Last updated - July 27, 2023
So you’ve decided to start a website or blogging platform and now you need to pick the perfect domain name. This is an important decision that will shape your online identity, so you want to choose wisely.
The domain name you select will leave a first impression on visitors and help establish your credibility. But with so many options out there, how do you choose? Here are 6 essential things you must consider when deciding on a domain name if you want to get it right the first time.
Picking a domain is a big deal, but if you go in with a plan, you’ll end up with an awesome name you’ll be proud to put at the top of your website. So let us get started!
1. Choose a Short and Simple Domain Name
A short and simple domain name is key. Something like “Learnwoo” is easy to remember and looks professional. Things to keep in mind:
- Keep it under 20 characters. Shorter is better, around 8-12 characters is ideal. People won’t remember or be able to guess a long, complicated domain name.
- Search for the domain as you want to see if it’s available and check sites that sell used domain names. You don’t want to pick one that was once used by someone else for something shady or spammy.
- The domain name should match your company or product name. If it’s completely different, it’ll be harder to build brand recognition and can confuse your customers.
- Avoid anything too casual, cutesy, or tacky. Your domain name creates a first impression, so make it polished and business-appropriate.
- Check for alternate meanings. Make sure the domain name doesn’t have another meaning in a different language or context that could reflect poorly on your brand. Run it by others to get different perspectives.
With the right simple, short, and professional domain name, you’ll make a great first impression and set your business up for success. Choose wisely!
2. Consider the Domain Name Extensions
Choosing the right domain name extension is important. The extension is the .com, .net, or .org part of your domain. It indicates what type of website or entity it is. Things to keep in mind:
- For most businesses, .com is the way to go. It’s the most recognizable and helps build credibility. However, .com domains are popular, so the name you want may already be taken. In that case, you’ll need to get creative with hyphens, numbers, or alternative endings like .co or .biz.
- If you’re a non-profit or community organization, .org is suitable. For a network or internet-related business, .net works well. There are also options like .info for informational sites, .store for eCommerce, or .club for member organizations.
- New domain extensions are released all the time. Some catch on, while others fade into obscurity. It’s risky to choose a new or little-known extension. Stick with an established, mainstream option unless you have a very good reason not to.
- Once you’ve selected an extension, check if your desired domain name is available. Search domain registrar websites like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Bluehost to find one that’s unregistered. If it’s taken, you may need to modify it or select an alternative that’s still meaningful and memorable.
The domain you choose will be your website’s address and digital identity, so take your time exploring the options. An extension that matches your site’s purpose and a name that’s easy to share and promote will serve you well. With over 300 million domains registered already, finding the right one is worth the effort.
3. Avoid Numbers and Dashes in the Domain Name
Avoid using numbers, dashes, or any special characters in your domain name. While short domain names that are easy to remember are ideal, ones with numbers and dashes can be confusing. Things to keep in mind:
- For example, if your name is John Smith and you want to use your name in the domain, choose johnsmith.com over john-smith.com or john1smith.com. The former is clean, simple, and easy to remember. The latter two can lead to confusion and typos.
- Another reason to avoid special characters is that they can be problematic to market and share. People may struggle with remembering and accurately typing in the domain name. They also often don’t appear polished or professional.
- Keep your domain name as straightforward and simple as possible. Focus on using keywords, common terms, and easy-to-read language to create a name that sticks in people’s minds. The more simple and memorable it is, the more likely people will share, link to, and recommend your site to others.
- In the end, keep your audience and SEO in mind. Choose a domain name that your target customers will find appealing and be able to easily locate in search engines. Simplicity and readability are key.
When you add numbers, hyphens, and other characters to your domain name, it causes confusion among the viewers as well as the search engines. So choose wisely!
4. Use and Focus on Keywords
When choosing a domain name, using relevant keywords is key. Keywords are the words and phrases that people are likely to type into a search engine to find your website.
Incorporating keywords into your domain name and content helps search engines like Google determine what your site is about and who it’s for. This can help boost your ranking in search results. Things to keep in mind:
- Think about the main focus or product of your business and use words directly related to that. For a bakery, keywords might be things like “bakery,” “cakes,” “cupcakes,” or “cookies.”
