Choosing a Domain Name

Your name is the first thing that people will think of when if they remember your site. It is important that you come up with a great one.

Factors of Choosing a Domain Name

These are the factors that you should consider when choosing your name.

1.  Related to Topic

Your domain name needs to be related to the topic of your website so that visitors and search engines know the general topic of your site just from your domain name. 

2. Make it Memorable

It is horrible for you if visitors wish to come back to your website but forget the domain name.  To confront this, make your domain name as memorable as possible.

- Make it Catchy

A catchy domain name will stick in visitors minds.  you will know a catchy domain when you see it so put yourself through this "catchy test" on every domain.

If your domain is keyword rich, you can exclude this step to some degree.

- Make it Short

A short domain, is a memorable domain.  Take into account the length of words and the amount of words when choosing a domain. Your domain should be a maximum of three words.

3.  Keyword(s)

Almost every domain name should have at least one general keyword in it.  For example, if you site is about baseball, your domain name should have "baseball" in it.

There are times when you can choose a domain without any keywords in it.  If you do, it should be very catchy and short.

4.  Extension

The domain extension trails the domain.  For example the extension of this website is .me.  

It is highly recommended to purchase a .com especially if it is your first domain purchase.  .com is the standard extension for all sites, and you can’t go wrong with it.

If your website is an organization feel free to purchase the .org extension.  Be sure to pick up the .com for the same domain name and redirect it to your .org domain though!

If .com is taken but there is a .net available you can take it, but only if the domain is really good.  Having a different extension is fine, but do note that you will lose some type in traffic (many users naturally type in ".com" instead of your correct extension). 

Generic Versus Unique

A generic name is focused on keywords (ex:  soccer-training-guide.com).  A unique domain is focused on memorability (ex:  blogussion.com).

Which type you choose should really depend on what you are trying to accomplish with your website.  If you receive traffic mainly from search engines, a generic domain is a good choice.  If you site is more about type-in traffic, a unique domain is a better choice.

If you have a blog, I highly recommend choosing a unique domain name.

A Domain Name That’s Different From the Site Name?

Yes it does happen, but I don’t recommend it.  Your domain name should reinforce your site name, and memorability.  A domain name that is different from the website name does not do this.

Time to Register it

Have a general idea of what domain you want?  Then it’s time to see if it is available for registering.

Tagged as: choosing a domain name, domain, Domains