One of the most essential steps in building a brand or business is picking the most suitable domain name. The domain name is the one thing that people will immediately notice about the business and it can have an impact on the impression of the brand and website. When people know nothing about your business, they will form the first opinion based on the domain name. A well-chosen domain name will increase interest and drive web traffic and a poorly chosen name will do just the opposite. There is no science behind choosing the domain name but there are some rules that can help you pick a name that reflects your brand.
1. Length
With the domain name, less is always more. If you pick shorter names, they are easy to type and remember, this means users will be able to find you easily. It is also easier to stand out if there is less to read. Try not to exceed three words when picking the name.
2. Keep it simple
Always try to pick a domain name from reliable brokers like saw.com and ensure that is easy to speak and remember. You want people to remember the name and if you use uncommon or complicated names, it can be hard to remember them.
3. Use keywords
You can find several relevant keywords that will help your business. Such keywords help the users find you in a search engine and recognize what you do in an instant. Try to include keywords of what you do or offer and even your location but make sure it flows. The keywords should not look stuffed. With the right keywords in the domain, you will also be able to target local users.
4. Brand name
The domain name you pick should reflect the brand. It will take some time for the brand to develop and be recognized but including the brand name in your domain will help you stand out and gain recognition. You will also be able to increase visits to the website. Be sure not to use any existing brand names to avoid legal trouble.
5. Website name
It is obvious that the domain name should be the same as the brand name or as close to it as possible. It will help avoid a lot of confusion who type the domain name and get to a website with a different name.
6. Look for a good name
A lot of people get so caught up in choosing the perfect name that they spend more time in it and less on building the brand. You have to understand that an average domain name is much better than having no domain name. Look for a good name but do not run for perfection. Do not let choosing the perfect domain hold you back from working on your business.
7. Look for .com
Some of the most popular domain names end with .com and it is best to stick to them. There is a variety of names you can pick from but it could only lead to confusion. Try to stick to the traditional .com so that it is easier for people to remember and recall.
Things to avoid
Here are some things you must avoid when looking for a domain name because it could have a negative impact on your ranking.
- Dashes and numbers in the name. They are hard to remember and type and they can reduce the credibility of the business and website.
- Words of spellings that are funny and can be spelled in different ways. It could be hard for people to remember the site.
- Misspellings can make the site look suspicious and people could consider it as phishing or a malware site.
- Trademarks and brand names used by other companies should be completely avoided. They should not be a part of your domain and if you use them, it could lead to legal action and also cause suspension of the domain.
These are the important guidelines you must follow when looking for a domain name. The next steps include brainstorming, research, and looking for names that are available. Remember to brainstorm some backup names if the domain name you are looking for is not available. You can use the search engine to verify if the domain name is taken or not. Start with a few domain names that you have in mind and continue to brainstorm and research. Remember, there are no perfect domain names out there. It all depends on how you build your brand. If the brand is well-known and reliable, users will come to your website. Focus on building a strong business with a solid reputation and do not focus solely on the domain name. The domain name is certainly important but it is only a part of the business.