- For a tech company, keywords could be “software,” “mobile,” “web design,” or “app development.” The more specific the keyword is to your business, the better. General words like “company” or “website” won’t have the same impact.
- Using keywords in your domain name also makes it easy for people to guess and remember. Domain names with keywords intuitively make sense to users.
- Don’t go overboard with keywords, as this can seem spammy. One or two keywords that naturally fit into a short, memorable domain name are ideal. You also want to save some good keywords for your page content and meta descriptions.
- Keep them short and simple. Around 6-15, characters are good.
- Common words and proper names are easiest.
Choosing the right domain name is an important step in establishing an online presence. By focusing on keywords, simplicity, and memorability, you’ll set your business up for search success.
5. Keep it Catchy and Memorable
A catchy, memorable domain name is key to building brand recognition and connecting with your audience. When choosing a domain, keep these tips in mind:
- Look for keywords in your business niche. If you’re in eCommerce and want to name your business something like ELEX and deal with extensions you can name it “ELEXtensions” as it uses familiar words that are easy to remember as well as catchy.
- For a blog related to mountaineering, try “ThePeakLife” or “PeakPursuits”. Using industry keywords helps search engines and customers find you.
- Make it short and sweet. Aim for a domain with 2 to 4 short words or less than 15 characters. “PeakPursuits.com” is easy to say and type, while “PursuingLifeAtThePeak.com” is a mouthful! Shorter is better.
- Consider using alliteration or rhyme. Catchy domains like “Shopify” or “Etsy” are very memorable thanks to their alliterative quality. If rhyming is more your style, try something like “CreateToElevate.com” or “InspireToAspire.com”.!
- Consider “call to action” words. Active, compelling words like “join”, “learn”, “create”, “start” or “build” encourage people to take action. A domain with a call to action like “StartYourPeakLife.com” or “BuildPeakSkills.com” can be very effective.
- Test how it sounds. Say your potential domain names out loud to determine how natural and memorable they sound. If it’s awkward to say or hard to remember quickly, keep searching. The ideal domain rolls off the tongue and sticks in your mind.
With some thought and the right keywords, you can craft a catchy domain name that will resonate with your customers and help establish your brand. If you keep at it, eventually you will find one that resonates with your brand.
6. Check Domain Name Availability and Alternatives to Avoid Copyright
When choosing a domain name, it’s critical to check that your preferred name is actually available and not already taken. There’s nothing worse than liking a domain name only to find out it’s not available.
Do a quick search on domain registrar sites like the ones mentioned above to see if your desired domain is available to register. If your domain name is taken you can use some alternatives. Things to keep in mind while choosing those alternatives:
- Add a keyword like “the” or “official” in front of the domain. For example, thebrandexperts.com.
- Add a location or industry term like “tech” or “marketing”. For example, chicagowebdesign.com or techmarketinggurus.com.
- Use a different domain extension like .co, .io, or .biz instead of .com. For example, thebrandexperts.co or techmarketinggurus.io.
- Consider using a domain with two words separated by a hyphen or dash like brand-experts.com. (This should be your last resort if you really want that specific name, it is better to avoid using such symbols)
- It’s also a good idea to brainstorm some alternative domain names in case your first choice isn’t available. Think of synonyms, shortened or abbreviated versions, or related phrases.
Checking domain name availability and having some alternative options in your back pocket will make the domain selection process much less frustrating and most of all help you avoid copyright and other issues.
With your newfound information, you can now come up with the ideal domain name for your online store. Check out our YouTube Shorts video tutorial on the same topic if you prefer to do so:
Conclusion
So there you have it – 6 essential things to keep in mind when choosing a domain name. Take your time exploring the options, get creative with variations and combinations, and make sure you consider how it will look and sound to your target audience.
Your domain name is your brand and online identity, so choose wisely. The internet is vast and domains are snatched up quickly, so the sooner you choose, the sooner you can get your business up and running.
We hope this post has helped you create the perfect domain name for your business!
