8 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Domain Name

Your domain name is not only one of the first decisions you make for your future site, but it is also one of the biggest. Choosing a domain name is often stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Many people believe that all of the good domain names are taken by now and that they’ll have to shell out the big bucks to score one they want, but this isn’t the case. With some brainstorming, trial and error, and keeping a few key tips in mind, anyone can successfully register the perfect domain name for their site — especially you.

1. GO WITH THE DOT-COM.

When first creating your site, having the dot-com extension of your address is essential. When searching for your business, the “.com” extension is the first one that visitors will try. A “.com” extension is not only the most commonplace, but it is also the most respectable. After securing your possession of the dot-com version of your site, feel free to purchase other extensions (“.net”, etc.) in order to have a firm hold on your brand.

2. BRAINSTORM AND INCLUDE KEYWORDS.

Make a list of the top five keywords you think best suit your plan for your future website. Begin to mix and match these key phrases to create the perfect domain name. Having keywords in your URL makes it friendly for the users and for the search engines. For example, my keyword list for this blog might have consisted of “blogging, online, web” and so forth, and then I chose one of my keywords and paired it with another memorable word, “boom”, to create my brand.

3. NO HYPHENS, NO NUMBERS.

Avoid hyphens and numbers in your URL. These are confusing and sloppy. Of course you will not always be able to get the first domain name that crosses your mind, but don’t just throw in some hyphens or tack a number in there to make it work. Choosing your domain name is the permanent foundation of your business. Keep mixing and matching those trusty keywords.

4. SITE NAME = SITE URL.

Make your site’s domain name is the same as its actual name. This ensures that your visitors are never confused and never forget your site’s name. For example, I wouldn’t name my site “The World of Blogging” and then make my URL “bloggingboom.com”, because visitors might try to access “theworldofblogging.com” instead. Always be consistent.

5. SHORT, SIMPLE, AND EASY.

Always put yourself in your visitors’ shoes. Imagine that you are hearing about and trying to access your own site for the first time. Is the URL relatively short? Is it easy to type? Does it contain words that are difficult to remember or spell? Do any of your keywords have multiple or differing meanings? Could the words in your URL run together to look as if they spell something entirely different? For example, “bloggingfortunes.com” could be “Blogging Fortunes” or “Blogging For Tunes”.

6. UNIQUE AND MEMORABLE ARE KEY.

Make your site’s domain name stand apart from the crowd. Avoid using generic terms like “best”, but also avoid their too-complicated synonyms. The thesaurus and a notepad for brainstorming will be your best friends.

7. CREATE YOUR BRAND.

Your domain name is the starting point for creating your brand, as well as the backdrop for all future decisions. A domain name can make or break your success. When creating your brand, you must think of what is memorable, unique, and people-friendly. Get creative, but do stay within the boundaries so your site is still easily accessible and understood.

8. DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Last but not least, make sure there are no other sites or businesses out there using your site’s name or a very similar variation of your future domain name. This can cause legal issues, confusion, and a loss of visitors. Individuality is key in the world of business.

Keep in mind: Larger domain registrars will send you reminders before your domain is due to expire or will even automatically renew them on your behalf. However, not all companies do this. Sign up for protections whenever available and keep dates in your personal calendar. You don’t want to wake up to find that your respectable and profitable domain name has expired and already been snatched up by someone else. Always think toward the future when it comes to business decisions. Good luck!

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