Are you starting a new website for your business or hobby? One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing a domain name. Your domain name is the web address people will type in to find your site, like “apple.com” or “wikipedia.org”. It’s a key part of your online identity.
Choosing the right domain name is important for several reasons:
• It affects your branding and image. Your domain name is often the first thing people see and remember about your website. You want it to make a good impression and be memorable.
• It impacts your search engine rankings. While exact match domains (like carinsurance.com) no longer provide a huge boost, domain names that include relevant keywords can still help a little with SEO.
• It influences whether people can find you. A domain name that is short, simple, and easy to spell makes it more likely that people will remember it and type it in correctly to get to your site.
So how do you go about choosing the perfect domain name? Here are some tips:
Use Relevant Keywords
Try to include words in your domain name that describe what your website or business is about. For example, if you sell hand-knitted scarves, a domain with “knit” or “scarves” would be good. This helps communicate the purpose of your site.
However, avoid overusing keywords or choosing a domain name that is just a string of keywords. It looks spammy and unprofessional. Aim to include just one or two relevant words. You want your domain to sound natural.
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need keywords if your domain name is your company name. For well-known brands, the name itself is what matters most. But if you’re just starting out, including a keyword can help clarify what you do.
Keep It Short and Simple
Shorter domain names are easier for people to remember and type in. Aim for 15 characters or less if you can. Longer domains increase the chances of typos and make it harder to fit your domain on business cards or social media bios.
Avoid hyphens, numbers, and unusual spellings if possible, as those make a domain harder to remember and communicate verbally. You don’t want people forgetting your domain or going to the wrong site because they left out a hyphen or a number!
Imagine saying your potential domain name out loud, slowly, and clearly. If you struggle to explain it, your visitors might struggle to remember it. When in doubt, opt for simple and straightforward.
Make It Memorable
In addition to being short, your domain name should be memorable. Using rhymes, alliteration, or catchy phrases can help. Think about brand names like Coca-Cola, PayPal, or Snapchat – they just stick in your head.
You could also try for a name that evokes an image or emotion. Amazon is a great example – it makes you think of something huge. Incorporate a sensory word or a metaphor to give your domain added memorability.
Puns or plays on words, when done well, can also make a domain name more memorable. Just be careful that the pun isn’t so obscure that people don’t get it, and that it doesn’t distort the name so much that it’s hard to spell.
Consider Your Target Audience
Think about who you’re trying to reach and what would appeal to them. If you’re targeting a local audience, consider including your city or state name. If you’re aiming for a young, trendy vibe, you could use slang (like “tatts” instead of “tattoos”). If you want to sound professional and trustworthy, err on the side of classic, no-nonsense names.
Consider the tone and personality you want to convey. Are you fun and playful? Serious and authoritative? Your domain name can reflect that. A whimsical name like “Giggles” sets a very different tone from a sober name like “Consolidated Industries”.
Use the Right Domain Extension
When most people think of a domain name, they think of the .com TLD (top-level domain). It’s been around the longest and has the most credibility. If you can get a .com domain that meets your other criteria, that’s usually the best choice.
However, it’s getting harder and harder to find available .com domains. Many short, memorable .com names are already taken. If that’s the case for your desired name, you have a few options:
• Consider an alternate TLD like .net, .org, .biz, .info, or one of the many new options like .io, .co, or .xyz. These can work especially well if the extension is relevant to your business, like .org for a nonprofit or .photography for a photographer. Just be aware that these TLDs are often less familiar and may be harder for people to remember.
• Add a word to your domain name to find an available .com. For example, instead of “PuppyParadise.com”, try “AdorablePuppyParadise.com”.
• Use a different domain registrar to see if they have any .com options you missed. Some registrars “reserve” domains to sell at a premium price, so a name might be available at a standard price elsewhere.
• If you’re set on a particular .com name and the current owner isn’t using it, you could try offering to buy it from them. Just be cautious – popular domains can sell for thousands of dollars! Set a budget before you start negotiating.
Research What’s Available
Once you have some ideas for domain names, you’ll need to find out if they’re available. The domain name you want may already be registered by someone else. You can use a domain name search tool to check availability.
When you’re checking availability, don’t just look at the .com. Check the .net, .org, and other common TLDs too. Even if you’re not going to use them, you may want to register them to protect your brand.
You’ll also want to check that your desired domain name isn’t trademarked and that it doesn’t have an unintended meaning in another language or context. An innocent name like “mist.com” could be problematic in Germany, where “mist” is a mild curse word!
Protect Your Brand
Once you’ve found your perfect available domain, it’s a good idea to register it with multiple TLDs. This prevents competitors or imposters from registering confusingly similar domain names and stealing your web traffic.
For example, if your main domain is “bobspizza.com”, you might want to also register “bobspizza.net”, “bobspizza.biz”, and so on. You can redirect these extra domains to your main site.
It’s also smart to register common misspellings of your domain. If you have a word like “calendar” in your name, register the version with the reversed “ar” too. Or if your name has a number, register the spelled-out version.
You should also check that your desired domain name is available as a username on major social media sites, and ideally register those as well. Consistent branding across the web will help people find you more easily.
Act Fast
New domain names are registered all the time, so once you settle on your perfect name, register it right away. You can always register it before you’re ready to set up your whole website. You don’t want to lose out because you waited too long!
Many registrars offer discounted prices for your first year of registration. Take advantage of these deals, but check the renewal price too. You don’t want a nasty surprise when your domain comes up for renewal.
Consider auto-renewal. Having your domain auto-renew each year prevents you from forgetting and losing your domain – and all the branding and SEO value you’ve built up.
Conclusion
Choosing the ideal domain name takes some thought and research, but it’s well worth the effort. Your domain name is the online face of your brand, so take the time to get it right.