than the standard year. If you don’t want to manage this, no worries; Okens does auto-renew and can manage all your domain renewals and just renew for you.  

It’s also a good idea to consider registering any trademarks related to the domain to establish legal rights for your brand.

You can also consider registering common misspellings of your domain. Of course, registering all of them isn’t cost-effective, but if you have a strong domain strategy, you can purchase the most common misspellings in your domain before anyone else does. 

This may sound easy, but think about how to engage employees. You can train employees who manage your domains and create a domain management playbook. However, training internal people to manage your domains can be challenging if they don’t have a comprehensive knowledge of the domain industry. This is precisely why so many companies trust Okens. We see many brands reach out to us before their brand launches to lock down the right strategy to secure their digital brand. We can prepare a domain gap analysis that will let you and your team create the best domain management playbook.

As always, be smart about your domain. It’s the most critical digital asset at the heart of your brand. 

If you aren’t sure where to start, give me a call or send an email, and I will show you the Okens Gap analysis tool that will help you defend your digital territory and avoid cybersquatting.

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Greta Simanauskiene is the global Account Manager for Okens Domains. She speaks on the importance of managing domains strategically. She can assess and encapsulate the challenges facing operators and affiliates to help them strategically manage their domains to protect their brands. She has extensive experience with inside and outside sales, business development, and marketing. Most recently, she penned an article on her views from igaming Europe for OI. Greta can speak on domain strategy, brand protection, domain registration, domain privacy, industry insight, the igaming market, and domain asset management.

Photo by Matilda Wormwood