No matter what type of business, blog or organization you have, you’ll need a good domain name to make sure it gets noticed. Fortunately, it’s easy to find one that suits your needs if you follow a few simple guidelines. Here are 12 tips on how to pick the perfect domain name:
1. Keep it short.
As a general rule, a short domain name is usually the best option. Longer domain names are often hard for people to remember and can lead to more spelling errors. Choose something short and sweet instead. Your domain name will be more likely to stick in someone’s mind.
2. Make it memorable.
Another way to make your domain name stand out is to select something memorable. Whether it’s a common phrase or a unique word, go for one that’s catchy and rolls off the tongue. If potential visitors can’t remember the name of your website, it likely won’t get very many hits. An extraordinary site deserves an unforgettable name.
3. Choose one that’s self-explanatory.
The ideal domain name will explain what your website is all about. If you have to clarify what your domain name means, you should probably pick another one. It should be descriptive and easy for the average person to understand. Keep everything simple and straightforward to maximize the number of views your website receives.
4. Be flexible.
It’s a good idea to be flexible when you’re selecting a domain name. The first one that pops in your head might already be taken. Even if your initial choice is available, that name may not be right for your website. Don’t let yourself get too attached to one particular moniker. The perfect domain name could be just an idea or two away.
5. Don’t be too trendy.
We all know trends can come and go quickly. It’s best to steer clear of current terms that are likely to fade out soon. While a trendy word or phrase might get your website more hits now, it can end up looking silly and outdated in the future. Instead, choose a domain name that’s timeless and will rack up views for years to come.
6. Avoid confusion.
When you’re choosing a domain name, you have to remember that everything will be squished together into essentially one word. As a result, you may want to avoid having the same letter twice in a row. Potential visitors may wonder whether if they should type out both letters or condense them into one. For example, they might not know if they should put “pettracker” or “petracker.” You can skip the confusion and give your domain name a cleaner look by choosing one without the double-letter issue.
7. Decide whether you want to attract local or national attention.
The size of your business should influence your domain name choice. If you’d like to keep things local, you might want to incorporate your city’s name. That’s especially true if the name of your town is a part of your company’s moniker. On the other hand, if you’d like to reach a national audience at some point, you don’t want to limit yourself by focusing on a specific area.
8. Do your research.
Thinking of the perfect domain name is only half of the battle. You also need to do a bit of research to determine if it’s available. If it isn’t, you’ll need to keep brainstorming. You should avoid domain names that are extremely close to the ones of well-established websites. You don’t want to set yourself up for a costly legal dispute when you can simply select something else. Besides, nobody likes a copycat. Set yourself apart from your competitors by choosing something that’s innovative.
9. Don’t make things too complicated.
Including elements like numbers and hyphens in your domain name can make things a lot more complicated for your site’s visitors. They may be unsure of whether to spell out a number or just use the number itself. As for hyphens, some people might forget to include them or place them in the wrong spots. It’s best to avoid all the confusion and just stick to unhyphenated words.
10. Choose the right extension.
Your domain name will include one of several common suffixes. We all know that “.com” is the most popular, but there several others that might be right for your website. It all depends on what your website is for. For instance, “.org” may be more appropriate for a nonprofit organization. You could also go with “.net” if you feel that it would be a better fit for your business.
11. Don’t make the spelling too cutesy.
You might be tempted to choose an alternate spelling for certain words of your domain name. For example, if your website will feature fun products, you might be thinking about going with an amusing misspelling. However, that’s probably not a good tactic to use. Cute or quirky spellings are easy to mistype and can lead to missed opportunities when it comes to customers or clients. Just spell everything normally and everyone will be happier in the long run.
12. Think about the future.
Finally, you should always consider the future when you’re selecting a domain name. Don’t limit yourself by choosing one that’s too focused on a particular product or concept. For example, your business might only sell children’s clothes right now, but what happens if you decide to offer adult clothing in the years ahead? In that case, you may not want your domain name to emphasize the word “kids.” Then again, maybe you’re entirely devoted to being the go-to source for children’s clothing. That’s fine, too. Just make sure you understand the core of your company and you’re prepared for any future developments in your business model.
The domain name you decide on can make or break your website. It’s all about selecting one that will draw in the maximum number of visitors. With the easy tips on this list, you can pick the perfect domain name and set yourself up for success!
