Are you starting a new business? wait! before you decide the name of your venture, it is always recommended to search for the right domain name. Confused? No worries, read on to get the answer of all your queries.
Your domain name is your identity in the digital world, and establishing authority in this realm requires similar efforts as in the real world. One of the vital decisions in building an online presence is choosing the right domain name. It’s important for you, for search engines and your target audience.
Buying a domain name is usually a simple process, but getting the right domain can sometimes be an uphill task. You need to ensure you do your research. It’s always good to find similar sites related to your niche and check out your competitor’s domain name choices. They can give you inspiration and also ideas of what won’t work for your business.
Here are some helpful tips to help you secure the right domain for your next digital venture.
10 Tips to Choose a Domain Name:
1) Pick the right domain extension:
There are plenty of domain extensions available in the market today including “.org,” “.net,” “.info,” “.biz,” and “.com.” Even though the number of domain extension options are rapidly growing, search engines and web surfers alike still prefer the tried and true. Most reputable businesses and bloggers use top-level domains (TLD) such as .com, .net, or .org. I also found that .co domain extension has also acquire great attention among startup and products.
If you buy a .com, it’s vital that you purchase other extensions of the same name. This protects your business and could save you legal fees and headaches down the line. For example, if your domain name is digifloor(dot)com, also try to scoop up the .org, and .net versions, if they’re still available and redirect them to your site on the .com.
As registered domain names continue to increase, the good names are becoming more competitive. A competitor might snatch up the .org, .info, or .net extensions of your URL – even if you’ve already secured the .com version. You could also all victim to a copycat trying to piggyback off of your success. Both these scenarios can negatively impact your traffic, your reputation and even the value of your business.
2) Make smart use of the keywords:
Keywords in the domain name will help your website rank higher in search engine result pages. However, it can be hard to find the right domain with your specific keywords that’s available and in your price range. You might need to get creative and combine your target keywords with other unique words to make your domain name stand out.
According to the co-founder of KISSmetrics Neil Patel, there are several factors to consider when including keywords in a domain name.
3) Avoid Exact-Match Domain (EMD):
Exact match domains are also known as Keyword Domains. They are domain names that include the keyword phrase itself. For instance, if you wanted to rank for “awesome cheap websites,” a keyword domain would look like this: www(dot)awesomecheapwebsites(dot)com. This might sound like a good strategy, but here’s the sad truth.
A few years back, Google discovered that websites were effortlessly trying to increase their rankings by opting for the exact-match domains. You could easily rank for a keyword like “best Lenovo laptops” all that was required was to buy www(dot)bestlenovolaptops(dot)com for a few dollars. Your site would rank highly within a few days, without backlinks, or even quality content. The Google EMD update impacted many keyword domains and their average ranking sunk to record lows.
5) Find a brandable domain:
Creative and brandable domain names are always better than generic ones. Your domain name is how visitors will find you, remember you and share your business on the internet. It’s the foundation of your brand.
A brandable domain is often unique and stands out from the crowd. A great example of this is Apple.com. It stands out and is memorable although it technically has nothing to do with technology, computers or smartphones. Apple is a memorable and strong brand name.
Your brand name is even more important than your domain – but your domain name should follow the brand name.
6) How to come up with a brandable domain name:
- Create your own catchy, unique words by combining names or concepts relevant to you or your business.
- Use a thesaurus or dictionary to find unique words that match with your brand.
- Take inspiration from the names of family, friends or pets.
- Use domain name generator tools to help you come up with an interesting and brandable domain name. You’ll only need initial domain ideas and keywords, and they’ll do the rest of the work for you. Tools include; Name Mesh, Shopify domain generator, and Nameboy domain name generator.
Also Read: 10 Alternative Domain Name Ideas for Your Website
7) Avoid the use of hyphens and numbers:
Numbers, hyphens and other punctuation marks make spelling and pronunciation of a domain name more difficult. They may seem like a good idea to make your domain more unique or brandable however they often confuse potential visitors or cause them to misspell your domain.
While the use of numbers and dashes won’t necessarily be the end of your online business, a simple spelling error could potentially send traffic to your competitor’s website.
For example, if you registered “www(dot)digi-floor(dot)com” because “www(dot)digifloor(dot)com” was already taken, this could be bad news for your business. Those intending to visit your site might often miss the dash symbol on your website and end up searching digifloor(dot)com. In the long run, you could end up benefiting your competitors more than your own business. You may also violating trademark of other businesses in such cases.
8) Keep it short:
Keeping the domain name as short as possible makes it easier for visitors to remember it and get it right. According to a Domain Length Research project carried out by Gaebler(dot)com, the top 50 websites worldwide have a approximately 6 characters in their domain name. The data from the research indicates that there is a direct correlation between length of a domain name and its popularity.
The big question many will ask is, does a short domain translate to success?
Instinctively, most people will be more willing to type a domain name that’s short rather than one that is tediously long. However it’s also been proven that other factors influence the popularity of a short domain name – it has to be memorable. Having a short domain name that internet surfers can’t easily remember is much worse than having a longer domain that you’ll never forget.
9) It’s time to register domain name:
Now that you’ve chosen your domain name, it’s time to register it. It’s important to choose a trusted domain registration company to handle the process since complications arising from domain name registration could compromise your business.
There are tools available on the web to help you evaluate these registration companies. They compare pricing, service options, etc but the choice of provider is yours.
10) Ready to buy a domain?
Finding the right domain name doesn’t have to be a complicated task, but it can make a big difference to your business. Perform the necessary research and follow the steps mentioned above and you’ll be on your way to building your identity in the digital world. Take your time, understand the process and don’t forget to get creative. Make sure you search for the coupon code for respective domain registrar as it will save your money while registering or renewing a domain name.
Also Read: 12 Best Domain Marketplaces to Buy and Sell Domain Names
Conclusion:
Choosing the Right Domain Name is crucial for Establishing your online presence and attracting your target audience. Consider factors such as the Domain Extension, Keywords, avoiding Exact-match domains, and Creating a Brandable Name. Keep the Domain Name Short, Register it with a trusted Company, and take your time to make the Right Decision.