Since your domain name tells the exact location of your page on the web, it’s ideal to go for a name that will be very beneficial for your online business.
Check out the following tips to help you get started on planning your site’s domain name.
Go for easy recall
A domain name that has a lot of special characters will typically be hard to remember, that’s why only letters, numbers, and hyphens are allowed to be used. While single world domain names are highly ideal, they are in very short supply since many also prefer to register such names. As for hyphenated domains, their biggest advantage is the ability of search engines to read each word in the domain name and easily categorize your site using those keywords. Of course, it also has its share of disadvantages, but a wise choice on hyphenated domains can be similarly effective as single word site names.
Be descriptive
You can go for cool acronyms that stand for your company or business’s name, but it will be harder for your target visitors to know early on what your site is all about. As much as possible, make your domain name descriptive and easily connected to the niche or field you’re trying to target.
Branding vs. Brand name
There’s a never-ending debate as to which of these 2 is more effective and ideal for businesses. There’s really no straightforward answer as it will largely depend on what you aim and what you prefer. For instance, if your biz is about party supplies online, you can go for a name that’s descriptive of what your company offers. However, you can also go for your company/brand name. Even if your company name does not automatically remind visitors about “party supplies online” right away, this will be ideal if you want to establish your brand name and reputation online. You can check out sites that have been successful in making a name on the web despite using their own brand name as their site’s domain.
Domain name suffix/extensions
Since it’s been around for a long time already, it’s best to go for .com extension because many typically search for such websites. If possible (and if you can afford it), you can also opt to register for your preferred domain names using other extensions like .net, .org, and .info.
Availability of domain names
You might be one of those numerous people who spent a lot of time thinking of a cool and ideal domain name, and then only end up getting frustrated because that name is already taken. Make sure to perform a domain search while you’re on your domain name planning stage so you can easily check the availability of your chosen name. Check out different web hosting companies or sites that offer domain name registrations to know if your preferred names are still up for grabs.
Search for a web host or domain registrar
Search and compare options as you go along to choose the one that’s cost-effective for your needs. Don’t forget to check out reviews and feedback about the company or website you’re planning to sign up for so you can limit your choices to sites that offer reliable and satisfactory services.
Personally I prefer choosing a domain name that has a keyword but a suffix attached to it. This way we could prevent any search engine penalty for keeping exact match keyword domains. The domain must be as short as possible.
Choosing a domain name is an important early step in optimizing your site for the search engines. You can only name your site once, so you have to get it right the first time. Choose a name that has a less competition and easy to memorize.