In the olden days, domain names were easy.  Take your brand, add dot com (as in www.RandallCraig.com) and you’re done.  Those of us who didn’t want to fight the squatters also registered the dot net and dot org versions:  www.RandallCraig.net, www.RandallCraig.org.  And of course, you might want to register your brand under a national domain:  RandallCraig.ca, RandallCraig.us.  And then there are a bunch of interesting country domains that might prove interesting beyond the geography:  RandallCraig.TV comes to mind.  And how about registering domains with deliberate misspellings, just in case?  RandalCraig.com perhaps?

Finally, there are now hundreds of other specialized domains that are available.  RandallCraig.tips.  RandallCraig.guru.  RandallCraig.training.  Here is the question: when are there too many?  Or perhaps a more useful question: what criteria should you use to determine whether to register your brands with their own domain?  Consider these five criteria:

1. Squatters: Is it likely that someone else will “squat” on the name?  The annual cost of a domain name is far cheaper than the hassle of wresting control from someone else – even if you are in the right.
2. Competition:  Are you competing with someone else who has the same (or very similar) name?  If so, it might make sense to register as many possible domains with your name – if you don’t, they will.
3. Reach: Is it possible that someone in your target audience might try to use the domain to reach you?
4. Special Content:  Might the domain be used to house (or redirect to) a special purpose page or microsite?  For example, a .TV domain that redirects to your YouTube channel?
5. Cost.  Registration on every domain that exists can easily reach into the thousands of dollars annually.  Is there a better use of the funds?

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